Some called it progress

Sometimes progress is hard to recognize when it’s taking place – especially when bureaucratic rules and regulations appear to impede rather than promote progress.

F’rinstance: In the early days of the automobile Chicago politicians forbade operating the infernal machines on the city streets. Other cities wouldn’t allow cars to be driven after dark. One eastern state had a law that required a motorist to stop and fire a Roman candle whenever he saw a horse and buggy approach.

Other hardships faced by early motorists were various taxes and license fees imposed by individual cities in which the cars were operated and where daredevil drivers’ skills were curtailed by speed limits as low as two and three miles per hour.

There are indications that some bureaucrat may have been unaware of the airplane’s role in WWI because the War Department in 1920 issued 25 rules for the safe operation of the “aeroplane.” Take a look at these:

1. Don’t take the machine into the air unless you are satisfied it will fly.

2. Never leave the ground with the motor leaking.

3. Don’t turn sharply when taxiing. Instead of turning sharp, have someone lift the tail around.

4. In taking off, look at the ground and the air.

5. Never get out of a machine with motor running, until the pilot relieving you can reach the engine controls.

6. Pilots should carry hankies in a handy position to wipe off goggles.

7. Riding on the steps, wings or tail of a machine is prohibited.

8. In case the engine fails on takeoff, land straight ahead regardless of obstacles.

9. No machine may taxi faster than a man can walk.

10. Never run motor so that blast will blow on other machines.

11. Learn to gauge altitude, especially on landing.

12. If you see another machine near you, get out of the way.

13. No two cadets should ever ride together in the same machine

14. Do not trust altitude instruments.

15. Before you begin a landing glide, see that no machines are under you.

16. Hedge-hopping will not be tolerated.

17. No spins on back or tail slides will be indulged in as they unnecessarily strain the machines.

18. If flying against the wind and you wish to fly with the wind, don’t make a sharp turn near the ground. You may crash.

19. Motors have been known to stop during a long glide. If pilot wishes to use motor for landing, he should open throttle.

20. Don’t attempt to force machine onto the ground with more than flying speed. The result is bouncing and ricocheting.

21. Pilots will not wear spurs while flying.

22. Do not use aeronauticle (they hadn’t learned the spell the term correctly yet) gasoline in cars and motorcycles.

24. Never take a machine into the air until you are familiar with the controls and instruments.

25. If an emergency occurs while flying land as soon as possible.

Progress prevailed despite such helping hands.