Show Colombia Leads South American Aviation Service 17 Busy Transport Lines Form Network Over Andes Prepared pre by lc National tg Geographic Society Washington D. D C. C. C Service A new airline has caught another corner of ot Colombia up into the net net- network network network work of air transport which has given en that country an American all-American rep rep- reputation reputation reputation for progress in commercial flying The new service extends eastward serving the region of broad jungle plain east of the An An- Andes Andes Andes des draining into the Orinoco river In spite of three ranges of the An An- Andes Andes Andes des with peaks of feet above sea level already Colombia has the most complex system of airlines in South America In fact the three ranges which cut the country into lengthwise strips are the chief rea rea- reason reason reason son for Colombia's pre-eminence pre in inthe inthe inthe the air Rail and highway trans trans- transport transport transport port over mountain barriers was so expensive and slow that Colombia promptly took to the air for South Americas America's first commercial flight service which has maintained con con- continuous continuous continuous operation Mexico began air mail service south of the Rio Grande in 1917 with delivery between the federal district in which the capital is situ situ- situated situated situated and several key cities but the service was discontinued the same year In Colombia the pre- pre I streamline flying crates of the pe pe- period period period blazed a way for air mail in October 1919 and by February 1920 they had brought about for pas pas- passengers passengers passengers the amazing transformation of ot wings to travel The Colombian commercial pilots were just one lap behind those of ot the United States After experimental tal air mail flights as early as 1911 the U. U S. S mail started st service over the airways in May 1918 17 Busy Air Lines Colombia's 17 busy airlines serve a population only sixteenth one-sixteenth as large as that of ot the United States Most of ot them live in the high An An- Andean Andean Andean dean valleys between and feet above sea level which have a temperate climate though just north of the equator The concentration of people in Colombia's highlands makes makes' one of the most populous and progressive regions in the An An- Andes Andes Andes des the highlands arc are as thickly settled as most of the United States About 30 per cent of ot the Colombians are city dwellers The densely populated pop pop- populated populated highlands are the source of most of the coffee and leather ex ex- exports exports ex- ex exports ports the gold and platinum and emeralds that for four fo r centuries have given the country an assured place in international commerce |