Evening star., 1937-01-30
NATIVE GENIUS MAY LEAD NATION TO AIRSEIP SUCCESS
PROJECT BEFORE CONGRESS
Dependence Foreign Designers Declared Have Been One
of Serious Mistakes in Commercial and Military
DEVELOPMENT Measures Interest Country.
By Lucy Salamanca.
MERCHANT marine OF the ar
n its ships designed and built by

By Lucy Salamanca.
A MERCHANT marine Of the air.
n its ships designed and built by
~ American inventors, engineers
4 \ and skilled labor, that might
place the United States in the fore
front Of commercial nations and estab-
lish regular transoceanic passenger
and transport service with far greater
safety and under greater pay loads
than are now possible, may be realized
If Congress passes favorably upon two
bills presented the opening week OF the
session by Representative John M.
O'Connell Of Rhode Island.
In addition to establishing the
United States as a Nation ably fitted
to take care Of It's commercial inter-
ests and one that recognizes and ap-
preciates what is already recognized
in other quarters Of the world-that
our engineers and inventors are more
skilled and ingenious than those OF
other nationalties-the bills will, IN
becoming law, lay the foundation for
q completely new American industry
and provide employment for increas-
ing numbers Of American professional
engineers, scientists and technical
workmen, giving an impetus to pri-
vate industry that will strike a re-
freshing note in an era OF Govern
ment-subsidized commercial enter
prises.
A loan Of $12, 900, 900 has been asked
under the provisions Of the bill, the
United States Government to receive
interest at the rate Of 3l2 per cent
. year and be secured by all patents,
patent rights and present and sub
sequently acquired assets" OF the cor
poration receiving the money until
the loan is paid. This sum OF money
would be used to foster the American
airship industry to the extent of con-
structing two American-design dirig-
ible airships Of not less than 5000, 900
cubic feet helium gas capacity. and
having q speed exceeding 100 miles
per hour. 1t would likewise provide
for construction Of Southern airship
plant and airship dock and a large
air field and operating terminal for
trans Atlantic operations.
ZACH of these ships, when COM
pleted, would inaugurate weekly
round-trip service across the Atlantic.
in q fashion similar to the scheduled
trips Of the Graf Zeppelin and the
Hindenburg OF Germany. BY the use
Of an entirely new. American-con-
ceived design in their structure, they
would strike a new note In lighter
than-air craft science and 1t Is be-
lieved would give the United States
the ranking position among nations
for safety and practicability in opera
ton.
1t is Q curious fact that, while
America admittedly leads the world
In the diversity and ingenuity Of its
patent grants, and is recognized
abroad for the inventive genius and
skill of its engineers and technicians,
We have never made use Of these
talents when 1t came to their appli-
cation in developing our proves in
lighter -than-air craft. Considering
that this field is without question the
future stage for commercial activities
and is of paramount Importance in
military defense in times Of war, 1t Is
difficult to understand the attitude
of mind that has looked heretofore
to Germany not only for funds for
DEVELOPMENT Of aircraft, but for brains
and skill in designing and construct
ing dirigibles for the United States
OF America. Both Of the huge dirig-
fbles with which We had such un-
happy experience in the past-tne
Macon and the Akron-were designed
and constructed by German engineers.
Astonishing as this fact must strike
any United States citizen with
reasonable faith In the brains ana
abilities of his own countrymen, 1t Is
one easily verified. Both OF THESE
diriribles were designed and built
by the Goodyear Zeppelin Co. OF
Akron, Ohio, as per cent OF wnose
stock is owned by German interests
and q large percentage of whose pat
ents are held by German inventors
In Germany.
rURTTIERMORE, it is the belief OF
L Representative O'Connell, as well
"a Of certain authorities in lighter
than.air craft, that these two ships.
the expense Of whose construction anu
trial flights was borne by the unlteo
states. could well have served as ex-
,,eriments for German engineers even
then interested in building q snip Is
large ss the Hindenburg, but witnou1
.ufiicient empirical formulae upon
which to base its construction. In
the words Of the Rhode Island Con-
0ressman. "The construction and de-
struction of the Akron and Macon un-
doubtedly supplied valuable data TO
the German Zeppelin organization for
the construction Of the Hindenourg.
IT do not wish to say anything detri-
mental" Mr.. O'Connell went on 70
explain, Ito our now-valued Amerl-
can citizens Of German birth who may
formerly have been zeppelin-trained
engineers and came to this country
to aid in the design and construction
of the Akron. The fact remains, how
ever, that these engineers perhaps had
not acquired the full technical knowl-
edge then possessed by the Zeppelin
organization. or, If they had such
knowledge, they did not insist that
either the Akron or the Macon be
constructed with certain important re-
Inducements which I am informed
were employed in the construction OF
previous Zeppelin airships.
IT understand that during the
Iiehter-Than-A Air Forum at Akron,
Ohio, the Navy Department was
charged with responsibility for the
loss Of the Akron and Macon because
the builders were not allowed to in
clude certain reinforcements which
had been considered necessary and
were included in previous Zeppelin
constructed airships. I do not know
II an investigation has been made
ay fha o.