100 Years Ago May 1919 – First Across The Atlantic
Selected from the pages of the Penny Press and lightly annotated by Sally Haase
Luxury Tax In Effect. Washington, May 1: Tax bombs were received by every luxury item – large and small- today. Everything that smacks of luxury will carry an extra tax, averaging 10 percent, to be paid not by the dealer, but by the consumer. The lowly nut sundae is glorified to luxury class, and hereafter those selling for ten cents will cost the purchaser an extra cent. Patent medicines, toilet articles and other pharmacy specialties also are luxuries in terms of the law. Items of clothing bring stated prices above which they will be taxed. The ray of sunshine, it is whispered, is that luxury taxes will be abolished by the next congress. So, grin and bear ‘em.
Channel Tunnel Revisited. London, May 3: The completion of the oft proposed Channel Tunnel connecting England and France is being seriously contemplated and the matter is now under discussion between the British and French authorities in Paris. The tunnel would consist of two parallel tubes cut in the gray chalk which forms the bed of the Straits of Dover. It is to a great extent impervious to water so that many initial difficulties of construction will be absent. There will be a dip in the level of the rails, so that if the military authorities think it necessary, the tunnel may be flooded from floor to roof at short notice without extensive permanent damage.
[The tunnel construction actually started in 1988, although it was proposed as early as 1802. It went into service in 1994.]
U.S. Seaplanes Off On Trans-Ocean Flight. Long island, NY, May 8: Three United States naval seaplanes “jumped off” today for Halifax on the first leg of the flight across the Atlantic by way of the Azores. They were the NC-1, NC-3 and NC-4 [NC or Naval Curtiss]. Warships [21] are to be stationed at intervals to render assistance if needed. While the crowds waved, the twelve motors began to roar as the planes skimmed the water turned to the north.
Farms For Soldiers, Washington, May 16: The flood of returning soldiers are appealing to the department of the interior for information as to the intentions of the government in its proposed plan of providing farms for soldiers. In practically every state in the Union there are large areas of land suitable for this purpose. In the east, there are large areas of cut-over or logged timber lands, from which it will be necessary to blow the stumps and clear off the brush. In the south, is a large amount of cut-over land and swamp land which must be drained. The plan involves building what are known as community settlements, each containing a number of farms so that the men will be near neighbors.
U.S. Seaplanes Arrive Safely At Azores. London, May 17: The American seaplane NC-4, commanded by Lt. Commander A.C. Reed, was the first to reach the Azores,. The 1,300 mile trip from Halifax was completed in 15 hours and 18 minutes at an average speed of 90 miles an hour. The other two planes did not complete the crossing.
England Closely Watches The Race. London, May 19: The thoughts of the nation were upon the greatest air race in history – the competition between British and American birdmen to win the honor of the first to cross the Atlantic by air. The British aviator Harry Hawker started from Newfoundland last night in his Sowith plane in unfavorable weather. Yet, no word has come from the Sopwith which is behind schedule.
66th Congress, Peace and Re-Construction, Washington, May 19: As the 66th congress will probably go down in history as the “peace congress,” the “reconstruction congress” may be another title. Not since the dark months of reconstruction which followed the Civil war, has a congress been called upon to solve so many difficult and complex problems. The full brunt of these immense responsibilities will be thrown upon the republican majority in both chambers. The peace treaty, with the League of Nations covenant “inextricably interwoven” within it, must be approved or disapproved solely by the senate which will be mindful of the destiny of the American people .
Hawker Given Up For Lost. London, May 20: The Sopwith biplane that carried Harry Hawker and his navigator was given up for lost amid a violent gale raging off the Irish coast. Currently, Commander Reed, in the Azores, is ready to jump off with the NC-4 for England as soon as the weather clears.
House Passes suffrage Bill, Washington, May 21: The woman suffrage amendment to the constitution was passed by the house of representatives this afternoon by a vote of 304 to 88. Leaders of both parties had reached a virtual agreement to bring the amendment to the federal constitution. Despite the efforts of the door keepers and guards, women smuggled lunches into the galleries and came prepared to stay in the galleries until the measure was passed.
Hawker Rescued. London, May 27: Hawker’s and his navigator Grieve’s ride toward London was a triumphal procession. Describing his experience, Hawker said they were about 800 miles out, in bad weather, when his water filter became choked and boiled badly. They began zigzagging back and forth, hoping to catch sight of some vessel when at last he sighted a ship on their port bow.
League Of Nations, White Minority. Washington, May 27: The entry of the United States into the League of Nations would compel the American people to close association with a “conglomerate of the black, yellow and brown races, frequently so intermixed and comingled as to constitute an unclassified mongrel breed,” Senator Reed, democrat of Missouri, declared.
“The majority of the nations compiling the league do not represent the white race. It appears that when the members of the League of Nations meet around the council table, there will be fifteen representing white nations and seventeen men representing the black, brown, yellow and red races. It is also shown that among these races the degree of literacy is astonishingly high. Even among white races that are to sit in the ‘council of the world’ and determine the fate of America ,we find nations so backward as to raise a serious question regarding their ability to perform the functions of a civilized government.”
NC-4 Finishes Flight. Portsmouth, England, May 31: Greeted by three British airplanes. The American seaplane, NC-4, commanded by Lt.-Commander Albert Read, U.S.N., completed her trans-Atlantic flight here at 2:26 p.m. This was the final lap after crossing the Atlantic May 16.
Peace Treaty Delivered To Germany, From the Evening Press: While some countries such as Belgium, Austria and Italy continue to show dissatisfaction with the terms of the treaty regarding their countries, the document has been delivered to Germany. Germany refuses to admit that the allies have the right to assess indemnities against it, saying that the German people should not be held responsible for the acts of their government.
100 years ago, much has changed and, then again, nothing has changed.
Photo from Google Images.
