Evening star., 1932-04-03

ways, both forecast In reports TO
out the last two great "independt
virtually all the Nations air ira
panies, the so-called Big Four"
1t is the gradual stamping ou
centration of airmail power into '
has been largely instrumental for
,pe.c>artment policy and a resultir
tions, aimed at reorganization of
The Ludington Line is justly regarded
As one of aviation's true pioneers. 1t is
one of the largest air passenger lines in
the world, and Is the first to provide
interstate air transportation on railroad
frequency. Ludington has struggled in
vain to obtain airmail contracts, but
has In every instance lost out to Eastern
Air Transport, which now flies every
ounce of airmaiI along the Atlantic sea-
board south of New York.
The fact that Eastern Air Transport
haS been handed extension after eXten-
sion without bidding or competition in
the face of Ludington efforts to get mail
contracts, is one Of the leading reasons
for the congressional Investigations.
Under the circumstances, a merger OF
Ludington and Eastern Air has appeared
inevitable The first word that the
merger was in process came from the
lips of Postmaster General Walter F.
Brown when he appeared before the
House Committee on Post Offices and
Post Roads in connection with that
committees airrnail investigation a few
days ago. At the same time the COM
nittee was informed that Century Air
Lines, operated by Errett L. Cord, we're
in process of combining with American
Airways. holder Of II airmail contracts.
Cord, like the Ludingtons. had made
vain efforts to obtain airmail contracts.
even offering to carry mail at half the
price paid by the Government to exist
Ing contractors.
Merger Delay Promised.
Senator Kenneth Mcclellan Of Ten
nessee, father of the resolution under
which a special subcommittee of the
Senate Committee on Post Offices and
Post Roads will push thorough inves-
tigation of the entire airmail situation,
said that the committee, alarmed by
reports that Ludington and Cord were
being bought out to hush them up in
view of the coming probe, had asked the
Postmaster General about the reports
Brown, Senator Mcclellan said, had as
sured Senator Oddie, chairman Of the
special commit4e, that there would be
no such mergers made in advance OF
the investigation.
The Senate committee is composed
of five members, three Republicans
and two Democrats. Besides Oddie and
Mcclellan, the members are Senators
George H. Moses of New Hampshire
and Wallace H White. jr, of Maine,
Republicans, and James r. Byrnes OF
South Carolina. Democrat.
The committee has the power lacked
by other congressional committees
which have studied the airmail matter,
to subpoena and swear witnesses and
to require production Of ,docu entarry
evidence The. group, accort g to
Senator McKellar, will make Il use
c. is powers to get to the be- ON OF
TIE criticisms which have b. l rife
e. MT the Post once Dep tn1ent.
: tie tire this was written the COM
r ee had set M date for the begin
r.-~ cf IFS investigation. but it is ex-
r. - tf1st the hearings will begin
ir-rlediatelr.
Night Airmail Moves.
Transfer of the night airmail from
Bolling Field TO Washington Hoover
Airport came during the past week
after four years of operation under
Temporary" permit. often renewed. at
the Army flying field. wnen the War
Department granted Pitcairn Aviation,
then operating the New York-Wash-
ington Airmail, the right to use Boiling
Field there was no commercial airport
in the National Capital area.
The War Department issued re-
vokable permit for use of the Army
policy. upon condition thet the Dis
trict government take steps to provide
a municipal airport to which the
airmail service could be moved. Months
of futile effort to have an airport con-
structed by the Federal and District
governments followed.
Washington Airport was developed
by private capital, became the terminal
for far-f1ung air transport operations
and was merged with Hoover Field.
The night airmail remained at Boiling
Field because of reluctance on the
part Of Eastern Air Transport, which
had bought out the Pitcairn Line. air
mail contracts and ALL to operate at
night out Of field bordered by power
lines. Assurance has been given the
transport company that these lines.
which extend along the Washington
Richmond highway, soon will come
down.
Field Is Air Center.
Washington Hoover Airport now is
the center of all air transport oper-
ations out of the National Capital.
Transport planes operate from there to-
cities up and down the entire Atlantic
Coast from Canada to Florida, across
the AlleghenieS to Pittsburgh and
Cleveland and across the Gulf States
to the Pacific. There are direct air
connections to Mexico, the Indies, Cen
tral and South America, Canada and to
all parts of the United States.
In recognition of the growing i'm
portance OF the local air transport
terminal, the United States Weather
Bureau last July moved its local air
ways weather station from Boiling
Field to Washington Hoover Airport.
Eastern Air Transport eliminated one
schedule between New York and Wash
ington by consolidating the southbound
passenger schedule out of New York
at u noon and the o'clock south
bound airmail schedule. The combined
mail-pasSenger plane goes through to
Richmond At the same time Eastern
Air Transport reduced its Richmond
Norfolk schedules. which had made di-
rect connections from the Capital, from
three round trips daily to a single trip.
Passengers only are carried on this run.
The Ludington Line is awaiting de-
livery of several fast Fleetster planes to
inaugurate a high-speed express service
between Washington and New York.
With the new planes in operation serv-
iCc every half hour will be provided
during large part Of each day.
Millions Now Fly.
A rplane 2 p-sscngers, once numbered
b. ."cres and hundreds, now are num-
b2Ted BY millions. Civil aircraft of the
United States during 1881 carried
total of 1883 .862 passengers and few
total of l4l, ,729l07 miles, according to
a survey made by the Aeronautics
Branch OF the Department of Com