1935 Newspaper Abstracts


The Journal and Sentinel, Winston-Salem, NC, Sun., April 14, 1935:
p. 7, c. 1 -

FAMED AVIATOR
        RELATES STORY
                OF GREAT RACE
        -------------
Col. Roscoe Turner Hopes
  to Fly Around World;
     Thrills Crowd
      -----------

        Colonel Roscoe Turner, democratic air ace, spoke to an
appreciative audience and thrilled them with his story of the
epoch-making London-to-Australia race in which he finished third.
        His address was illustrated with silent motion pictures-
historic, educational and entertaining- of countries over which he
traveled by air in the flight.
        When the story was told and the last reel of film shown, the
aviator gave his attention to a clamoring audience of youngsters seeking
autographs.  And none was slighted.  He spent nearly half-an hour with
them, autographed pictures and wrote his name on paper of all
descriptions.
        "Tell the boys at the newspaper hello?" he said as he left
Reynolds Auditorium where he spoke under the auspices of the
Winston-Salem Junior Chamber of Commerce.
        He told the Journal and Sentinel that he hopes to make his next
flight a trip around the world, hopping off from Panama this fall, if
plans culminate successfully.
        Colonel Turner, in a brief interview, said that he is building a
plane which he hopes will travel 400 miles per hour for use in the United
States.
        He told the audience that he wants to land another airplane by
use of a parachute, after he had shown motion pictures of the feat he
accomplished sometime ago.  The parachute, located just above the
cockpit, was used to float the plane to the ground.
        The pictures touched on the high spots of the race, the course of
which carried the airmen over three continents, three oceans, deserts,
mountains, uncharted wilds and through tropic heat and cold which he
described in his lecture prior to the showing of the film and with the
individual scenes as they were flashed on the screen.
        He described the flight as:
        "The most important flight in my whole aeronautical career."
        Of his trials and tribulations, preparatory to the flight and in
the race, he said:
        "I have never been in so much hot water in my life trying to do
something."
        Colonel Turner spoke of the "superiority of American-built
planes" and commented that the airlines in the United States are from
three to five years ahead of "anything else in the world."
        The plain-spoken airman amused his audience with incidents of the
race.  And on one occasion of the flight, describing his reactions to the
thought of landing in the "wilds," he said:  "I was actually scared- no
foolin'."
        Colonel Turner came to North Carolina by train and motored from
Greensboro to Winston-Salem.
        Following his introduction by John M. Brown, Colonel Turner said,
"... it gives me great pleasure to return to Winston-Salem."  He was here
several years ago.



The News: Lynchburg, VA, Sat., April 20, 1935:
p. 8, c. 3-4 -

TURNER HITS AT AIR DERBY OFFICIALS
        IN LECTURE HERE; RELATES ADVENTURES

        The difficulties encountered in flying an airplane half way
around the world were recounted last night by Colonel Roscoe Turner,
third place winner in the famous London-Melbourne air derby.
        Speaking to a small audience at Smith Memorial Auditorium, the
famous aviator mentioned derby officials and financial ills as the main
obligations in his way.
        He recalled his disbarment from the race, because his entrance
cable gave the wrong name of his ship- a mistake made by his secretary,
which was corrected the next day.
        The colonel was disbarred for several days until he remarked in a
press statement that "Sir Thomas Lipton must have been an unusual
Englishman."
        "The next day I was reinstated," he said.
        Turner estimated the flight would cost fifteen thousand dollars,
he said, but when he returned to America he had spent thirty thousand.
        He encountered trouble, he said, loading his plane aboard ship to
take to England, he could not procure air charts, and derby officials
sealed several gas tanks of his plane because the ship was overweight.
        Turner referred again to the officials when he said a belated
ruling allowing racing planes to enter the derby cost his crew a possible
first place.  He and Clyde Pangborn flew a commercial palne.
        "I wouldn't have changed types anyway," he said, "because life is
too sweet to take too many chances with."
        On his flight he was lost over India for hours, ran into a
buzzard which nearly disabled the ship and over Australia was constantly
worried by falling oil pressure in the two motors.
        Turner showed motion pictures of his outstanding flights and also
other events in his aviation career.
        One scene showed the plane in which he floated to earth with a
parachute, the first time the stunt was done.  He used a sixty foot chute
on that attempt, but said he has a ninety-foot chute under construction
for another try.
        He also showed starts and finishes of several speed records
flights and the plane in which he flashed from Cleveland to New York at
an average speed of 329 miles per hour.
        Colonel Turner goes to Atlanta from Lynchburg.  He has a lecture
scheduled there at 10:30 o'clock this morning.



The Weekly Corinthian, XL #25, Thurs., June 20, 1935:
p. 1, c. 4 -

T. S. Stribling
     Is Speaker Before
          The Kiwanis Club --

     Tom S. Stribling, noted author and interpreter of Southern
character,  was the featured speaker at the Corinth Kiwanis club Monday.
Mr. Stribling was a guest of Dr. R. B. Warriner, a new member of the
Kiwanis Club.
     The writer spoke on the subject of "An analysis of Humor," and
proved exceptionally entertaining.


The Weekly Corinthian, XL #26, Thurs., June 27, 1935:
p. 5, c. 2 -

WEAVERS AT WORK IN FULL FORCE AGAIN

      Within another week the Weaver Pants Corp. will probably be
operating at capacity again as a result of new contract received by the
company, on of which was a contract to manufacture 100,000 pairs of O. D.
trousers for use by the government in clothing CCC recruits ....


The Weekly Corinthian, XL #27, Thurs., July 4, 1935:
p. 8, c. 4.-.

     Colonel Roscoe Turner terms the endurance record held by Al and Fred
Key of Meridian the greatest aerial distinction in existance.

                        ---------------------

     ...Mr. and Mrs. Abe Turner and children, Margery, Bobby and Frances
Ann, arrived Tuesday evening from Cushing, Okla., where they are now
making their home. Mr. and Mrs. Turner drove on to Clifton, Tenn., where
Mrs. Turner will visit with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W S. Howard for
several days, being joined later by the children, who are now guests of
their grandparents here.  Mr. Turner will return to Cushing the early part
of next week.


The Weekly Corinthian, XL #31, Thurs., August 1, 1935:
p. 8, c. 5 -

TURNER TO BE
        PILOT ON 2ND
                REVERE'S RIDE
        ------------

     A 'steed of the air' in what leaders of the Elks term a modern
version of Paul Revere's ride, will be piloted by Colonel Roscoe Turner,
of Mississippi and California, this month.
     The former Corinth man, now the world's most famous speed air
speedster, will pilot Michael F. Shannon, of Los Angeles on a tour of the
United States.  Mr. Shannon, Grand Exalted Ruler of the Elks, will embark
from Chicago Aug. 9 on a 10,000 mile flight to institute his new policy
of 'pro America'.
     He will undertake to pledge 500,000 Elks to a campaign of "militant
patriotism" and urge the inauguration of a patriotic American Youth
movement as a bulwark against so- called sinister attempts to destroy
American institutions.
     Colonel Turner will take him first to Boston, which the Communists
have made their district No. 1 headquarters.
     Mr. Shannon will call his newly appointed district deputies to that
city for a conference, and later to Atlantic City, Ashville, N. C.,
Dallas, Texas, Omaha, Nebr., Chicago, Portland and Denver.



The Weekly Corinthian, XL #33, Thurs., August 13, 1935:
p. 1, c. 7.-.

COL. TURNER TO
        COMPETE AGAIN
                IN AIR CLASSIC
        -------------

     Colonel Roscoe Turner, holder of the major transcontinental air
speed records, will defend his titles when the races are held again this
fall.
     Colonel Turner discussed the prospect of participating in the
American speed classic when he visited the city yesterday and last night,
spending a short time with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Turner and
returning to Memphis, accompanied by his sister, Miss Mary Emma Turner,
who will go back to California with him.
     Again Colonel Turner chose to make the trip out from Memphis by
automobile, presumably because of the unfinished condition of the
Corinth airport. He returned later in the evening and prepared to take
off from the Memphis airport at 7:30 o'clock this morning, to be in
California by night.



The Weekly Corinthian, XL #33, Thurs., Aug 13 , 1935:
p. 7, c. 6.-.

TURNER TO DROP
        DOWN FOR VISIT
                IN HOME TOWN

From  Monday's Daily.

     Roscoe Turner, America's Ace speed pilot, is expected here late this
afternoon or early Tuesday morning for a visit with home folks.
     The transcontinental air speed king, who holds coast to coast
records in both directions achieved international fame when he and Clyde
Pangborn finished third in the London to Melbourne flight, has been
looking forward to another visit here for a long time. On a recent trip
here he brought moving pictures of the famous flight to Melbourne, and
since that time went to Meridian to assist the Key Brothers of the
endurance flight record, in publicizing their achievement. The press of
business kept him from coming here at that time.
     This time Colonel Turner will pay the city a short visit and will
take his sister, Miss Mary Emma Turner with him by plane to California.
Colonel Turner is expected to land at the Corinth landing field.



The Weekly Corinthian, XL #36, Thurs., September 5, 1935:
p. 1, c. 1 -

TURNER LUCKY
        LOSER IN RACE
                AT CLEVELAND
        -------------

        Two heartbreaking losses in America's most important air speed
races failed to break the spirit of Colonel Roscoe Turner, a former
Corinthian whose aviation achievements demand the attention of the world
each time he decides to compete in another contest.
        In the transcontinental race for the Bendix trophy Colonel Turner
came in second by 23 seconds because he was flying high at the finish
line and required some time to bring his plane down to the proper height
for his finish to be recorded. But Colonel didn't grieve.
        "Guess I'm getting old," he commented cheerfully.
        Several days later when his plane was forced down at Cleveland in
the competition for the Thompson trophy -- which apparently he had
"cinched" with a seven mile lead, Colonel Turner took his second bad
"break" with a smile, just as his close friends here expected him to do.
        However, Turner's graceful losing proved a surprise to thousands
of Clevelanders, who knew the Colonel only superficially, according to an
account of the race in a Cleveland newspaper.
     'Cocky, swaggering, flashy Col. Roscoe C. Turner surprised some
misjudging Clevelanders yesterday by turning out to be a gentleman and a
scholar and a swell loser,' the Cleveland Plain Dealer commented.
    Seven miles ahead he was in the Thompson Trophy race and just about
to start his last lap, a sure winner, when something went phooey.  Nobody
was very much surprised when he put his smoking ship down on the ground
instead of jumping out -- for they did not doubt his courage, And of
course, the ship was worth a lot of money.  But it would have surprised
no one if the colonel had hopped out roaring mad, had torn the diamond
studded wings from his blue military jacket and had asserted he had been
the victim of the blank blankest luck in this blank blank world.

                  Lucky, He Felt --

        'But, Col. Turner did none of these things.  He wiped the oil out
of his eyes and climbed somewhat wearily out of his plane.  He was
grinning -- not one of those forced camera grins, but a sure-enough grin
that made one's throat tighten up a little, for he had flown a beautiful
race and had deserved to win.  The way he was taking it was not the way
some had thought he would take it. 'Tough Luck -- that was the damnedest
luck we ever saw.'
     This was the tenor of all remarks directed at him.
     'What do you mean tough?' Col. Turner shot back -- and he was still
grinning, although his hands were trembling a little bit.  'When you can
come down on the ground and walk away, that's good luck.  I'm just lucky
as hell.'
     They pressed him for his autograph.
     'I'm sorry boys,' he said wearily 'I just can't make my wrists do
it.'
     They asked him what happened.

                Thought Plane on Fire

     'Something busted,' said the colonel.  'Up until that time
everything was normal.  The engine temperature was normal.  Then some
thing burned up.  The motor stopped. I thought the plane was burning.'
'How could you see with all that oil shooting back?'
     'I couldn't' said the colonel gently.  ' I couldn't see anything
from the time I turned that pylon until -- well, hell, I'm just as happy
as if I had good sense.'
     To the Plain Dealer Col. Turner disclosed that he had a hunch
something was going to happen.
     'What do you mean?'
     'Oh, just sort of a forewarning -- a hunch -- I do most of my flying
by hunches.'
     Dr. John Carruthers of Pasadena Cal., historian of the National Air
Races, was near at hand when someone around the stand expressed surprise
that Col. Turner was such a regular guy about his misfortune.
     'You never heard of this,' he said, 'but I'm the man who got the
backing for Cecil Allen, who crashed in the Bendix Derby.  It seems that
Allen, unable to get his motor, wished to try out his ship some time
before three races.  Roscoe Turner offered to tear his own engine out of
his plane and lend it to Allen for the tests.  I never told this to
anybody before.  Roscoe's a pretty nice chap.'
     For the price of what he lost in the race, Col. Turner made himself
nearly 100,000 friends at Cleveland Airport yesterday.


The Weekly Corinthian, XL #37, Thurs., Sept. 12, 1935:
p. 7, c. 5 -

TURNER PLANS
        TO TURN FROM
                SPEED RACING
        ------------

     Roscoe Turner considered his landing at the climax of a thrilling
Thompson trophy race at Cleveland the closest "shave" he has had during
his years as America's outstanding speed pilot.
     The man who had been lost over an Indian desert in the London to
Melbourne international speed race found the problem of landing his plane
at Cleveland even more hazardous than the prospect of landing by night in
the unexplored desert wastelands had been.  But he brought his plane down
safely while it threatened to burst into flames and earned the unanimous
praise of a hundred thousand spectators at the Cleveland speed classic.
     He told Grady Peerey, who returned to Corinth yesterday after a
visit to the races, that he was tired of speed races, and determined to
settle down to the less exciting business of developing commercial air
transportation.
     Colonel Turner also sent word to his home folks that he is planning
another visit to Corinth within about a month.
     Mr. Peerey said Cleveland newspapers were unanimous in acclaiming
Colonel Turner as the "greatest pilot of them all" when it came to
handling a ship.  He had been expected to "hail out" in a parachute when
his ship sent out a trail of smoke behind it and threatened to burst into
flames.
     Mr. Peerey said he watched Col. Turner shoot his plane upward,
apparently to gain altitude for a parachute jump. But the flyer later
explained that the additional height was necessary before he could
attempt to land safely on the field crowded with automobiles and
spectators.  The safe landing was an achievement that excited the praise
of the aviation world.


The Weekly Corinthian, XL #40, Thurs., Oct. 3, 1935:
p. 8, c. 6 -

Airport Project Is
        Surprise To Alliston
                And Officials Alike
        -------------------

     Mississippi's state-wide airport program that provides for the
establishment of airports or landing fields at 41 towns and cities came
as a partial surprise to Wayne Alliston, State Administrator of Works
Progress Administration and a complete surprise to many of the towns at
or near which they are to be located.  Corinth is one of these.
     While Mr. Alliston had evinced his interest in development of
Mississippi's aviation facilities by approving many individual projects
that had been submitted to his office, he was not without surprise when
in the closing days of the period during which projects were received, he
received a telegram from the Department of Commerce, directing him to
submit a state-wide airport development program totalling nearly
$1,000,000.
     The program was immediately  developed in the state engineers
offices and locations designated for work on 41 fields, 27 of which will
be new.
     Landing fields scattered in convenient locations throughout the
state are intended to safeguard air travel and in much the same manner as
the contemplated state-wide highway paving program safeguards surface
travel.  Their presence is intended to give comfort and assurance to air
travelers who may ride in ships across Mississippi.
     They are not primarily designed to fill the needs of the community
in which they are located, but to serve, as highways do, travelers from
distant points, as a measure of safety and convenience.
     Paralleling the surprise of Dr. Alliston and his corps of engineers,
when they were presented with the airport program, was the surprise of
municipal officials of the various locations where the proposed airports
are to be established.
     No doubt recent press notices left many scratching their heads,
wondering how the Mississippi WPA Administrator -- "got that way" when he
referred to them as sponsors of the program-few had even contemplated
suggesting an airport or landing field project to the WPA.
     The program has been broken down into individual county projects and
officials of cities and towns at the locations suggested have been asked
to sponsor them donating sites on which the field will be built.  Corinth
has rented a site, but apparently is in no position to furnish a
permanent one.


The Weekly Corinthian, XL #42, Thurs., Oct. 17, 1935:
p. 1, c., 4..-

Colonel Turner and
        Party Flying Here,
                May Arrive Today
        ------------------

     Colonel Roscoe Turner is expected to arrive here this afternoon or
tonight, bringing Mr. Turner and his secretary, Miss Lyons, for a visit
with relatives in Corinth.
     Colonel Turner may fly here provided weather conditions are such
when he reaches Memphis that the Corinth airport will appear a safe place
to land.  Otherwise the Colonel may be forced to motor to Corinth from
the Bluff City.



The Weekly Corinthian, XL #43, Thurs., Oct. 24, 1935:
p. 6. c. 6.-.

TURNER HERE ON
        VISIT, JOURNEYS
                TO CITY BY LAND
        ---------------

From Thursday's Daily.
     Colonel Roscoe Turner, ace American air speed pilot, who despite his
failure to annex titles at this year's races at Cleveland won a unique
sort of honor for his skill, good judgment [sic] and nerve in facing
emergencies, arrived in Corinth last night by automobile from California
to visit his mother and father and friends here.  He was accompanied by
his wife, Carolyn [sic] Stovall Turner, and secretary.
     Colonel Turner plans to leave tonight for St. Louis, to attend to
business affairs, and will return to Corinth Saturday.  He is scheduled
to deliver his lecture, on his epochal flight with Clyde Pangborn from
London to Melbourne, at the Goodwyn Institute in Memphis October 24.
     Colonel Turner said one of his planes was left in California to
undergo repairs and the other in Cleveland, and despite the fact that he
still believes transcontinental automobile trips more dangerous than the
same trips by air, he took the trip by automobile "because autos are
faster than trains."


The Weekly Corinthian, XL #43, Thurs., Oct. 24, 1935:
p. 8, c. 3.-.

ROSCOE TURNER
        VISITS EARLY
        TRAINING FIELD

     Colonel Roscoe Turner believes the field where he learned to fly,
now leased by the city for possible development into an airport, is very
well suited to aviation needs and could be developed into a good airport.
     The ace speed pilot, who holds transcontinental speed plane records
and many valued aviation trophies, drove over the airport field yesterday
"just to see how rough it is, "in his automobile.  He visited the airport
with A. J. McEachern, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, who is
investigating the possibility of the city's sponsorship of a WPA project
to get government funds for airport development.
     Colonel Turner drove his heavy automobile over the rainsoaked field,
asserted that landing would be safe since his automobile didn't get
stuck.  He remarked that grading and drainage would help the airport
marvelously, however.
     The aviator pointed out a spot near the old apple tree, highest
point on the airport, where he kept his first plane and learned to fly,
and where he later was married, and took off by airplane for a honeymoon
trip.
     A representative of a Jackson engineering firm was in the city for a
conference with Mr. McEachern in regard to the airport, project, and made
the trip to the airport with him and Colonel Turner.
     Last night Mr. McEachern presented the WPA blanket airport
development plan to the board of alderman meeting to complete assessment
rolls.
     Under the plan proposed it would be necessary for the city to
furnish a location for the airport as well as supervisory assistance and
other contributions.
     As much as $44,000 of government funds would be available for the
project, Mr. McEachern said.


The Weekly Corinthian, XL #44, Thurs., Oct. 31, 1935:
p. 5, c. 2.-.

Turners Leave After
        Visit Here For Two
        Month Tour Of U.S.
        -----------

     After a visit of several days in Corinth, their home town, Colonel
Roscoe Turner, his wife, Carline Stovall Turner, and secretary, Miss
Grace Lyons, left this morning to continue Colonel Turner's two month
tour of the United States, largely by automobile.  The Turners left about
9 o'clock this morning and planned to drive to Cleveland tonight, where
Colonel Turner stored his racing plane after this year's speed races.
     Their transcontinental tour will end in Los Angeles about Christmas
time.
     During their visit here since last week, Colonel Turner and his wife
have visited their relatives and friends, and have been toasted by clubs
and admiring aviation enthusiasts.
     Declining an invitation to lecture at the Hotel Peabody in Memphis,
the aviator decided to hasten to Cleveland, where he will look after his
plane and attend to business affairs.
     The Turners met a group of friends at the F. F. Anderson home last
night and this morning said goodbye to Corinth and resumed their journey.


The Weekly Corinthian, XL #44, Thurs., Oct. 31, 1935:
p. 5, c. 3.-.

STATE AIRPORT
WORK APPROVED
     CITY DROPS OUT
     --------
Thursday's Daily.

     That Corinth at present is in no position to participate in the
state-wide airport project which, A. J. McEachern, secretary of the
Corinth Chamber of Commerce has been informed, is the first really large
scale WPA project approved in Washington for Mississippi was announced
yesterday following a special meeting of city officials.
     Informed by telephone from Jackson that the project for building a
large number of airports in this state has been approved by final WPA
authorities, Mayor E. S. Candler, the board of aldermen, and Mr.
McEachern considered the proposal that Corinth sponsor a project here.
They were informed that around $44,000 would be available, and the city's
part would consist of the cost of engineering and supervision, and the
furnishing of a site for an airport, and possible monetary donations or
services in the form of machinery or mules for moving dirt.
     Cost of sponsorship to the city was estimated by various ones at
between $5,000 and $10,000, and the officials, eyeing the city budget and
the necessity of paying off a part of there city's bonded indebtedness-a
purpose for which extra taxes were levied a year ago, -- reiterated the
fact that the city is in no position to take on an extra burden such as
the sponsorship of the airport project.
     Several hours were spent in discussion of the plans before a
decision was made.


The Weekly Corinthian, XL #45, Thurs., Nov. 7, 1935:
p. 5, c. 5.-.

PROPOSAL FOR
        AIRPORT AGAIN
                IS CONSIDERED
        -------------

     A proposal whereby the city of Corinth would be able to purchase the
present airport property in order to secure a $44,000 airport
construction work-relief project thru the Works Progress Administration
without a large cash outlay, which city officials have attested as
impossible at this time, has been made the city by C. H. Turner, of
Edgerton, Mo., owner of the airport property which the city now is
leasing at a cost of $350 a year.
     Mr. Turner, happening to arrive here to visit relatives at a time
when the government was offering the city a large sum of federal funds in
return for sponsorship costs, made the proposal for sale to the city to
A. J. McEachern, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce who is behind the
airport project.
     Conferences with city officials yesterday afternoon and today
resulted, and plans have been made for further consideration of the
project plans at meetings of the board of aldermen and board of
supervisors Mondav [sic].
     Mr. Turner said that as a former citizen he was interested in the
progress made by the city, and that he was willing to do everything
reasonably possible to enable the city to secure this fund for putting
people to work and at the same time secure a modern airport.



The Weekly Corinthian, XL #45, Thurs. Nov. 7, 1935:
p. 6, c. 4.-.

AIRPORT PLAN
        AGAIN MAY BE
        TALKED BY CITY
        --------
Monday's Daily.

     Discussion of plans for financing the proposed airport project are
expected to be the center of discussion this evening at the regular
November meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
     Although officials definitely turned down the plan at a previous
special meeting another plan whereby long-term financing will be offered
the city in purchase of its land for the airport has been suggested since
that time. Advocates express the opinion that the airport would furnish
employment, and would in time be of value to the city when commercial
aviation is developed in this territory. Opponents of the plan emphasize
the facts concerning this city's high bonded indebtedness and discount
the value of the airport to Corinth.
     At a meeting tonight the board also will consider a petition filed
by J. K. Whitfield in which petitioners are asking the city to pass an
ordinance employing Whitfield to conduct a water rate fight in the
courts.


The Weekly Corinthian, XL #45, Thurs. Nov. 7, 1935:
p. 8, c. 4 -

COUNTY OFFERED
        CHANCE AT WPA
                AIRPORT PLANS
        -------------

Tuesday's Daily
     Informed that the county board of supervisors had expressed a
willingness at their meeting yesterday to take over the airport WPA
project and develop it independently of the city, Mayor Candler and the
board of aldermen last night voted to exercise their option on the
Corinth airport site and deed it to the county provided the county accept
it on terms offered by the owner, C. H. Turner, of Edgerton, Mo.
     A group of citizens interested in the airport development headed by
A. J. McEachern secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, went before the
supervisors yesterday and were told that the board was willing to take
over the project from the city, but later the officials deferred final
action on the matter until Thursday.  They are holding no meeting today,
and could not consider the proposal further Wednesday on account of the
absence of Mr. McEachern from the city.
     An engineer from the district WPA headquarters at Tupelo, who
visited the city yesterday, informed Mayor Candler that $8,000 was
available at Jackson immediately to start work on the airport here.  An
allotment of $44,000 for the entire project would eventually be available
according to the plans approved by the WPA.


The Weekly Corinthian, Vol. XL #46, Thurs., Nov. 14, 1935
p. 6, c. 7 -

COUNTY WILL
        SPONSOR WPA
                AIRPORT PLANS

        The Alcorn county board of supervisors yesterday had placed on
the minutes an order to purchase for $3,500 the site of the present
landing field leased by the City of Corinth  This site will be furnished
by the county in order to secure a $44,000 government airport as a WPA
project.
        The supervisors, informed that around $8,000 of the airport money
is already available in Jackson for the Corinth airport provided the
sponsor acts quickly to get it, took over the project from the City of
Corinth to whom it had been offered because the city had a lease on the
site.  They were actuated by a desire to get work projects started as
quickly as possible for men who have not been given work since ERA
projects were brought to a close during this month and last.
        Order for he purchasing of the airport site provided also for
payment of an engineering fee not to exceed $2,640, an was accompanied by
the levy of a tax of 1/2 mill upon taxable property of the county to pay
the cost of the project, effective upon taxes for 1935.
        Prior to the passage of this order the City of Corinth, which had
declined to sponsor the airport, agreed to exercise its option to
purchase the 80 acre site and permit the county to take a deed to it.
        The site is composed of sloping level land which will require
some drainage and the moving of large quantities of dirt.  The airport
plans include modern equipment.


The Weekly Corinthian, XL #47, Thurs. Nov. 21, 1935:
p. 5, c. 7. -

AL KEY LIKES
        PLAN TO BUILD
       COUNTY AIRPORT
        -------
Thursday's Daily

     Al Key, who with his brother, Fred, brought to Mississippi the
world's airplane endurance record, is interested in the development of
the Corinth airport as one of the 40 or more emergency units which the
federal government would like to build in the state for purposes of the
development of commercial aviation, for national defense, and primarily
to provide relief projects suitable for the employment of common labor.
     Al, the elder of the Flying Keys, has a government job now.
     As district advisor for the federal Bureau of Air Commerce with
jurisdiction in Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, he visited Corinth
Wednesday afternoon to look over the field where the construction of a
county airport is contemplated and expressed a favorable opinion of the
site- which the board of supervisors has just ordered to be purchased
when a deed to the land can be delivered to it by the city of Corinth.
     He came here by automobile with S. E. Travis, Jr. WPA Airport
engineer for Mississippi to inspect the site for hazards and other
factors which might make the field objectionable to the government.
     Al has been working hard since he came down from his epochal flight,
although he took time off from his duties to accompany Roscoe Turner to
the air races at Cleveland this fall.  He and Fred are continuing to
operate their flying school at Meridian, and their garage and repair
business. He took their plane, in which they won their world's
championship for endurance to the Cleveland races, and the flyers believe
their ship has many hours of life in the air ahead of her, despite the
wear of the gruelling endurance flight.
     The flyer showed he has a lot of respect for the mechanical
perfection of airplanes.  Discussing the recent air tragedy near Pontotoc
in which Dean Faulkner and three passengers fell to their death Al took
occasion to point out that the fault was a human and not a mechanical
one.
     The Bureau of Air Commerce Inspector decided from an inspection of
the plane that it was being operated by a student pilot riding with
Faulkner, Al said, "and you'll find that is the real reason for the
airplane accidents -- some human failure -- its very seldom that anything
goes wrong with the machines when they're properly cared for."
     Setting around a conference table with Engineer Travis, A. J.
McEachern and E. F. Waits in the office of W. C. Sweat, attorney for the
board of supervisors, Al had the appearance of a conventional young
Mississippian, quietly dressed and quiet in conversation.
     Although friendly and free in talking, Al's appearance and
conversation showed he lacks the particular kind of showmanship which has
been a great help to Roscoe Turner in making his career as one of the
nation's most outstanding pilots a profitable one.
     Without the uniform or the lion's cub frequently associated with
Mississippi's famous pilot, Al Key just looked the part of a Meridian boy
who had made good, and who fitted admirably into the role of air commerce
advisor.
     Despite the difference in their personalities Al, besides having
lots of admiration for Roscoe's ability as a flyer, likes the Corinth
flyer personally.  Al, Fred and Roscoe, Mississippi flyers who have the
major airplane records in the nation, have travelled together, with
Roscoe giving them the benefit of his experience to aid them in
capitalizing their endurance flight.


The Weekly Corinthian, XL #47,. Thurs. Nov. 21, 1935:
p. 8,. c. 1 -

AIRPORT PLANS
        HURRIED; FEAR
                LOSS OF FUNDS
        -------------
Thursday's Daily

     Attempting to insure the fact that Alcorn county will not be left
out in its efforts to secure WPA airport money, sponsors of the project
are pushing efforts to have the legislature pass enabling legislation
permitting the county to cut red tape in buying the C. H. Turner
property, on which the city has option which it has promised to exercise
for Alcorn county.
     The Turner property, now used as the municipal landing field, will
be donated by Alcorn county as a part of its sponsorship obligation in
the airport project.
     A recently prepared bill providing for the county to purchase the
land with out the three weeks delay necessitated by advertising has been
giving to Governor Conner, and a telegram from Senator W. C. Adams this
morning indicates that the governor will submit the bill today when he is
scheduled to make an address to the legislature.
     A number of governmental units in the state contemplating airports
under the project, including the municipalities of Oxford and Waynesboro,
are similarly tied up with red tape and are equally interested in the
enabling legislation.
     State airport Engineer Travis, who visited Corinth and other
airports in this section yesterday with Al Key, world's champion
endurance flyer, said that it is not at all certain that the federal
money now available in Jackson for starting the airport-a sum of around
$8,000, would be obtainable if the project is delayed because of pressure
from Washington to start the work relief program immediately.  Federal
money, he explained, is being allocated as quickly as possible on those
projects for the employment of the types of labor found on the relief
rolls.
     Senator Adams will go before WPA officials at Jackson today in an
effort to get the money earmarked for the Alcorn county airport project,
thus protecting the project in the event there is a delay in acquiring
title to the property.
     Mr. Travis explained that while the airport projects are not
considered by residents of many cities where they are being constructed
as the most important for the development of the communities, they are of
a type emmintenly [sic, eminently] suitable for employment of common
labor-the type that makes up the relief rolls in practically every county
in the state.
     He pointed out that skilled and semi-skilled laborers- those needed
for the construction of buildings, -- are not on the rolls and under the
present regulations are bot available for work on relief projects.
     That was one of the reasons assigned by members of the board of
supervisors when, upon the motion of Will Marlar, they passed the airport
project, after the city of Corinth, having considered the airport at
several meetings, had declined to pass it in view of the city's financial
condition and the fact that they had sponsored a number of other
projects.


The Weekly Corinthian, XL #50, Thurs, Dec. 12, 1935:
p. 5,. c. 4 -

BOARD ORDERS
        PURCHASE OF
                AIRPORT SITE
        -----------
Friday's Daily.

     No protest having been filed to plans to purchase the Corinth
airport site from C. H. Turner, the Board of Supervisors today authorized
the purchase of the property for the sum of $3,500.
     In the final day of their session today, the supervisors continued
to talk several proposals for engineering work on the afternoon.
     During the morning W. M. Crumpton, of the state agricultural service
department, and members of the county farm co-operative went before the
board to ask the officials to sponsor a WPA cold storage plant here.
     The co-operative had previously planned to purchase the old
Morrison-Rinehart cold storage plant outright and equip it for meat
storage, but under the new plan they hope to obtain a much more complete
plant with a contribution from the government of around twice the sum the
county would donate as sponsor.  It would be one of about 40 cold storage
plants in the state as WPA projects, and would be equipped for many
services in addition to the storage of meats.


The Weekly Corinthian, XL #50, Thurs. Dec. 12, 1935:
p. 6,. c. 1 -

JACKSON FIRM
        TO DO AIRPORT
                ENGINEERING
        -------------
Saturday's Daily

     Crosby and Sherman, a Jackson airport engineering firm, was awarded
the contract for engineering work on the Alcorn County WPA airport for
which $44,961.80 has been allocated by the state WPA office.
     The board of supervisors placed an order on the minutes today
awarding the contract to C. A. Sherman and Carl Crosby, who offered to do
the work for not more than 6 percent of the project cost.  The
supervisors have also authorized donation of the old Corinth airport
which they are purchasing from C. H. Turner, of Edgerton, Mo., -- the
field on which Col. Roscoe Turner learned to fly.
     In addition to the site, the county is furnishing engineering and
supervisory work.


The Weekly Corinthian, XL #51, Thurs. Dec. 19, 1935:
p. 7,. c. 4 -

ENGINEERS AT
        WORK TODAY ON
        COUNTY AIRPORT

Thursday's Daily

     Preliminary plans for beginning work on the Alcorn County WPA
airport were made today when S. E. Travis, Jr., state airport engineer,
Ralph Crosby, of Crosby and Sherman, engineers for the project and Al
Key, representative of the Bureau of Air Commerce, visited the landing
field.
     Al Key is the Meridian flyer, who with his brother Fred, holds the
worlds' championship air endurance record.
     The engineers indicated that work may be started within ten days if
labor is available. A. J. McEachern, secretary of the Chamber of
Commerce, said rapid progress is being made on the airport plans.
     Following their inspection trip Mr. Crosby left for Iuka, where he
is working on a landing field there, and Mr. Travis with Al Key went to
Holly Springs, where the WPA is contemplating another emergency landing
field.
     The endurance flyer has been connected for several months with the
Bureau of Air Commerce, and came here to inspect the field and plans to
see that it meets requirements of the federal bureau.



Abstracts (c) Copyright 1993 Stephanie L. Sandy

    Data transcription by: Milton Sandy, Jr. Corinth, MS - May 14, 1993