Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-01
AERO ASSOCIATION
URGES PORT HERE
Sites Near Benning Road or
Hams Point Suggested
for Future Field.

ward the ultimate eSta bHShment OF
a District of Columbia air port has
been launched quietly and unobtru-
sively by the District chapter, Ma
tional Aeronautic Association.
Conversations on the subject of a
municipal field or air port have been
held in civilian aeronautical circles
here for many years past, resulting
mostly in the conclusion that well,
something ought TO be done about
it," Nothing ever has until the local
chapter of the American governing
body for airchaft performances called
on Maj. U. S. Grant, Sd, Friday, and
requested that the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission set
aside a plot of ground within the
District that would be suitable for an
aircraft terminal.
Emphasizing that the chapter or
the association does not plan 10
whoop up a big campaign for such
field today, this year, or even the next
the spokesmen for the organization
sought to impress upon MAJ. Grant
the necessity Tor safeguarding an
area that would serve the purpose Tor
q. permanent port in the near future.
Unless steps are taken now, they
pointed out, when the time arrives
for a terminal here, there Will not re
a satisfactory plot of ground in the
District for what is declared to be
most important civic development.
Two Sites Suggested.
Z Mai. Grant also was told that an
? air port would take its place along
with other park projects in the Dis
trict, and would be thing OF beauty
as well as service. Boiling Field Is
not available for regular commercial
traffic. and Hoover Field, adjoining
the amusement park at the south end
of the Highway Bridge, is entirely
too small for a port. The delegation
suggested an area south of Bennlng
road and also land due south OF
Hams Point, both Of which, however,
need filling in. This ground, 1t was
stated, serves no purpose now, eut
either site could be converted into an
ideal air port.
Mai. Grant evidenced much inter
est in the proposal, and requested the
delegation to submit it in writing In
order that he may follow the matter
through. Arthur Halstead Of the Bu-
reau of Standa~ ds, secretary OF the
chapter; Carl =. Schory. secretary OF
the contest committee of the national
organization. and Allan NJ. Smythe OF
the local body comprised the delega-
ton.
Line Has Own Field.
An almost negligible volume Of
civilian air traffic filters through the
Capital weekly, and the pilots usually
can get gasoline, oil and minor parts
either from the Army Air Corps at
Boiling Field or the Naval Air station
at Anacostia. The Philadelphia Rapid
Transit Air Service, running daily
planes to and from the Sesquicenten,,
NAL however, has it's own field ana
equipment, but if an air port existed
It undoubtedly would change its base.
The National Aeronautic Associa'
tion feels that as long as washington
remains the Capital of the Nation
the city never will have to advertise
for visitors and tourists. Eventually,
II has been conservatively predicted,
aerial tours. and excursions will be
,lin into Washington. Such class OF
traffic alone would justify an air
port. even though freight and mail
planes would not find it profitable to
operate here. Nevertheless, wash
ington is the gateway to the south
and, to a degree, the West, and the
association believes this always would
be a passing-through point IL not
base.
Big Advantage Over Rails.
When westerners are shown con-
clusiyely that within four and one
balf hours they can be brought from
DAYTON to Washington, or they can
fly from Wheeling to the Capital in
2ih hourse, against IL by train,
the Army model airway, estab-
Iished for commercial as well as mill
ta.ry use, should become a thickly
populated boulevard, the chapter be-
lieves. The tremendous saving in
time is due to the mountains lying
between Washington and the Ohio
River. and over this stretch the air
plane demonstrates perhaps better
than anywhere else its great adj
vantage over the train. Eastward
the gain by air travel is not so great,
a fast train journey requiring from
two to three hours longer than air
craft to New York.
Word has Just been received here
of the expenditure by the city of
Buffalo of 100000 for an airport
and indications are that 1t will be
completed by September 1. Covering
$50 acres, the port will have four
i.unways, each 5000 feet long, built
of cinders 3 to Is inches in foundation
depth. An administration building.
with an observation tower and power
full searchlight, also is under con-
struction. Preparations are being
made for the installation of food
lights all over the field There will
be a pilots room, with lockers for
storing flying clothes and civilian
garments; a chart room, a weather
information room, radio room and
quarters for representatives Of the
Bureau Of Civil Aeronautics and the
air mail. Hangers will be erected
as rapidly as they are needed
Army Field Isolated.
The most important part of
establishing an airport is its close
nroxirnity to the center of the city.
MANY of the Army's military fields
are located miles away from COM
munities, this of course being
necessary for the safeguarding of the
nopulation against machine gun fire,
bombs and crashes. The association
mere is confident that unless a site
AZ reserved within the District now,
that when the time does come for a
District of Columbia airport, 1t
probably will be miles out in Maryland
~. Virginia Such a location, il is
argued, would work against its de-
velopment.
Little effort has been made to stir
nm civic interest in the undertaking
and purchase of a plot of ground for
the purpose. It is known that several
nersons vitality interested in civilian
aeronautics have approached owners
of property near Washington with the
view of obtaining 1t for purchase by
public subscription. The cost element
has figured largely against such acqui-
sition, although one owner made a
prouosition that was considered good.
At least one trade body was asked to
get behind a drive to acquire this land,