El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-08-16
re HAS
CHANCE to- GET
B|Gu.S.AV|AT|0N
CAMP FOR CITY
Energetic Action Needed
AS Other Towns Will
BelIot on Trail
WALTON AND A. A.
JONES GET BUSY

Santa Fe has a chance to ecurs
n of the big aviation training
camps Of the United States army.
1t will take energetic action on the
part Of the Chamber Of Commerce
the Merchants association, the au
thorities and others Interested, how
ever, as several places In the state
undoubtedly will attempt to grab the
prize. M
"A letter received here today from
Congressman William B. Walton an
nounces that the signal corps Of the
Y. s. army is now looking about for
suitable locations for several bio avis.
tion camps, and that he is taking the
I matter up with the representative
citizens Of a number Of New Mexico
towns. Congressman Walton and
Senator Jones mean to do everything
possible to secure n of the camps
for New Mexico. Naturally, they will
be impartial as far as the claims Of
the various points are concerned, and
Santa FEES ability to land the camp
will depend on the effort made by her
commercial bodies and citizens.
"a number of things are needed to
make a locality suitable for the pur-
poses of an aviation camp says Mr..
Walton in his letter, "but the two
principal ones are plenty of land and
uniformly good weather conditions.
In view of this fact it seems to me
that we ought to be able to get n
of these camps for New Mexico"
Congressman Walton encloses with
his letter the government specifica-
tions for aviation sites, and a note at
the end OF these specifications states
that "the government does not con-
template the establishment of small
aviation schools" At every camp it
is probable that 1000 aviators, and
possibly many more, will be constant
ly in training, and the instructors,
mechanics, truckmen and others
necessarily connected with the camp
will give 1t a population greatly in ex-
cess of the number of aviators in
training. Every camp will mean n
great deal to the point securing 1t.
According to the specifications, a
field of less than $40 acres will not
be considered. and the narrowest di-
mension OF the field is not to be
less than $3.50 feet, or one mile.
Maps OF the field drawn to scale, and
showing all obstacles, such as trees,
bushes, bitches, ravines, house, etc,
and the nature of the surrounding
for a distance of ten miles,
must be provided, together with
meteorological data, names of land
owners, and statements of railroad ia
electric power facilities,
water supply, drainage and telegraph
and telephone facilities. The cost Of
the aviation field for not less
than three years, and the cost of pur-
chasing it at any time within the
perid of the lease, also must be
with a statement of the
cost of clearing the field and making
It perfectly level. If right-of-way for
4 railroad spur to the field is neces-
sary it must be stated, and the cost
,f leasing and purchasing such right
given.
Congressman Walton's letter was
turned over to President Hanna, of
he Chamber of Commerce, this after
aeon, and 1t is expected that that or-
.ganization will at once get busy in n
determined effort to land the avia-
ion camp. Climatic conditions here,
he altitude and the abundance Of
fields adjacent to this city
make Santa Fe an ideal location for ar
camp, and with the right kind of al
presentation OF its advantages it
should have a better chance to secure
he approval of the war department
han any other place in the state.