Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-03-11
COLLEGE MAY SUPPLY
FIELD FOR Av|AT0RS
University of Vermont Owns
Ideal Spot Two Miles from
City and Is Anxious to Help
Out-President Hartness En-
thusiastic

With the cooperation Of the Univer-
sity Of Vermont 1t is not at all un-
likely that an ideal landing place for
airplanes will be secured within easy
access of Burlington by James p. Tay-
lor of the Chamber of Commerce. Last
evening Acting President G. w. Bailey
let II be known that the university
would give it's hearty support In the
efforts to obtain one and those in
terested in securing a field are for
tunate in that the college authorities
have control of the only piece OF
property in this section Of the country
which possesses the qualifications.
The property which the university
possesses Is situated about two miles
east of the college. heal the Eldridge
cemetery. It is a fine level stretch and
is unoccupied save for some trees.
There are no overhead wires and the
soil is of exactly the texture desired
to prevent accidents. It is not a CLAW
soil but sandy, SO the drainage Is ex-
cellent and is bound together by a
short tough grass. 1t is as level a
ground as can be found in Vermont
and has the required size. President
James HARNESS., in looking the prop
osition over last evening. was en-
thusiastic over It, as have been all
aviators who have inspected the
property.
Mr.. Taylor has AXE several avia-
tors to the property, which Ia near
that of the gun club, and all have been
of the same mind that it Ia a rare
piece of uck to find such a stretch in
this part of the country. The fact that
it is only a few minutes drive from
the heart of the city is also favorable.
for In the case Of most fields where the
population is large it Is several times
as far. The prevailing winds there
are southerly and that is still another
point in its favor.
An aviation field must have 1900
feet runaway in the direction Of tho
wind. The university property con-
tains about 1855 acres and is Of the re-
quired dimensions for anything but the
heavy freighters and it would be a
long time before they would be COM
ing here. Even then, surrounding
property could probably be secured IL
necessary.
The land was left the University Of
Vermont by John Brownell q long
time ago and cannot be sold but can
be leased by the trustees. President
Bailey stated last evening that the
matter had been placed in the hands
of the executive committee OF the
board Of trustees.
IF the university furnishes the field
there is little doubt that Burlington
will be on the main route for the air.
plane service, for all airplane men ara
of the opinion that this is the side
of the lake to travel on in making
the trip to Montreal. On the New York
side there are high hills and noun
tains which furnish obstacles. A care
full survey of the State has discovered
no place with as many qualifications
as the one in South Burlington.
Another point is that if the students
of the University of Vermont should
GO into aviation, II woul be desirable
TO give them every facility near home.
Already some colleges are planning in
terco1legiate meets in the air and the
University of Vermont has been in
vited to take part. 1t is not at all I'M
likely that at some time in the future
Vermont will take a hand in this sport
and possibly train men along those
lines.