Evening star., 1934-02-04

mail, but that II will not decrease
revenues to the Post Once Departe
ment.
Airmail now is carried at . rate q
8 cents per ounce for the first ounce.
On q basis of from 40 to As letters to
the pound, this brings from 1920 to
$3.50 per pound In postage. Reduc-
ton of the rate on straight airmail
from 8 to 5 cents would reduce the
postage to from 81 to S2.25 per pound.
1t Is estimated, however, that the
amount of airmail carried would in
crease 80 per cent or more. The loss
in airmaii poundage when the rate
was increased from to cents pe'
ounce amounted to more than $780,.
0C0 pounds for the first year.
Two new classes of airmail proposed
are "lettergram." running 100 to the
pound, at a postage rate OF cents
each, and an air and postal card, run-
ming $50 to the pound, at rate Of 2
cents. Each would carry So IN post
age per pound.
The airmail carried last year
amounted to something less than T.
100000 pounds. Using the round num-
ber, this brought an estimated postage
revenue of s24,ooO0OO. on basis of
40 letters to the pound, or s27000,000
at As to the pound.
An increase of 80 per cent In the
poundage would mean 9,750,000
pounds and at the new scent rate. on
straight airmail alone, this would
bring in sl9, 500, 900 at 40 letters to the
pound, or $21,937,500 at As to the
pound. A great proportion Of the total
poundage, however. undoubtedly would
be in the new forms of airmail. at
revenue rate Of SO per pound, 1t was
pointed out, swelling not only the tota'
poundage, but greatly increasing tn
total revenue above the level
straight airmail.
Great Air Fleet Ordered.
Under the supervision of Col. Char.
A. Lindbergh, S3,500,0 900 program
replacement of present flying equip
ment of Transcontlnental g. West
ern Air has been launched, with th
placing of orders for 700-horsepowe
Wright Cyclone engines to power tn
Al -engined Douglas transport
now being built for the line
Selection Of the airplanes and en-
gines was made only after the mos
rigid service trials and compliance
with stringent specifications drawn
up under supervision of Col. Lind
bergh, who is technical adviser to the
airline.
One Of the tests according to Rich
ard w. Robbins, president of the air
line. involved the take-off with full
load of 1880 pounds from the airpor'
at WinsloW, Ariz. 4500 feet above sea
| level, with one engine cut out after
the plane had Travelled half way down
the runway.
After one engine was cut out the
big plane completed its take-of and.
after climbing to 5000 feet. flew OF
one engine to Albuquerque, N. Mex,
240 miles distant.
In other tests, it was announced.
the same plane, fully loaded. climbed
from an altitude of 5000 feet to 5000
feet with only one engine, in less than
10 minutes. Service trials we're flown
in attitudes up to 10000 feet to test
the functioning of the engines at this
height, in preparation for high alt-
tude flying by the airline after the
new equipment is available.
The motors selected for the plane
are the same as that used by Col anc
Mrs. Lindbergh on their six-month
survey fight, which involved two
ocean crossings and 10000 miles Of
flying.
In case Of national emergency the
new planes could be used for fast
transportation, it was pointed out
The Al planes could carry 800 men
with full military equipment. or g.
tons of ammunition and supplies. at
maximum speed Of 2l7 miles per ho'-'
Robbins said.