The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • Page 15

WWW v.nHWMkyw 1 Coming Citrus Season "MimK Set Likely To Reudy For Flight The Piper PA-25, designed and built by Piper Air- cultural uses, such as crop dusting and sprayin; craft Development Center, Vero Beach, is the company's tinel Photo not-yet-in production airplane made especially for agri- Special Airplano New Boon To Crop Dusting Developed At Vero Beach By HOMER PYLE Sentinel Staff VERO BEACH A surplus of skilled pilots, used airplanes and advances in agricultural chemistry following World War II resulted in a valuable light plane industry for Vero Beach and the development of an airplane that is promising to be a boon both to pilots who make their living by crop dusting and to farmers throughout the world. Piper Aircraft Corp. development center at Vero Beach airport, under the direction of Fred E. Weick who fathered the idea of an airplane designed peculiarly for agricultural use from its infancy, has turned out a plane here that will have a far-reaching effect on mechanized farming. THE.

NEW PA-25, still in the experimental stages, is the outgrowth of those post-war clays in which pilots were looking for jobs, there were small training planes available in large numbers, and agriculture was beginning to see the advantages of aerial spraying and dusting with the advent of new chemicals. It was a hazardous occupation, bolh for pilots and planes, and casualties were not uncommon. By 1952, there iff He Dissatisfied Collins Shows Concern Over County Tax Roils ecor Spessard Holland At IViiSMrofn Holland Hils At 'Promises' PENSACOLA iP) Sen. Spessard Holland declared yesterday that if the current senatorial campaign were based upon promises Claude Pepper would win in a walk. Instead of a campaign of promises Holland said he believed in "laying it on the line with the people with true facts and spending public money just as carefully as private money." THE SENATOR interrupted a busy round of handshaking at navy and industrial installations to lake a potshot at his opponent.

In the past Pepper has drawn some of his strongest support from this politically minded West Florida sector. Holland said Pepper had promised to work for increased old age pensions and veterans' benefits and for increased spending for public projects and foreign aid while at the same time urging a tax cut. Holland said he regretted he could not promise to expand the big Pen-sacola Naval Air Station because the plain fact was the area would be hard pushed to hold what it has with the new concept of warfare. But he added he would fight to see that nothing" is taken away. ESCAMBIA COUNTY'S approximately 60,000 registered voters are the big plum in this panhandle section.

Pepper already has made two campaign swings through here bidding for them. This is Holland's first visit during the current campaign. Holland departed, from the formal speechmaking routine he followed this week in Orlando and Jacksonville to carry his appeal directly to the voters with an extensive handshaking tour. He began early at the Pensacola Naval Air Station and followed it up later in the day by handshaking with workers at the shift change at the big Chemstrand plant and St. Regis Paper Co.

mill. At noon he attended an informal luncheon given by supporters and last night he made a television talk. TODAY HOLLAND hits the road again swinging eastward by automo-bile. He planned stops at Milton, Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, Nice-ville, Valparaiso and DcFunialc Springs. On Saturday he will pick up a sound truck at Chipley and work toward Quincy where he will wind up the week with a talk on rural electrification at the Taiquin Electric Co-operative dinner.

Revision Faces New Court Suit TALLAHASSEE to A lawsuit aimed at killing off the last remaining vestige of the daisy-chained constitutional revision program was filed with the Florida Supreme Court. Sen. Verle A. Pope of St. Augustine asked the court to prohibit State Sec.

R. A. Gray from putting on the Nov. 4 general election ballot a proposed amendment which would authorize the interlocking of separate amendments into a single package. THE PROPOSED amendment was adopted by the 1957 special legislature in an effort to legalize its interlocking of the 14 proposed revision articles so that for any to win ratification all would have to be approved.

The supreme court in a suit brought by Pope and Rafael Rivera-Cruz of Miami threw out the revision articles on the ground the interlocking provisions constituted a general revision, which can be only by constitutional convention. Sen- the old planes w-ere wearing out fast and today there are only about 4,000 of the original crop-dusting planes left in the U. S. This 4,000 has been augmented by about 1,000 newer planes of the PA-18 type, a super Piper Cub modified for spraying and dusting, and the Stear-man Bi-plane, so that about 5,000 cop-dusters are in use today. WEICK.

former director of the aircraft research center at Texas College, was the chief pioneer in a development program sponsored by the Civil Aeronautics Administration, farmers and manufacturers, all of whom contributed to the development of an airplane that would be used exclusively for agriculture. What they wanted was a plane that would provide safety for pilots who had to fly at almost stalling speeds at tree-top altitude, and one which would best suit the needs of farmers. The configuration of the PA-25 was first seen at Texas in the AG-1, the first product of that program. Later, the AG-3. another experimental airplane constructed at Texas was developed, using many Piper parts and sponsored by the Piper Corp.

In April of last year, Weick was hired by Piper to come to Vero and set up a development program. The present 13.000 sq. ft. plant, at a cost of $113,000, was built and opened in October. Equipment in the building costs about the same, and more is being added all the time.

There are 43 engineers and highly skilled craftsren employed there now. THE PA-25 found its conception on the drawing boards here and was constructed in the plant and test flown successfully in December at Vero Beach airport. "If it follows custom," Weick told The Sentinel, "It will probably get the name of an agricultural Indian tribe." Two other recent Piper products were named after tribes the Apache, a five-place, twin-engine job, and the Commanche, a four-place, single-engine aircraft just put on the market this year. But whatever its future name, the PA-25 has to get CAA approval before it can be put into production at Piper headquarters in Lock Haven, Pa. This could take years, because every new aircraft innovation and there are plenty of them in this plane has to be thoroughly tested to CAA's satisfaction.

CAA has been furnished over 1,000 drawings. ADVANTAGES the PA-25 has over conventional aircraft modified for crop dusting include such things as ability to carry large spray and dust loads 800 lbs. and much more if necessary for the amount of power 150 hp. engine. Most planes other than the PA-18 modified super cub being used now have 450 hp.

engines that carry proportionately smaller loads. Still Ho Word From Professor ELAND (ITU The wife of Dr. Benson W. Davis, veteran university professor missing almost two weeks, said yesterday she still has received no word from her husband. Mrs.

Davis told United Press International, "I have heard nothing from my husband since he wired my brother" earlier this month. She said Davis, head of the department of philosophy at Stetson University here, wired her brother, Edward Payne of Farmville, Aug. 4 from Jacksonville, advising her not to meet him at their summer home in Boone, N. C. Mrs.

Davis, who returned to the couple's home here at DeLand air base Tuesday, yesterday refused to interview a Sentinel reporter or to discuss the case with him. "The newspapers are trying to make a big story out of this." she said. She did say she had heard nothing from Davis. She labeled a wire story yesterday as part fiction and especially about Dr. Davis' brother.

She said he has no brother. More Money Expected Bv Conner By Sentinel Services CAMP MCQUARRIE The coming citrus season should bring Florida even more money that the current one which set a money-making record, it was predicted yesterday. Pres. Vernon L. Conner of Florida Citrus Mutual, speaking at the 25th annual Citrus Institute at this Ocala National Forest camp, said this season's orange crop "returned an all-time high of $336 million on the FOB level." BUT CONNER, from Mount Dora, said "next season we expect this figure to be even higher with the growers receiving a higher percentage of the finished products' price." The Mutual president based his optimistic forecast on the "relationship between present supply and demand factors." Last winter's freezes cut the orange crop from an expected 102 million boxes to 83 million boxes and because of cold damage to trees, the new season is not expected to produce more than about 80 million boxes of oranges.

Thus, it is expected that a tight supply and strong demand will send prices to new highs. CONNER TOLD the growers that Mutual, a giant co-operative representing about 90 pet. of Florida grove owners, will issue during the coming season its one-time controversial price guide information. This is information provided growers advising them what they should expect to get from their crops based on supply and demand factors. Mutual has used it occasionally in the past when the industry faced crises such as the freezes which hit the state last winter.

In times gone by, Mutual has been accused of attempting to fix prices through use of price guide information. "The consumer should be able to buy as good citrus fruit in the market as I would ship to a friend." said Dr. Paul Harding, plant physiologist, USDA, Orlando. HE CAUTIONED against shipping of immature fruit and pointed out that in recent years improved thinking along that line was reflected in the better quality of Florida fruit reaching northern markets. Dr.

Harding said the citrus industry is fortunate in having a product to sell which not only looks and tastes good, but is good for the consumer. He was referring to the health giving qualities and vitamin content of Florida oranges and grapefruit. Others on this final day of the institutes silver anniversary program were Dr. R. F.

Suit, Citrus Experiment Station, Lake Alfred; W. H. Mathews. Florida Agricultural Extension Service, Gainesville; Willard M. Fifield, provost for agriculture, University of Florida; W.

L. Thompson and Dr. E. J. Deszyck, Citrus Experiment Station, Lake Alfred; and Dr.

John Sites, head fruit crops section. Florida Agricultural Experiment Station. R. E. NORRIS, county agent in Lake County and manager of the institute, said the silver anniversary institute has been the best in its 25-year history.

Approximately 600 growers from 23 counties attended. Three foreign countries were represented. They are Morocco, Venezuela and The Philippines. It closes with breakfast today Agriculture is unquestionably our basic industry today, Fifield told the Institute. "If our agriculture fails it will knock the props out of industry," Fifield said.

He made a plea to not relegate agriculture to a minor role in seeking a balanced economy in Florida until we have the facts to indicate that we should and at present the facts do not, he said. Center Chief Named TALLAHASSEE UP Road Board Chmn. Joe Grotegut yesterday announced, the appointment of Roland J. Raggrtt as director of the department's data processing center. I Claude Pepper Call Aews Fair Slay Loyal, Says Pepper MIAMI (J?) The' importance of party loyalty formed the theme last night of a speech by Claude Fepper before the Riscayne Democratic Club.

The former senator aimed several sharp thrusts at the party loyalty of his opponent, Spessard L. Holland, who is engaged in a battle with Pepper for votes in the Sept. 9 Democratic primary for the senatorial nomination. THE DEMOCRATIC gathering climaxed a day of active campaigning in the Dade County area where Pepper took public note of Holland's newly gained editorial support from the Miami Herald. At the same time, Pepper who has received few editorial endorsements, commended Florida's newspapers for the fairness he says they have shown in the coverage of the campaign in their news columns.

Previously this week, Pepper had stressed' party loyalty and his emphasis on the theme again last night may be a new campaign tact. He has called Holland the "sixth best Republican in the U. S. Senate." Pepper in his Democratic Club speech commended the loyalty of those who have carried the leadership of the party "in bad times as well as good." OX THE OTHER hand, he criticized "those fair weather party leaders like my opponent who seek the honors of the Democratic Party and then shows contempt for it by repudiating any obligation to the party. "My opponent helped the Republicans come to power in 1952 and has been called the sixth best Republican in the Senate since the Republicans have been power," Pepper told his fellow Democrats.

The former senator predicted a Democratic sweep of Congress this fall and said Florida would lead the move "when I as a Democrat will be nominated and my Republican opponent will be retired." Earlier, Pepper told Dade County audiences he regarded the Herald's endorsement of Holland as "an encouraging sign." "WHEN" WE GET a few more big newspapers in the state against me," he said in a fast Dade County tour, "we will have as many against us as did Pres. Roosevelt and that will assure our victory." Pepper said, "I can't believe people of Florida would elect the big multi-million dollar newspapers of the state their senator or the fat cats of Forida who are pouring lots of money into my opponent's campaign." THE FORMER senator granted, however, "a man who owns a newspaper has a perfect right to advocate the election of any man he wishes to serve his interest." He remarked that in some instances the newspaper owners "don't even vote in Florida." Pepper, although not agreeing with some of the newspapers in their political stands, said "the newspapers have been very fair in reporting this campaign. The utter fairness they have shown in their news columns is in the highest traditions of journalism. Pepper said the "big business crowd which opposes me in this election is perfectly satisfied to have an old, tired man for U. S.

senator." Holland is 66; Pepper 57. "ALL THEY want is someone who will vote for them, their monopolies or to fatten their profits," Pepper charged. "They are more concerned with the protection of their privileges than they are in having a progressive, dynamic man who will do something for all the people of the slate." Sentinel Photo) HIS BRAINCHILD Piper Dir. F. K.

Weick were 7,000 airplanes in agricultural use, according to Weick, but by then backing a program for full cash value property assessments, called for by law. "I think substantial progress has been made in some areas." the governor said. "Now the work on the new tax manual is almost complete as I understand it and I think when we get that he will be able to evaluate the reports of what the respective tax assessors have done Collins said he did not expect to see a "complete" job of full value assessments, but what was being done now would have a "Marked influence on the development of a program of law reform in the next session of the legislature." COLLINS REFUSED to comment on whether he would be opposed to a bill reportedly to be introduced in the 1959 session, cutting the full cash value assessment to something less than 100 pet. "I am not going to pass on that now," he said, "because we don't have all the information that I want before me in saying just what I will recommend." The governor also denied that a telegram he recently sent to Gov. Orval Faubus of Arkansas congratulating him on his renomination had any political implication.

He said it was a "routine courtesy" paid to all members of the National Governors Conference by him as chairman. A NATIONAL magazine Life recently published an article which interpreted Faubus' renomination and Collins' letter as having made the position of the moderate untenable in the South, and that Collins might have changed his views. Collins has been called a moderate on racial matters. "My telegram had no reference whatever to my views in that field and certainly could not properly be interpreted as representing any change of views of any kind on my part," Collins said. "I think it was a message of congratulations and carried with it what a message of congratulations should carry." THE GOVERNOR refused to define the term moderate for newsmen, saying it meant one thing to some and another thing to others.

He said his attitude and reclines had been made clear, and if people wanted to call that moderate, it was all right with him. TALLAHASSEE (I'M Gov. LeRoy Collins said yesterday he will probably be dissatisfied with the 1958 tax rolls in some counties because they were not assessed at full cash value. But Collins told his weekly news conference he was not familiar with what had been done in the various counties and he would also probably be "highly with some of the other assessments. COLLIN'S has for some time been ftiifiiiy i ailed Itest Erviii Backs Kiiiii Decision TALLAHASSEE UP) Atty.

Gen. Richard Ervin said yesterday he would have been guilty of "dishonest pettifoggery" if he had sought reconsideration by the supreme court of its reversal of the perjury convictions of former Sen. Harry E. King of Winter Haven, former Sheriff H. P.

Pat Gordon of Polk County and two of his deputies. The case grew out of King's payoff to former Rep. Boone E. Tillctt of Lake Wales to withdraw from the 1956 senate race. King was president designate of the senate.

ERVIN SAID he "sincerely believed" the supreme court had ruled correctly in throwing out the convictions and ordered new trials for the four men. In a letter to Paul B. Johnson, Hillsborough County solicitor, Ervin took issue with complaints aired by Johnson over failure of the attorney general to seek a rehearing of the case by the supreme court. King and Gordon were convicted of influencing the two deputies to lie and w-ere sentenced to five years in prison each. The deputies, James Busbee and Rollie Arnold, were convicted of lying and sentenced to three years each.

Ervin wrote Johnson that the Hillsborough prosecutor, who handled the King case prosecution on special assignment from the governor, had complained that the supreme court erroneously had construed his argument to the jury to be forbidden comment on the failure of Busbee and Arnold to testify at the trial. The Bahamas Tuvn LandlufSers Into SaltsSuiiduy's Florida Magazine.