Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-05
Capt. Chambers Favors Es-
Establishment of Laboratory.
REPORT ON THE SUBJECT
Navy Aviation Head Suggests Loca-
ton in This City.
AERODROME ANNEX rs URGED
Latter Could Be Established in Po-
tomac Park Extension, It Is
Pointed Out.

Congress will he asked at the coming
session to appoint a commission to con-
slider the need for an aeronautical labora-
tory and the equipment. scope and loca-
ton of such an institution. This is the
Recommendation to the Secretary of the
Navy of Capt. W. /. Chambers in charge
Of aviation in the navy.
Capt. Chambers has made a long and
close study of aviation in connection
with the needs of the navy. His report
to the Secretary recounts what has been
done in the navy with aeroplanes and
hydro-aeroplanes, and outlines closely the
lines that aviation development must
take.
In this connection he points out in de-
tail the need of an aeronautical labora-
tory as an adjunct of the work of the
navy. the army and the commercial aero
plane factories. He tells of the existence
Of such institutions in England, France,
Germany and Russia and says that such
plant is absolutely essential to the
proper development of aviation in this
country. The work is so large and i'm
portant, however, that he recommends
he appointment by Congress of a COM
mission to consider the whole subject and
TO impartially recommend a line of Or
ganization and location for the labora-
tory.
What is Of the most interest to Wash
lngton in connection with the recon-
nenda ton is the argument contained in
he report for the location of the labora-
:ory in this city under the administra-
lion of the Smithsonian Institution and
the use of the now uncompleted portion
II Potomac Park for the outdoor testing
lerodrome.
Could Make Experiments.
Capt. Chambers points out that such
laboratory. to be really efficient, should
consist of two parts. an indoor laboratory
where experiments could be made with
small models. and an aerodrome annex
where precise experiments could be con-
Quoted with full-sized machines.
Capt Chambers says in the course of
his report:
THE location of the model testing
plant. the headquarters of the admins
tfation staff, requires comparatively small
space and there is no reason why it
should be remote from a city or from in
tel1ectual and material resources.
The location of the Open-air labora-
tory should obviously be at an aerodrome,
as near as may be convenient to the
model-testing plant or headquarters We
are fortunate in having here, at WASH
ipgton, ideal conditions for the location
q both parts. The model laboratory
should obviously be located on the site
Of Langley's table work at the Smith
sonian Institution, where the nucleus, an
extensive library of records and certain
collection OF instruments, is still avail
able. The National Museum is also an
ideal location for the historical collection
OF models that will result.
No more ideal location for the annex,
the open-air laboratory or aerodrome, ex-
lists in all the world than that afforded by
the as yet undeveloped extension of
Potomac Park. This is government prop
erty which is of doubtful utility as a
park only, but which would be of i'm
mense utility and interest as a park COM
btned with a scientific plant of the char
acter under consideration.
There is no reason why the public
should be excluded from such a practice
field. but there is much to recommend
that II be open to the public under proper
regulations as to the traffic, especially on
occasion of certain tests or flights of an
educational value 1t is of sufficient
area about one square mile 1t is about
two miles long. is almost entirely sur
rounded by broad expanses of water and
While convenient of access, is SO situated
that the public may be readily excluded
when tests OF 'angerous character are
in process of execution. The fine drive
ways that will be required as a park will
offer excellent facilities for the practice
work of the aerodrome and for the NOV
Ing test cars that should be supplied
An Attractive Feature.
''One OF the most attractive features Of
this location is the advantage it offers
rs an ideal aerodrome for both the army
and the navy, for both land and water
flying. and the opportunity it affords for
cooperation in all branches of the work
Of instruction and experimentation. Fur