CHAPTER XX 

 AIRSHIPS AND AIRPLANES 



1. What progress has been made in the last 

 twenty years in the development of air navigation? 



2. How do the airship and the airplane differ in 

 their construction and the method by which they 

 are kept in the air ? 



During the European War frequent references were made 

 in the newspapers to the use that was being made of air- 

 planes and airships, especially of the Zeppelins in their air 

 raids on England. Some idea of the distance these airships 

 can travel is given by the fact that frequent raids were made 

 on London, showing that these ships can travel from Ger- 

 many to London and return without alighting. 



In our own country, the United States Government is 

 authorized by Congress to spend $300,000 annually for 

 carrying mails by air routes. During the Mexican disturb- 

 ance, when American soldiers were camping in Mexico, mail 

 was taken almost daily from Columbus, New Mexico, to 

 General Pershing's headquarters, a distance of over 400 

 miles. 



During the summer of 1918 a regular aerial mail route was 

 established between New York and Washington, and between 

 New York and Chicago. (See figure 120.) Regular trips are 

 made each way daily except on Sunday. The trip from New 

 York to Washington (225 miles), which is made by the trains 

 in 6 hours, is made by the airplanes in two and a half or 

 three hours. The trip between New York and Chicago (850 



300 



