Evening star., 1938-03-23
%50,O)O A|RMA|L
FUND TO AID LINES
Unearmarked Sum Will Go
Toward Setting Up New
Connecting Routes.

poAV eOiAPo1AA0o IlCW OCNpiy III GIlc
red" and at the same time to further
scientific" development of the do
mestic airmail system, Congress, de-
parting from all precedent, has grant,
ed the Post ONCE Department an I'M
earmarked fund Of $850,OO0 in the
new appropriation bill.
After prolonged discussion by Sen
ate and House conferees, both bodies
have agreed to total of s16,65O, 900
for the domestic airmail service.
This is compromise figure, the
House having authorized only Sl5.-
100000. which was increased by the
Senate to s16,93l,3 1886.
THE additional amount over the
House bill allowed by the conference
agreement. $850,000" it was reported
by the conference managers, "is in
Guided Tor additional routes and in
creased frequencies on existing routes.
ana the managers on the part of
both houses have agreed that this
additional sum of $850,O0O is to be
allocated by the Post Office Depart
ment without reference to anv spe-
clflc earmarking of particular serv-
ices which may have been indicated
collaterally in connection with the
passage and discussion of the appro-
priation."
Will Be Spread Out.
While postal officials declined to
comment officially on the item while
the bill still remains under consid-
Grafton by Congress, it is understood
the $850,000 item is to be spread
OUT over the country in the form of
feeder and auxiliary routes, badly
needed connecting links and increased
frequency of service.
Typical of the new routes under
consideration under terms of the $780,
600 increase is one into Northern
Michigan, now lacking service A
similar new route between Washing
ton and Norfolk. Va. is to be opened.
probably April Z, under existing au-
thorization.
In the meantime. the Senate Post
Office and Post Roads Committee ap-
proved bill authorizing a 5,000-mile
extension of existing airmail routes.
Chairman Mekellar attached the pro-
vision to bill previously approved by
the House. which would authorize ex-
perimental service in the tri-State
area of West Virginia, Ohio and Penn
sylvania.
Senator McKellar said existing air.
mail laws authorizes $4,000 miles of
routes and that the airmail appro-
priation increase would permit extern
sion of contract lines beyond that
limit. 1t was estimated that if the
new bill becomes law 1000 additional
miles could be added to airmail lines
Immediately.
Typical of the important new con-
Meeting links now under consideration
are routes from Jacksonville, Fla, to
New Orleans and from the Southern
~ transcontinental route, probably at
Phoenix, Ariz., north across the
Transcontinental e. Western Air main
line to the Salt Lake City-Los Angeles
route OF Western Air Express. This
latter route would provide direct con-
nection between the important mining
areas Of Arizona, Utah, Idaho and
Montana.
Although the Post Office Depart
nent has not made any official an
nouncement of plans, it is understood
1t Is the intention of postal officials
to add at least one extra round trip
day on all routes where single daily
round trips now are being flown.
Not Primary Purpose.
Granting of the S8500OO without
strings is expected to 60 long way
toward meeting the most serious finan-
cial emergencies confronting contract
, Airmail operators, although from the
standpoint of the Federal Govern
ment and the airmail-using public
this Is not the primary purpose Of the
appropriation.
Col. Edgar S. Gorrell, president of
the Air Transport Association of
America, warned Congress during
hearings on the bill that many OF
the domestic air transport companies
face bankruptcy unless relief is grant,
ID. His complaint that airlines are
forced to operate schedules for con-
venience of the airmail service at
times which do not coincide with de-
mands of air passengers. who pay the
bulk Of the company revenues, is ex-
pected to be at least partially met
by establishment OF new schedules on
certain existing routes.
From the standpoint of the afr
mail system Of the country, however,
the new item is of Importance because
It will permit filling in of the more
serious existing gaps, providing bet
ter balanced, more useful service for
the country as whole, it was ex-
planned.