The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-12-04
fRANSOCEANIC.
DRICIBLE line.
FUNDS URGED
Proposal Meets Quick Re-
spouse Among the
congressman
By JOHN r. BEAL
United Press Staff Correspondent

United frSSS SN@i'
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5. tUPl
Commerce department business
advisers opened q drive yesterday
70 get federal funds for immedi-
ate commercial development OF
transoceanic dirigiblc service.
Their proposal found quick re-
Spouse in congress. =.
The movement 20 put the Unit
cd States in competition tof
hghter-than-air transportation,
field in which Germany now Is SUI
prcme. featured two develop
mcntS:
/. Secretary Of Commerce Dan
iel c. Roper revealed that = Spe-
ciaI subcommittee o. the business
advisory council had recommends
ed that the maritime act, which
Grants federal subsidies for con-
struction and operation o. the
American merchant marine. DC
applied 20 airshipS.
.. Chairman Royal y. Copeland
Democrat OF New York. OF the
senate commerce committee which
handled the maritime act IN con-
qress.' endorsed the proposal. tie
said the United States must go
forward" in this and other
branches of aviation.
The business advisory Su6com-
mittce which reported 70 Roper
included Chairman Samuel /;
Wcth,rin. Robert G.. Ebert, and
Gin both Wilson. Paul W. litch-
field. Akron, president OF the
Goodvear Tire and Rubber com
nary. the OIL firm which makes
drigibleS in the United States, Is
one Of the commerce departments
business advisers but was not on
the subcommittee Charles +. Ros-
endahl. navy dirigiblC commander,
and Garland Fulton, acted aS con-
SultantS.
eve feel that the United
States should not remain idle II
American business interests are
70 avoid losing ground in this
demonstrated form OF modern
oceanic aerial transportation, the
report said. Furthermore, COM
rlercial lighter-than-aircratt I'M
doubtedly have potential value
rs naval reserve vessels.
THE maritime act OF 1886 mas
BECOME q law. In order 20 pave
the way for private enterprise TO
engage in airShip activities. we
recommend that the secretary OF
commerce take such steps as are
appropriate 70 insure that the
principles of the maritime act are
made applicable to airshipS.'
homeland said there was mo
oue,tion but that development of
tsansoceanic dirigible transporta-
tibn is a necessity of the near tu-
tgre.
1.-The merchant marine act. ne
said. authorized the maritime
commission TO study the poSSlbll-
ity OF dovetailing tranSoceanlc
aircraft into the program. The
whole matter also IS linked w7tht
that of naval defense, |
t'WhiRe was abroad last sum
mpr." he added. II saw how Wig
orously the nations OF Europe are
pushing the. development OF avia'
ton. especially Italy. | am con;
WINGED me must go forward, and
/ am in harmony with this idea.
Chairman Schuyler Otis Bland,
d., Va, :. OF the house merchant ma.
rine committee has not r'eturned
to the capitol, but both branches
o. congress number numerous adj
vocates of. 5dirigiblc constructions
despite the Akron and Macon ds-I
aSterS ,',
The conncil pointed out that not
one Commercial passenger ever
has been killed or injured in the
history Of lighter-thau-s!r navIgaI
ton. AL catsStropheS have in
yolved naval or military crews or
the crews of commercial craft. Up
to Jenuary /. last. the Graf 'zeD-I
pelin rad made Ill transoceanici
crossings carrying total of 1871
600, passengers TS. GOO pounds of
mail, and ,lil, 800 pounds OF
freight sHs - -.'H !"a'..'
Last SUMMER new and larger
German ship, the Won Hindenburg,
made nine ground trips between
Germany and the United States
with similar safety record. sweet
Sttr