The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-02-10
TO CANCEL
PRESENT CONTRACTS
IS POSSIBLE BLOW
Army Aviators Will Fly Routes
But Which Ones Has Not
Been Determined
MANY PROTESTS RECEIVED
Hearing Asked by Firms Affect
ed Who Say Change Win
Bring Them to Ruin

Possibility that Bismarck may lose
its present airmail service doomed
Saturday as result OF President
Roosevelt's action in cancellin9 ali
contracts with present operating
companies.
At the time the cancellation was
announced late Friday. effective FEB.
10, 1t was said army aviators would
fly the present airmail routes. but
late Saturday further Associated
Press stories from Washington In
dicated that all but the most impor-
tant lines may be abandoned, at least
temporarily.
Such an eventuality was limited in
the statement Of Harllee Branch.
second assistant postmaster general
IN charge Of airmail, that q skeleton
map OF the routes on which the army
Will begin carrying mail will be-
ready within two days.
The department Is working ont
what 1t considers the primary and
most essential lines in order to have
them operating Immediately when
present contractors cease service"
Branch said.
He was not ready to indicate what
the primary lines might be, but they
were considered certain to cover cities
in which federal reserve banks are
located.
Face Further Handicap
A further handicap to operation Of
northwest lines by the army was seen
IN the statement Of st. Paul airmen
that no hangar space would be avail
able there for army planes, Ill the
available room now being taken I'D
by the craft Of private companies and
Of the army and navy air reserve.
They also called attention to the dit
ficulty Of winter operations In this
climate with open type army bomb
ing ships.
Demolition with . single pen stroke
Of the airmail subsidy structure was
accomplished on grounds Of collision
In the obtaining Of the contracts.
Operators Of airlines holding airmail
contracts were quick to deny any COL
fusion. Some frankly said that loss
Of the contracts might force them
out OF business.
Many demanded that they be given
q hearing before the contracts were
taken from them.
Barred From bidding
Under the formal order cancelling
the contracts. issued by Postmaster
General Farley, 1t was indicated at the
White House that none OF the concerns
stripped Of their contracts would be
able to bid on new air mail contracts
for another five years.
The president. ordering the army
and department OF commerce to CO.
operate with the postoffice depart
ment for the period Of the 'emer-
gency," indicated that some time would
elapse before new contracts will be
let.
Meanwhile. the war department
gave evidence Of more hustle than for
months as it prepared to take over the
huge air mail system. Orders were
flashed to aviation squadrons In all
sections Of the country.
General Douglas Macarthur. chief
Of staff, asserted:
I'VE viii start flying the air mail
week from today and there will be no
delay. no difficulty and no Interrupt
tion.'
About loo planes are available. he
said. At the outset probably only
about 900 big observation and cargo
planes will be used, with 100 Of the
army's speediest bombing planes held
In instant readiness to join.
Army Chiefs Enthusiastic
Both Secretary Dern and Mac
Arthur were enthusiastic, incidentally.
about the opportunity given to the
army.
Richard w. Robbins, president Of
Transcontinental and Western Air.
me-, telegraphed President Roosevelt
Continued ON Page 81