Railroad 74.4 Motor Carriers 3.9 Water Carriers 16.5 Pipelines 17.7 Airlines *Too small to report

Air Carriers and the Army.

The army had some interest in the airplane as a weapon, but the army had no money. The war was over, and military appropriations were being slashed dramatically. Even at best the military was a poor market. Its custom was to buy a few experimental planes and test and modify them endlessly before placing orders (if indeed they were placed) with manufacturers. Few entrepreneurs were willing to invest money in such an uncertain venture. Moreover, it was clear that a stable commercial aviation system would never be developed without planes able to carry passengers safely and without sufficient numbers of passengers willing to fly.

Airmail.

The army fliers made a breakthrough when in 1918 they were selected by the Wilson administration to fly selected airmail...