Evening star., 1935-06-29
A|RWAYS ARGOSY
IS ON WAY HOME
Pan-American Expedition Is
Hailed by Governor Gen.
eraI of Philippines.
BY JUNIUS B. WOOD.

bn JONItS ID. VooDs
Sy Radio to The Star.
ABOARD S. S. NORTH HAVEN, In
Pacific, June 29.-Pan- American
Airways' 50 600, 900 pioneering expedi-
ton for a clipper plane service be-
tween America and Asia is approach
ing its end. The ArgoSy ship, the
doughty freighter North Haven, has
been on the back track from Manila
since June 49, Guam is now behind
us and We arrive at Wake Island
Monday.
BY a rough estimate, the mere
preliminaries of the regularly sched-
uled plane service cost S2,000,000, and
the outlay will total 81 000,0O0 by the
time the service is ready, but it is
undoubtedly one of the SoundeSt in
vestments in the future of the coun-
try.
Before construction was actually
begun, four years of field and labora-
tory research were devoted to prep
aration of the service. 1t cost con-
siderably more than S250,O0O to
charter the North Haven, which will
IldNt DttIl OuJ Nlldil 10 NSCho
before it reaches Seattle, and to pay
for supplies and wages of the con-
struction crews. Machinery and other
equipment left on the islands where
bases are being established add be-
tween 100000 and s5O0000.
No Expense Spared.
Meanwhile one clipper plane also
has been pioneering over the route
snd when the service starts for pas
Eengers and cargo the company must
operate three of these giant sea-
birds, which, with their preliminary
tests. add another $1,000 900. No eX-
pense has been spared to make the
future air route not only safe and
reliable but comfortable and scenic
and thus to encourage a flow of i'm
portant perSonageS between East and
West. contributing to sounder inter-
national understandings.
There is great enthusiasm in the
Philippines over the coming air service
between the United States and Asia
Gov. Gen. Murphy said:
In my opinion this service span
ming the Pacific is one of the greatest
things ever undertaken. From the
standpoint of the United States 1t
will be as advantageous to that coun-
try as to the Philippines. 1t will put
Manila in relation to Washington and
New York where San Francisco now
is"
Takes Supplies at Manila
The North Haven spent three days
Al Manila. loading additional supplies
for the bases at Guam. Wake and Mid
way Islands. However, John A. Steele
Pan American maintenance engineer
Charles S. Russell, the expedition
chief construction engineer. and James
j. CuShman, radio engineer remained
in Manila
According to Gov. Gen. Murphy
Harold M. Bixby. the airWays com
pany's representative in the Orient
now in China as a member of the
Forbes Mission, is expected in Manila
in few days to discuss the project
with the Governor General and Philip
pine leaders.
Meanwhile airline companies O.
other nations are angling for a foot.
hold in Manila. A company operating
a fve-day service between London anc
Singapore would connect with the
American line here. Also. Britain
Imperial Always, the French All
France and Japanese air transports
are all clamoring to effect an entrance
via Manila to the teeming markets OF
the Far East.
In addition to the Philippines pref
erence for Pan-American Airways,
however, there is the practical OBJ
stacle of a thousand miles of open
ocean, which is not easy for airlines
lacking the recognized American
ocean flying experience and back
ground.
Dirt for Beautification.
The North Haven is Transporting a
hundred tons of dirt to Guam. Wake
and Midway Islands to beautify the
air base grounds with flowers and
shrubbery. The dirt must be stelilized
so it will not bring either insects or
weeds to those chaste islands. Con-
sidering the delay to the ship in load
ing and unloading. the fancy dirt for
Midway will cost Pan-American about
$50 ton.
Though the North Haven is nine
days behind the original schedule. the
Midway and Wake program has beer
carried out as planned months ago
Gov. Gen. Murphy is eager to get tn,
Pan-American service started imme.
dlatelv for the Philippines.
Everything within the power oi