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Phoenix Arizona Republican,
March 3, 1927

PAGE FOUR
Air Offices Sees Phoenix As Leading Port On Great New Transcontinental Line

Prospects that Phoenix may soon become one of the leading airports on a transcontinental line from Chicago to Los Angeles are particularly bright at present, said Major Howard F. Wehrle, World War veteran and aeronautical authority, in an address delivered yesterday before the Hiram club at the regular noon day meeting, held in the banquet hall of the new Masonic Temple. 
Aid of federal air officials for establishment of an air line, either by private capital or federal, has been assured Major Wehrle declared and the possibilities that present plans for the establishment of the air line will be carried out successfully are very bright. 
The line, as planned, will run from Chicago to Kansas City to Dallas, Texas, El Paso, Tucson, Phoenix, Yuam, San Diego and Los Angeles. Phoenix. Major Wehrle said, has an excellent flying field but no flying at present. The climatic conditions for flying are excellent, he said, almost idea, and there is no reason that Phoenix should not become one of the leasing airports of the nation. 
The advantages of a southern transcontinental line are apparent, according to the major, and once a line is established, there will be innumerable days, particularly in the winter, when all of the transcontinental traffic would come by way of Phoenix due to the fact that the northern transcontinental line would be closed. Much of the success of the plan to establish a southern transcontinental line from Chicago to Los Angeles will depend upon the cities on the route between Dallas, Texas, and Los Angeles establishing landing fields which can be used by the line without charge. A portion of the line, or that part from Dallas to El Paso, would have to be lighter for night flying, he pointed out. 
At present there is a line from Kansas City to Dallas, which is a big step toward the establishment of a line on through to the coast, the major explained. He assured the members of the Hiram club that he intended to do all in his power to place Phoenix on an air line and to enable the city to make some use of its excellent flying field. In making that statement, he named several other cities he had obtained flying for. 
The major, who served during the world war as a major in the air corps, and is at present the commanding officer of the 310 pursuit group, 8th attack wing, sixth army of the organized reserves, illustrated his talk on air lines now in existence and proposed air lines with a map on which he had drawn circles giving the radius of the Phoenix to various places over the nation. He then pointed out a present transcontinental line across the northern part of the United States, and the feeder lines to it, as well as the lines which will be put into operation this year.
He also explained the system of flying, pointing out that the country has been so well mapped for air flying that the aviator could fly from Phoenix to Los Angeles by his compass without ever looking at the ground until he had arrived in the vicinity of Los Angeles, and then only for the purpose of sighting the exact location of the city.
{{picture of Howard F. Wehrle}}
MAJOR HOWARD F. WEHRLE noted aeronautical authority who is working to put Phoenix on a transcontinental air line.
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Air navigation, he said must be on a more exacting scale than sea navigation. "A marine navigator may get off course a full degree without any difficulty arising therefrom," he said, "but let an air navigator get off his course a full degree and he will land in Oklahoma City instead of New Orleans where he was supposed to land."
The system of three lights, a red, green and white light, controlled by radio, and used in night flying to keep the aviator on his course was thoroughly explained by the major. The lights are so arranged on the plane, he said, that when the red light shows,the flyers know he is off course to the right if the green shows, he is off to the left, while the white light burning shows he is on course.
Major Wehrle came to Phoenix last October seeking a beneficial climate for a member of his family. He returned in December again, and is now here for an extended stay. During his residence in the city, it is his intention to do all the possible to place Phoenix on an air line, and to give the city some flying.
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An Open Letter 
Pittsburgh Moving Picture Bulletin 3/19
To Every Exhibitor in Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia 

My dear Friends:

  I suppose it has come to you as a surprise that I am leaving Pittsburgh after many years that I have spent in this territory, first as an exhibitor, and later as a [[distributor?]] representative and manager.  But the surprise is mutual, for only a few days ago it was farther from my mind that this issue of the Bulletin would be carrying my valedictory.  A vacancy red in First National's European Department and i was called upon to fill it.

  As this change is in the nature of a promotion I cannot, in taking my departure refrain giving sincere expression to a very strong feeling that whatever recognition I have deserved attributable to the wonderful support I have received from my exhibitor friends, and I wish circumstances would permit me to meet each and every one of you and clasp your hand acknowledgement of the debt of gratitude that I owe you, but that is impossible.  Indeed, I hoped to be able at least to write each of you a personal letter, but I have been called away on an extremely short notice that I have been forced to forego even that privilege.  It ought not [[be?]] difficult for any of you who have spent your entire life in one place as I have, to appreciate almost limitless details that must be taken care of in making a change that takes one permanently from his nativity to lands across the sea, especially when one has a family and property interest. 

  I am going to ask you to please accept this open letter exactly as though it had been addressed to you personally.  Someone has said poetically "It is hard to part when friends are [[?]]" but believe me there is more truth than poetry in it, and little did I realize this until I found [[?]] actually up against the proposition of tearing myself away.  The most cherished heritage from my past will be in the future to recall that I left behind me such a host of business acquaintances.  I can continue to remember as friends in the biggest and finest sense in which that word [[?]] used.

  However far away from the old stamping grounds that may new duties may take me, I was to feel that I shall never be far away in spirit, and I want you to know also that if I can be of service to any of you, individually, and as a friend do not hesitate to call upon me.
 
  If the happy business relations I have continued to enjoy while in charge of the interest First National Pittsburgh Exchange have been due in any part to my earnest endeavor to whatever I fairly could so to serve you, I ask only your willingness to co-operate with my successor.  I am sure that you will find him more than willing to meet you half-way in every issue, then hereafter arise in the course of dealings with out Pittsburgh Office.

  It gives me great pleasure to announce that Mr. R. H. Haines, of Cincinnati, Ohio, has appointed as my successor.  Mr. Haines is one of the eldest managers employed by First National and is thoroughly conversant with the distribution of pictures as well as the exhibition of [[?]] him I am sure you will find a man who will always co-operate with you to the fullest [[?]] the word.

  P. S.--Another small paragraph for all the folks on Film Row, numbered among the friends I ever had.  I wish you all the good luck int the world!
Sincerely yours.
R. S. WEHRLE

Transcription Notes:
The right side of the page was slightly cut off so I did my best with what was included on the page.