The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-08-01
RIVAL CLAIMS
PRESENTED FOR
new AIR LINE
indianapolis and Evansville
Argue for Proposed
Mail Route.
BY ROSCOE B. FLEMING,


WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-Two IN
diana cities, Indianapolis and
Evansville, presented rival claims
here today to be included in the
proposed air mail route from Pitts
burgh to st. Louis.
The hearing was held before the
joint committee on civil aviation,
composed of officials of the post
Office and commerce departments.
indianapolis was aligned with
Columbus, O., in advocating the
northern route, and delegations
from the two cities held prelimi-
nary conference Wednesday,
Representative Louis Ludlow, G, L.
HAYWOOD, industrial commissioner
and general manager of the Indian
apolis chamber of commerce; G. G..
Dunphy, his assistant and Captain
H. Weir Cook, general manager of
the CurtisS company in Indiana,
presented the Indianapolis argu
ments.
Unexpected Opposition Comes
Arthur P. Eberlin Of the Evansville
Chamber of Commerce, joined forces
with representatives Of Cincinnati
and Louisville, which also would be
on the proposed southern route.
Importance of the proposed route
was emphasized when Postmaster
General Waiter Brown, who comes
from Columbus, appeared to preside
in person.
Unexpected opposition to the
whole program developed when Paul
Henderson, general manager of the
National Air Transport Company,
which holds large air mail contracts,
said he believed the route should be
postponed, feeling that the air mail
routes already in use should be de-
veloped to full capacity before others
are started.
The committee also entertained
suggestions of extension Of the serv-
ice beyond st. Louis to the south
west, and rival delegations appeared
to plead the cause Of Texas and
Oklahoma for that extension.
EberIin argued that Evansville al
ready has an airmail service to st.
Louis with a route soon to be COM
pletely lighted, an Astrological OBJ
servatory Of the United States
weather bureau and that not hav-
ing as quick rail service to the
east as the northern cities, could
take greater advantage Of the air
mail.
HAYWOOD emphasized the industrial
DEVELOPMENT Of indianapolis and
central Indiana. The volume Of
mail now being handled, and the
facilities that the cities need now
for airmail communication is for
the east.
Less Fog Found Here
CAPTAIN Cook discussed the favor
able flying conditions in central
Indiana, emphasized Indianapolis
air field facilities and the numerous
emergency landing fields along the
central Indiana route.
Representative Ludlow told the
Joint committee that the northern
route is shorter and safer because OF
the fogs on the so-called river route.
He read a letter from Mayor Slack
of indianapolis, calling attention to
the 1000 Indianapolis airport.
Ludlow also said the central route
would supply a much greater vol
ume of air. mail which could be
transported in less time.
The weather bureau, he said, had
reported that there were on the av-
erage ten days year Of dense fog
at Cincinnati, twelve days at Louis
vile and six days at Indianapolis
and Columbus.
Last year, he said, Cincinnati
had fifteen days Of dense fogs,
while Indianapolis had three.
He also argued the northern route
had far more "speedier" possibili-
ties because of the many industrial
towns through central Indiana and
Ohio.