THE PROGRESS OF AVIATION.
President Hoover has instructed the aviation sections of the Post Office, War and Navy Departments to study existing and contemplated air routes in the United States with the object of setting up a clearly defined and co-ordinated national system of airways for mail and passenger transpor- tation. The aim would be to determine which routes are most serviceable from a national point of view, and commercial aviation companies would be encouraged by means of Government subsidies or air mail contracts to fit their activities into the national scheme. Mr. Hoover his a similar policy in mind in respect of the merchant marine, feeling it desirable that Government grants should be influenced by the importance, from the point of view of the country as a whole, of the trade routes which are served. While the air routes are being studied, the Coast and Geodetic Survey of the Department of Commerce has begun the compilation of a complete airway chart of the United States. Ground elevations, towns, railways, highways, power trans- mission lines, revolving light and directive radio beacons and landing fields are to be indicated for the guidance of aviators. The chart will be issued in sections. Aviation is developing continuously and the data to be charted changes frequently. At the present time, for example, there are about one thousand airports in the United States, but plans for at least another thousand are already under consideration in various parts of the country.
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