New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-02-23
WE POINT WITH PRIDE
AT AIR ROUTES


been customary to think that Euro
pean enterprise had far outstripped
the Americans in the development
of air transportation. It IL doubtful
whether this any longer obtains.
True. air passenger service has been
common throughout 4 large part of
Europe for years and 4 network Of
such lines intersect the European
continent. In considering aviation as
a whole. however. the air mail must
also be considered. and Europe GER
tainly has nothing to compare with
the American air mali system.
Perhaps that 10 due In part to the
wide expanse OF the American con-
tinent and the need for rapid mail
transportation over the far flung
prairies. Europe Is conglomeration
of nations. all but one of which are
as large as our largest state. The
differences in language in Europe
form a bar toward that ready inter-
course between people which exists
in the United States.
A summary of American air routes
is at hand and it is an astounding
document. The routes include those
utilized for air mail. for passenger
service, and for express. Combined
they form IS routes, not including
six routes between the United States
and terminals in Canada, Mexico
and other foreign" points. New
lines are constantly being establish
ed.
Our pride In aviation naturally is
the system of air mail routes. These
have been developed to an astonish-
ing state OF perfection. Their sue
cess has depended upon poundage
carried, and this has been vastly in
creased since the rates were reduc-
ed SO per cent. However. the total
poundagc this year will not be
known until the year Is past. 70 that
the statistics of 1925 must serve for
purposes Of comparison.
The heaviest air mail route is not
the line between New York and
Chicago, as most folks imagine. but
the line between Chicago and San
Francisco. In 1928 the New York.
Chicago route carried 454,593
pounds Of mail, compared with
,6o2,c6s pounds for the Chica 60 San
Francisco route. Next in importance
came the Salt Lake City-Ios
Angeles route. with 239,96s pounds.
The Boston-New York route carried
only 26.s7S pounds.
This would indicate that the abili.
ty to cover long distances In the
shortest possible time-routes which
permit letters to save a day, or sew.
eral days. between terminals rather
than those which merely save hour,
and yield no appreciable difference
in time OF deliyery-are the route,
which command the heaviest patron.
age. The main function of tn.
Boston-New York route. 1t would
appear. is to be a Supplement to tn,
transcontinental system.
None of the air mail routes hav,
been able 10 actually fly the seized
uled miles during 1928. For instance
the Boston-New York schedule call
ed for HISS miles. but the milea z,
actually flown was 97.4O3 No ex
PLANTATION is given as to such dis
| crepancies.
Considering that the volume OF al
mail has been steadily increasing TO
several years. future indications ar
more planes and more routes. TIL
prophecy that all first class mail Ii
a few years will be carried by plane
may be too optimistic to deserv
credence. but that will be true re
garding a large proportion of it. TIL
volume between 1927 and 1928 in
creased 293 per cent. the mile
flown 80 per cent. and the amour
paid contractors 1856 per cent. Thes
figures speak volumes. The 1872
record will be even more imprcssiv,