Chicago to New York

A commercial airship line between Chicago and New York, often discussed, took definite shape last week. A corporation is to be formed in which Marshall Field, William Wrigley, Jr., Franklin D. Roosevelt, Benedict Crowell, former Assistant Secretary of War, and Owen D. Young, Vice-President of the General Electric Company, will be members.

First a careful investigation of the possibility of such a line was made, by German engineers, who had been trained in the school of the Zeppelin. The report was favorable and preparations are going ahead.

Present plans are to build in this country a rigid dirigible of the Schuette Lanz type. Helium will be used as the elevating gas, because it is non-inflammable. The ship will carry 50 passengers, and is scheduled to leave New York at six in the morning and arrive in Chicago early next morning, the passengers sleeping en route. The Government is to give full co-operation because of the military advantage of developing commercial aviation in this country.