AIRMAIL CREATES AN INDUSTRY: Spanning the Continent

On December 10, 1919, appearing before the U.S. House Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, Second Assistant Postmaster General Otto Praeger requested $3 million for the creation and operation of airmail routes between New York – San Francisco, Pittsburgh – Milwaukee, New York – Atlanta, and St. Louis – Minneapolis. He argued that these routes would further the ultimate goal of the Air Mail Service, which he stated again, was "to develop aviation to that point where corporations will come in and run the lines. Then we will make contracts with them as we do with power boat or steamship lines." In agreement with the purpose of the service, but unimpressed with the breadth of the growth, Congress allotted Praeger $1,375,000 and told him to concentrate on the transcontinental New York – San Francisco route.

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