Builder Soong
Sirs:
Your issue of Jan. 2 devotes two pages to the subject of "Outstanding Man of the Year." In your review of the various events which would designate an outstanding man for the year, did you consider the achievements of the Chinese Minister of Finance, Mr. T. V. Soong, who in addition to balancing the budget for his government, also headed the organization which repaired the ravages of the worst flood in modern history, effectively relieving the distress of 15 million flood victims and completely restoring over 5,000 mi. of dyke?
As an achievement in organization alone, the mobilizing of the necessary 1,400,000 laborers and the putting in place of sufficient earthwork to have built a bank 6 ft. high and 6 ft. broad completely around the world at the equator, should be sufficient to give a man this outstanding title, especially in view of the fact that this was done in sufficient time and with sufficient thoroughness to hold back the flood waters of 1932 which was again a high water year up to midsummer.
Possibly you would consider the chief engineer as the outstanding man in this case. His name is T. C. Hsi and he claims Massachusetts Institute of Technology as his alma mater. You may remember that this work was financed by the loan of American wheat plus a surtax on the Chinese customs revenue.
J. E. BAKER
Chief
Commissary Division National Flood Relief Commission
Shanghai, China
Brothers Ludington
Sirs:
JUST READ ARTICLE ON LUDINGTON AIR LINES ISSUE FEBRUARY TWENTY SEVENTH STOP WISH YOUR FACTS HAD BEEN LOOKED UP OR VERIFIED BEFORE PRINTING STOP WHEN LINE WAS FORMED MY BROTHER AND MYSELF STATED WE WERE WILLING TO PUT IN ONE MILLION DOLLARS IF EVER NEEDED STOP YOUR ARTICLE GIVES DISTINCT IMPRESSION AIR LINE WAS FIASCO AND REFLECTS ON US AND AVIATION INDUSTRY STOP NO AMOUNT APPROACHING ONE HALF THIS SUM WAS EVER PUT INTO LINES AND IN FAIRNESS TO OUR MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES AND THE AVIATION INDUSTRY IN GENERAL I WISH TO POINT OUT THAT THE DEPRECIATION OF OUR INVESTMENT IN LUDINGTOX AIR LINES IS LESS THAN PRACTICALLY ANY WE COULD HAVE MADE OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HIGH CLASS BONDS AND CERTAINLY LESS THAN A LIKE AMOUNT INVESTED IN OTHER AVIATION SECURITIES STOP TRUST YOU WILL CORRECT THIS IMPRESSION TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY. . . .
NICHOLAS LUDINGTON
Santa Barbara, Calif.
Sirs:
JUST RECEIVED COPY OF MY BROTHERS WIRE TO YOU REGARDING ARTICLE ON LUDINGTON AIR LINES IN FEBRUARY TWENTY SEVENTH ISSUE
AND HAVE JUST READ ARTICLE STOP I WISH TO COMPLETELY CONFIRM HIS STATEMENTS
C. T. LUDINGTON
Miami, Fla.
In reporting the sale of Ludington Air Lines (New York-Philadelphia-Washington), to Eastern Air Transport for $250.000, TIME said: "Ludington set a new low for fares, a new high for economy of operation," added that Ludington had performed a feat unusual for an air transport line by managing to profit without an airmail subsidy the first year of its operation (1930-31). TIME erred in reporting that Ludington's $1,000,000 capitalization had been fully subscribed by the Brothers Ludington.—ED.
East Capital
Sirs:
TIME spells Tokyo with a "y," and I should be glad if you will explain why you use this style.