Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-15

permanently on all four sides OF the
great shaft, probably in the window
openings.
Engineers and pilots often have spec
ulated on the results of a collision OF
an airplane with the Monument. The
crash undoubtedly would result in the
death Of all aboard the plane. On this
all were agreed. What would happen to
the Monument, however, is a matter OF
speculation. Some there are who be-
lieVe that If a tri-motOred transport
plane, travelling at better than 100 miles
an hour, were to strike the Monument
full blow near the top the top of the
Stone shaft might be carried away.
Others argue that the weight of the
stone walls, even though unsupported
by structural steel, would be sufficient
to withstand any blow an airplane
might deliver.
In the meantime, however. it is to be
hoped that adequate lights will be in
stalled soon enough so that these ar
guments never may be settled in fact.
The Lindbergh Manner.
DIR. Hugo Eckener, master Of the Graf
Zeppelin and leader of the German air.
ship industry, is able to fend off inter-
viewers in typical Lindbergh fashion
when necessity demands.
Arriving in town most unexpectedly
by rail a day or two ago, DR. Eckener
went straight to the Willard Hotel, reg
istered and went over to the Navy De-
partment to see Capt. John H. Towers,
acting chief of naval aviation in the
absence on the West coast of Rear Ad-
mlral William A. Moffett.
For more than an hour Dr. Eckener
remained in Capt. Towers Office, untn
after the time he was due at the Ger
man embassy for luncheon engage
ment. Several newspaper men waited
for him in the corridor outside the
Office
Finally swinging door popped open
and out STROBE DR.. ECkener at a great
rate, heels humping forcibly on the
cement floor. Behind him. like the
tail of a comet, came F. w. Won
Meister, who is accompanying the doc
tor. Behind the two came the news
paper men. Won Meister slackened his
pace, began to answer questions. DR..
Eckener plowed ahead. Hearing the
trampling Of feet behind him and
sensing that Won Meister was dropping
behind, Dr. Eckener looked back over
his shoulder saw the newspaper men
in full pursuit.
DR.. Eckener tipped a large hand
shoulder nigh. .'Hullo!" he said. The
hand, starting to drop, tipped upward
again a scant inch. "Good-by," said
the doctor and steamed away And
that was the extent of that particular
interview.
Orders Travel by Air.
officials and employees Of the State
of New Mexico have been given orders
to use air transportation wherever pos
sible while travelling on State business.
The orders were issued by Gov. Ar
thur Selign1an and are believed to be
the first of the kind issued by State
executive.
Gov. Seligman himself is a confirmed
air traveller. He made his first flight
Is years ago in an old pusher-type
plane in which he had to sit on a
board between the wings. He has
used air transportation consistently for
the past three years.
Aviation made possible a concession
to the appetite Of DR.. Albert Einstein
during the recent visit of that distin-
guished scientist to California. Dr.
Einstein expressed his desire for a real
English saddle of mutton in the hear
ing of an enterprising hotel proprietor.
The saddle was ordered by wire and
cable from England, was shipped to
New York by fast steamer and sent by
air to Los Angeles, where it was served
at an Einstein dinner.
Ten young men from the National
Capital or nearby Maryland and Vir-
ginia suburbs are enrolled in classes
which have just begun flying training
at the Army Air Corps primary flying
schools.
In the school at Brooks Field. San
-
Charles S. Heath, Gregory Keenan,, En-
S. Pugh, George B. Schoonmaker and
James Fl. Rothrock, jr, sll of Wash
ington: Harold l.. Kreider. Hyattsville,
Md, and Harry w. Wells, Chevy
Chase, Md
There are no local men included in
the roster of the new class at March
Field, Riverside, Calf. Those who have
just started the course at the two pri-
mary schools face eight months train
ing in these schools, followed by four
months in the Advanced Flying School,
If they are able to maintain the high
standing required Of them. Those VINO
complete both courses successfully will
be commissioned second lieutenants in
the Air Corps Reserve and. under the
provisions Of their enlistment, are re-
quired to serve on active duty under
their Reserve commissions for period
Of two years unless, in the meantime,
they are commissioned in the Regular
Army.
Aviation Library Grows.
Though the division of aeronautics
Of the Library Of Congress was estab-
lished just little more than year
ago. as a result of a grant from the
Fund for the Promotion
Of Aeronautics. its collection today
ranks as the worlds most complete
store Of aerOnautical literature.
The aer0nautics collection Of the
library is one Of the most rapidly as
in the history Of that ingtitu-
ton. as prior TO 1929 no effort had been
made to build up a special collection Of
this material. There had been no col
lections in bulk acquired. No concerted
effort had been made to gather at any
one national establishment either the
ancient or rapidly growing current liter
allure Of aeronautics.
The present aeronautical library has
been built around two American collec-
tons ana four European collections.
The four foreign aercnautical libraries
were acquired last year and constituted
what was regarded as the finest ayatla-
bic library Of its kind that could be
B4L ttA9C0 oilg HiLt1 IL l44S WIZ ~.
The addition of these four collections
to the original acrpnautical collection in
the Library Of Congress and the Samuel
PterpOnt Langley collection has brought
the total number Of aeronautical volumes
and pamphlets in the library to 1927.
This list is supplemented by very large
collection Of manuscripts some of them
exceedingly precious, by original letters,
notebooks and original pencil and water
color drawings and photographs.
An expert staff has been built up
under direction OF Albert F. Zahm, chief
of the division of aeronautics, TO make
all this accumulation or material avail
able to the public. During the past year
the library has been Of benefit to hun
dreds Of seekers Of information. Among
these who have been assisted are Gov
eminent designers Of aircraft, patent
1850. ...-.- - -....-. a1l.l.