Evening star., 1933-08-06

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nine years ago, in July, 1924, that the
first scheduled day-and- might coast-to-
coast airmail service was inaugurated.
surplus Army plane, converted into q
mail carrier, took off from San Fran
cisco. Another left New York City. In
those days there was a daily fight OF
5,552 miles on the New Chicago.
Department operators. The pilots had
single engined surplus Army planes,
carrying $50 pounds of mail each. Since
then, under contracts with private oper-
ating companies, daily mileage flown on
this route was increased to 10000.
The first plane to carry United States
mail on private contract in 1919 had a
speeds of $50 to ITS miles an hour are
common. A few months ago new model
was. flown in test operation with top
speed Of 1872 miles an hour and cruis-
ing speed of 1855 miles. This was under
conditions OF full load, with 10 passen-
gers and their baggage, two pilots, q
stewardess and 400 pounds of cargo. The
rate tending to produce safety. This
plane went to ceiling" of 20, 500 feet,
much more than necessary to clear the
highest peaks of the Western noun
tains.
IN the ground, progress has been
made in establishing series OF
chains Of emergency and regular land
ing fields, airports that compare favor
ably with railroad and steamship ter
minals, radio beacon and lighting de-
vices to aid in air navigation day and
night, and special weather reporting to
insure safe and efficient operation.
Pilots have been trained to fly blind
entirely by observation of instruments,
in hooded coekpits- so that under con-
ditions Of fog and heavy snowstorms
planes may be safely brought into tez-
minals.
But the keen eyes Of airmail pilots are
still alert for the detection of trouble,
aloft or below. One pilot, Murwin d.
Ator, in period Of six months, on three
occasions saved lives and property that
service. Flying between Chicago and
Atlanta, he discovered a burning house
on the outskirts of Centralia, III. He
flew low, "zoomed" his motor and man
aged to wake the occupants, a widow and
her two children. They escaped just as
the roof of the burning cottage fell in.
A few months later, the same pilot dis
nd
by strong winds, sweeping on the village
of Wallace, Ind. Ator tried to arouse the
inhabitants, and succeeded just as the
fire reached the outlying homes and
sheds. The fire was stopped, and the
people of the town credit the airmail
pilot with the saving of their lives and
property.
Shortly afterward, Ator detected q
burning farm house near Lowell, Ind
He was unable to awaken the occupants,
SO few over the nearby town, attracted
attention and then returned to the scene
of the fire and managed to arouse the
two men and three children in the
dwelling just as the Lowell Fire Depart
ment arrived. The home was destroyed,
but lives were saved and destruction of
barns and outbuiIdings prevented.
Such is the caliber of the men in the
airmail service, and of men throughout
the postal service. The high courage,
the intelligence and the skill Of these
public servants is but an index of the
Nations vast human resources, which
are bound to carry us safely through
periods Of stress and trial to a new and
better condition of life for the mass Of
our citizens.