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NEW POST OFFICE SERVICE Autogiro Roof-Top Mail to Be Tried Out at Philadelphia Bids Open January 17. The United States Post Office Department is about to" embark on the worlds first regular autogiro roof-top mail service. Postmaster General James A. Farley announced last night that bids were being requested for such service, the advertisement calling for the operation of an experimental air mail route with rotary-wing aircraft between the roof-top of the post office building at Philadelphia, Pa., and the airport serving that city. Bids for this service will be opened at 12 oclock, noon, January 17, 1939, in the office of W. W. Howes, first assistant postmaster general. Provisions for this autogiro service was carried in the act of Congress of April 15, 1938, which set forth in part: "The postmaster general is authorized, under such appropriate rules and regulations as he may prescribe, to provide for and supervise experimental services in connection with the transportation of mail by air, including the transporation of mail by autogiro aircraft shuttle service between outlying airports and central city areas, and including the utilization of patented articles and equipment upon payment of just compensation therefor, with the object of further developing safety, efficiency and economy in air mail transportation, collection and de-. livery." The Philadelphia post office building was selected for the purpose because its roof was constructed for autogiro service. The experimental service can be conducted on this roof-top without necessity of any expense for superstructure. Other buildings considered would have required either superstructure or a change in the ventilating system. : .
