Laboratory Line

To operate such a service as the proposed U.

S.-Bermuda Line (TIME, Nov. 24) requires practice. To get practice, Pan American Airways this week was to begin flying passengers over water between Miami and Cristobal, Canal Zone, instead of via the old circuitous routes along the Central American coast. Pan American began four weeks ago to fly its mail over the new short-cut in consolidated Commodore flying boats. Although the ships have a 20-passenger capacity, the quota is limited to eight on the new service, to allow ample fuel load for the water-jump from Jamaica to the Canal--longest water-jump on any sched uled airline (662 mi.). Not only Pan American will scrutinize the new passenger operation, but also the observers for Imperial Airways and Aeropostale, interested with it in the projected transatlantic service. Meanwhile, profound mystery surrounded the sudden withdrawal of the Post Office advertisement for bids for the transatlantic mail contract. Assistant Postmaster General Glover would say only that the advertisement had to be revised, and unnamed "ambiguities" straightened out. But Representative Joseph W. Byrns opined it was because the Post Office had neither the authority to establish such a line, nor the money to pay the successful bidder.

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