AVIATION LAWS TO COME

The making of good laws is not to be overlooked when considering the future development of the aeroplane, for aviators must be protected from themselves, and the public must be protected from the rashness or inexperience of airmen. Almost all nations have already begun to exercise control over their new territory, the air, and are realising that it may become one of their most valued possessions and of an importance equal to their domain over water. For a nation without any seacoast may no longer be cut off from direct intercourse with the world through the aerial craft which can enter and leave at will, as vessels now do on the sea, with no chance of a neighbouring nation restricting this very freedom.

Laws are rapidly being passed by states regulating and licensing aviators and requiring lights to be carried, but it seems that the federal government should be the power that should control the air just as it does the sea and navigable rivers. For fliers flit about so that the whole country seems but a mere playground for men of the air.

Already the California legislature has made several laws to protect the aeroplane and the aviator, as well as to safeguard the larger public that stays on the ground. Some of these laws may seem a little premature, but everything about aeroplanes goes so fast, that there is no wonder the laws instead of lagging behind conditions as they usually do, should speed up a little ahead of them, for the progress of flight is such that by the time the law gets on the statute books the conditions may be calling for it. For instance, bills have been introduced at Sacramento to regulate the licensing of aeroplanes, which are to be classed as "motor vehicles," and to carry numbers and lights, the same as automobiles. The idea of providing for lights seems a little far-fetched at this time, as it will be a long time before there will be much flying at night. Besides, such lights as the proposed law provides would be unnecessary, for the reason that the aeroplane would not be confined to an arbitrary path, but could choose its own course. Therefore, a single light in front and another behind would be all that would be required, instead of one pair in front, one behind and one on each plane, as the bill suggests.

FUTURE COST OF THE AEROPLANE

The cost of the machine is high at the present time because there are but few made. No doubt when the great numbers of people who are now deeply interested in the subject get to the point of practical flight and desire to take flights, they will want to own machines, and learn to operate them. Then aeroplanes will be made in quantities and the price will be reduced in accord with the number that are built and some day we will be able to buy a good aeroplane for about the price we have to pay now for a small automobile.

Cortlandt Field Bishop is credited with having said when some one asked him if the manufacture of a cheap aeroplane, to cost $150, including the motor, would not be a great business undertaking, "Well, a great undertaking business should certainly come of it."

LANDING PLACES

The most serious problem of flying to-day is to find a good course to fly over and suitable landing places. The day will soon come when every city and town will have public landing and starting grounds. As a matter of fact the park commissioners of New York City have already been discussing the setting apart of landing places or isles of safety in the public parks of the city, although some authorities declare that it would not be well to encourage fliers to risk themselves and the people below by flying over the houses. There should be routes of travel established between cities over which an aviator will have a right to fly, just as there are highways on the surface of the earth.

GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGEMENT