Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-25
THREATENED LOSS
OF AIRPORT BRINGS
CRY FOR HARMONY
Efforts Being Made to Settle
Differences Over Sites
Mentioned Here.
WARNING TO END DISPUTE
SOUNDED BY FANClULLI
Controversy Over Location Likely
to Put Damper on Public
Enthusiasm, He Says.

Threatened with possible elimina-
tion of Washington as stop-over
point on the New York-Atlanta air
mail route, efforts were being made
today to harmonic differences grow
ing out of the selection of a tempor-
ary or permanent airport site in the
District.
Jerome Fanciulli, chairman of the
special Chamber of Commerce COM
mittee, warned today that the dis
pute, which was brought to a head
yesterday by the objections voiced by
City Postmaster William M. Mooney
to the proposed site at Gravelly
Point, would likely put a damper on
the spirit of the movement before the
public meeting Tuesday.
While recognizing the strength Of
Postmaster Moneys arguments in
connection with a temporary site for
the handling of air mail, Mr.. Fanciulli
declared today that other factors,
equally as important, enter into the
selection of permanent airport site.
Harmony Is Demanded.
without the hearty backing of the
citizenry of Washington" he said, 1--WE
cannot hope to reach a satisfactory
agreement or push this matter to a
conclusion. If we are drawn into an
open dispute now, the public will be
inclined to withdraw. 1t is important
that harmony prevail so that all ques-
x.tx x-tf
consideration might be threshed out at
the meeting next Tuesday in the City
Club"
MIR. Fanciulli made it clear today
that the Chamber of Commerce has
not committed itself to any particular
site fer an airport and that it believes
those who use the airport and the
Government officials are the proper
ones to determine the relative values.
I'VE are trying to cooperate in find
ing a site that will meet with all the
requirements, and do not set up our
selves as experts he said on behalf
of the Chamber Of Commerce com.
m!ttee.
The selection of site at this time,
he believes, should be with a view
d
the matter cannot be finally deter
mined until Congress convenes next
December.
Committee Meets Monday.
Mr.. Fanciulli said that the tract on
the Anacostia near Eastern High
School, which the committee has been
investigating, offers fewer obstacles
to flying than the Benning tract,
favored by Postmaster Mooney. He
let it be understood, however, that
the Chamber of Commerce has not
gone on record in favor of the Ana
costa site. His committee will meet
Monday to prepare a report on its
Investigations.
The primary purpose of the COM
mittee, he explained, was to deter
mine the values of the various sites
and the points in favor of each.
There is no proposal to purchase
a site at this time" he said.
The controversy over the Benning
tract, he declared, was i'll timed and
beside sthe point.
Lieut.. Donald Duke, Army Air
Corps. who is assisting Maj. w. E. r.
Covell, Assistant District Engineer
Commissioner, in selecting a site,
NAAStAlSI OI Has
approached the matter entirely from
the viewpoint Of safe flying and the
advantages to be derived by CONNER
cial aviation, which permanent air
port is sought here.
Report Being Prepared.
He is preparing the report which
will be submitted to the District Com
miSSionerS after having gone over
the various sites under consideration.
Lieut.. Duke let it be known today
that he is as anxious as any one to
avoid any public dispute. So far as
known, he still believes the temporary
use of Boiling Field as a landing and
taking-off place for air mail planes is
the best solution of the question. This
would necessitate the construction of
a hangar and buildings at Giesboro
Point.
1t was emphasized today at the War
Department that the Navy is using
Boiling Field by permission of the
Army and has no actual voice in deter.
mining whether the field shall or shall
not be used temporarily by mali
planes. From this it would appear
that the sanction of the War Depart
ment alone is necessary to carry out
the proposal involved.
Since the immediate need Is a tenn
porary field, those interested in the
project of municipal airport believe
the question of permanent site at
this time should not be allowed to
make an issue. There would be ample
time before and after Congress con-
venes, it was said, to thresh out any
arising over the selection