The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-08-05
PROPOSED AIR FIELD
FOR CAPITAL CITY
COLUMBIA TENTATIVELY Sc
LECTED FOR LANDING
Air Service Officer to Fly Through
Columbia on Tour of
Reconnaissance
The State, End.

According to information received
at the Columbia chamber of com.
merce from Capt. D. S. Seaton, as
sistant to the chief of information of
: the air service, Washington, Columbia
has been selected for government
landing field on proposed aerial
route from the national capita
through the South to San Diego, Cal
ifornia.
Government officials will make a
survey of the situation at an early
date and send in a report of it 10 all
officials in Washington.
There are two fields in the prox-
unity of Columbia, one being the new
and little used field at the rife range
at Camp Jackson, and the so-called
Emerson field, little less than five
miles from Columbia on the Garner's
ferry road, which was used by the
government during the war as an av-
iation field.
The camp field was said some time
ago by army flyers to be trough and
soft" though it may now be improv-
ed. emerson field" has been declar-
ed ideal by high officers of the air
service. 1t is about 800 or 900 yards
in length by 275 in width, is OF ex-
celient consistency, smooth and well
turfed with. Bermuda grass. 1t IS
marked in whitewashed stone with a
large circle.
The chief drawback to the latter
named situation is that it is not the
property of the government but pri-
vately owned, and leased for the next
year1to a private aircraft corpora
tion. At the end of the year the field
is desired by the owner, Frank :Hamp-
ton, for agricultural purposes but Mr.
Hampton says for consideration ne
will agree to the governments using
the, land as flying felds
N'The war departments informant
as to the distance of the field from
Columbia, namely eight miles, was
slightly at fault, the five mile post
being just beyond the field. The
Garner's Ferry road is paved to With
in few hundred yards of the site at
uresent and the work of paving the
road to 'Eastover is we'll under way
already and this section should soon
be all hard surface.
The letter to the chamber of COM
merce from the Office Of the air SER
vice follows:
sThe chief of air service has au-
tthorized this Office to advise you that
the air service is contemplating
the construction of an airway between
Washington, D. c., and San Diego,
Calf. via the Southern states. In
.making a preliminary survey your
city has been selected for landing
station and if the present plans are
approved representative of the ar
service will visit your city in the near
future to confer with you regarding
details.
"An aerial survey of this route will
make it necessary for this surveying
officer to make temporary landing
at Columbia, and in view Of this fact,
it is requested that you fill out the
enclosed QUESTIONABLE and Indicate
on the enclosed map some available
space of ground where a temporary
landing could be made, returning both
to this Office.
Some time ago this Office received
information from you. regarding
Emerson field at Camp Jackson, but
no information was given. as to size
of same. AS this field is eight miles
from Columbia, information is re-
quested as to any other field now
available which could be made into a
municipal landing field and leased to
the government, with probable ar
rangement which would make it pos
sible for the government to supply
construction and installation material.
Please forward, if possible, local
map which will give in detail the
characteristics and surroundings of
the field selected.
"A field for this purpose should be
not less than 200 yards wide and 500
wards long, firm and level and free
from bitches, stumps, rocks or OBJ
structions of any kind. A bayfield,
or pasture is suggested. If there is
3 former air service officer in your
city or young man who has had