Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-03
brown HITS Plan
TO USE D|R|GIBLES
Postmaster General to Ask
Bids for Oversee Mail
Service by Planes.

A blow was dealt the proposed estab-
lishment of a great transatlantic dirigi-
BILE terminal near this city today by
a statement by Postmaster General
Brown that the Post Office Department
favors the airplane for ocean mail
flights and that the airship must prove
itself before it will be considered.
/ The Postmaster General made 1t
clear in a discussion of the McNary-
Farker-bill drafted to set up a mer-
chant airship law and authorize the
carrying of mails by airship, that the
Post Office Department will not APP
prove the policy of contracting for the
carrying of mail by airshipS.
The department, he pointed out, is
considering the awarding of contract
for the flying of the United States for
eign mails by Seaplane across the At
lantic via Bermuda, the Azores and
Portugal.
Dirigibles, Mr. Brown said, despite
the magnificent flights of the Graf Yep
pelin, have not proved themselves as
! speedy, manageable or capable OF keep
ing to schedule as airplanes.
Will Ask Bids Again.
The Postmaster General said that he
considers immediate establishment OF
regular mail service across the Atlantic
by seaplane feasible. q
II shall issue again in y few days"
he said, the advertisement for bids TO
carry the transoceanic mails by plane
It will cover the same route and the
same kind of service called for in the
original advertisement, which was with
drawn, but will better safeguard the
public interest"
The plan. Mr.. Brown said. provides
that pilots will be safeguarded by patrol
boats, equipped with radio, at l5O-n1lIe
intervals, from which speed boats may
be operated to rescue aviators and mail
in case the seaplanes were forced down
Carrying first class mail only, with
a minimum rate of so cents letter"
Mr.. Brown said, "a plane could carry
enough to operate profltably. There
could not be more than 500 pounds OF
mail in addition to the gasoline load
Col. Lindbergh suggested the mail load
might be increased by flying the first
500 miles with less than the full load
of gasoline, accompanied by fuelhg
plane, which could put aboard a final
full load of gasoline and return, 1t is
perfectly possible to do this, but 1t
seems somewhat fantastic on a regular
schedule"
Wants Dirigible Proved.
Mr.. Brown also branded as fantastic"
plan lot IlOat1lS ldllUlIls ACluos " EO
anchored at intervals across the ocean
as bases for the planes.
There never has been dirigible that
few on schedule day in and day out, :"
Mr.. Brown said. THE Akron, now
being built for the United States Navy,
has many novel features which may
improve matters, and which we Will all
find interesting to watch.
But my suggestion is that the lighter
than-air carrier prove its worth as the
airpIane did. TranScontinental air
transport followed the railroad lines so
that its passengers and mail could be
put on trains during the experimental
period.
Let them put a dirigible on the
Southern transcontinental route, say
from Atlanta to FL Paso-that Is easy
and level country. no mountains to
climb, well lighted, plenty of landing
fields. They may need few mooring
masts, but that probably can be ar
ranged. Then when they can fly that
route on schedule. it is time to talk
about flying the ocean"