Flying Express

President Robert E. M. Cowie of the American Railway Express Co. last week announced the fulfillment of the promise that he made two years ago when the Federal air mail service was organized--that his company would accept the services of the first reliable company equipped to handle express by air. On Sept. 1, the American Railway Express Co. will start shipping packages on a 32 1/2 -hour air express schedule between Manhattan and San Francisco. Intermediate stops for delivery and receipt of goods have been set for Cleveland, Chicago, Iowa City, Des Moines, Omaha, North Platte (Neb.), Cheyenne, Salt Lake City, Reno and Sacramento. Goods may be sent by air express from Boston for transshipment at Manhattan.

As in the case of ordinary express, for which the American Railway Express Co. does not own its express cars but rents their use from the railways, so the company has hired the transportation services of the National Air Transport Co. between Manhattan and Chicago (and later between Chicago and Dallas, Tex.) and the Boeing Air Transport Co. between Chicago and San Francisco. An auxiliary air express service between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles will use Western Air Express.

No express rates were arranged last week. President Cowie thought the minimum charge would be $1. (Air mail charge is ten cents for each half ounce regardless of distance.