Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-22

ARK IS SOUGHT
ASAEROSTATION
Councils Asked to Desig-
nate and Fully Equip
League Island Plot
PLAN PROPOSED BY CLUB
Would Be to Airplane Traffic
What Broad Street Is
to Railways
2LAN PROPOSED BY CLUB

The city of Philadelphia will be asked
BY the Aero Club of Pennsylvania, on
Monday, to set aside a part of League
Island Park as an official airplane
landing field and to erect one OF the
B most complete aeronautic establishments
In the United States.
This announcement was made at a
meeting of the Aero club in the En-
\ gineers Club last night by Joseph A.
Steinmetz, president Of the organization.
+ The request to be presented TO Councils
( 10 q part of a nationwide movement in
which the Aero Club Of Pennsylvania
has taken the leading part for the erec-
tion OF municipal landing fields and air
drornes throughout the country.
The scheme is to further the develop
ment of peace-time commercial aviation
as a vital necessity and advantage to
progressive commercial activity.
Each member of the Committees ot
.St,ity Property and Commerce and NaNi-
cation of Councils will be appealed to.
individually, to favor the suggestion oG
the Aero Club. Mr.. Stsinmetz said that
a about ten years ago, when the money
& was appropriated by the city for League
island Park, a portion of the park was
then set aside as a landing field.
Official Landing station
The club will ask Councils on Monday
\ 10 place no park improvements upon this
4 plot, but to smooth It Off and cover ii
4, with rich turf. It will ask the city to
formally designate this field as the Off
cial aviation landing station in Phila-
( delphia II will become to airplane traf-
flc, incidentally. what the Broad Street
Station is to railroad traffic.
Z The club will present, at the same
!. time, a comprehensive scheme, which it
+ WIN later ask the city TO carry cut at
the moment the movement for such fields
has nationally been approved. Already
nearly a dozen large cities have taken
definite steps towards the erection of a
municipal airdrome and field.
II the city will not favor such
+ proposition, then an attempt will be
made to have It carried out through
private enterprise The clubs plan in
cludes hangers for the machines. sup
ply stations, repair shops. sleeping quar-
ters for the pilots and mechanics,
4 lightg and signals which will make
landing as easy at night as during the
\ day and many other features.
The erection Of a municipal airdrome
BY the city may raise an interesting
legal question, as to the right of the
city to condemn private property to be
leased to private individuals for COM
Amercial purposes. but it is expected that
ehese matters will readily be adjusted II
NY such drawback Is found to be ap-
! pficable to this situation.
q Thirty other cities have been written
to by Ralph T. Folwell. the chairman Of
4 the committee which has the matter in
charge, and replies from the authori.
\ ties have been most enthusiastic in their
swillipgness to cooperate in their respec-
tive communities.
Co-Operation Promised
AS an example of the value of such
municipal airdromes, the club received a
letter from the Packard Motor Company
& in which officials of that company as :
for all Information concerning the plans
OF Philadelphia for such field and
whatever progress had thus far been
made. Mr.. Steinmetz said that it looked
as though the Packard Company was
going ito start something"
MI. StelnInetz anu otIler SPEAKERS last
night suggested that flying fields first be
established at country clubs and golf
clubs as the opening wedge for larger
rsxpansion. These would be used, prim-
arily, by men of sporting inClnations
for pleasure, but it is expected to re
h veal the feasibility Of general CONNER
4 cial aerial activity.
The safety of air travel was pointed
out by several of the speakers at the
meeting, all of whom have served as
airmen in the war Among the speak
ers were Lieutenant L. v Holland, r.
A. f.. who was shot down and badly
= wounded by two German Fokkers and
who was a prisoner for more than half
! year; George s. ireland, Of the Curtis
Eastern Aeroplane Company. and Lieu.
=, tenant Ralph II. Folwell, of the naval
aviation