Evening star., 1927-07-05
No Definite Time Limit.


No Definite Time Limit.
"While there is no definite time limit
place on this offer it is subject to the
same conditions made in my previous
letter on the same general subject
that there shall have been a sufficient
manifestation of interest in the local
community to insure that steady prog
ress will be made toward the pro. ision
of an adequate commercial airport for
permanent use.
Under these temporary arrange
ments, 1t is practically assured that
there would be no expense involving
the District. But Mr.. Dawson made
it plain that any use of Boiling Field
would be restricted to comparatively
short period.
Necessity of Assurances.
Secretary Dawson impressed upon
Maj. Covell the necessity of the Dis.
trict Commissioners giving definite as
surances that Washington would make
some provision in it's budget for n
permanent airport, with annual appro-
priations in which the Federal Gov
ernment as we'll as the District would
share. With this in view, Maj. Covell
today prepared to work out a definite
proposition which could win local sup
port and in itself give evidence of the
good faith of the D@trict's intention
to provide an aviation field without
due loss OF time.
Washington's joint civic airport
committee will meet tomorrow to con-
slider the situation, and it is likely to
come up also at the meeting of the
board of directors of the Chamber Of
Commerce tonight.
With Boiling Field practically as
sured, without the necessity of put
ting up a guarantee, it was felt that
the business men Of Washington
would give their whole-hearted sup
port to a businesslike proposition, in
which the Federal Government would
assume it's proportionate share of the
expense. Their position has been all
along a reluctance to construct an
expensive airport entirely out of Dis
trict funds, with a corresponding in.
crease in the local tax rate.
1t Is the War Departments conten-
ton that the first evidence of the Dis
trict's desiI to cooperate in the air.
port situation should be the immediate
selection of a site and the inclusion of
an estimate in this years budget for
work on the airport during the coming
year. With the assistance of the
Government, it was felt that establish
ment of a permanent field should not
be permitted to drag out over a period
of 10 years, as suggested before. but
should be limited to a period of not
more than five years.
Adams Gives Assurance.
Maj Covell was of the opinion to-
day that the engineers final estimate
of the cost of establishing a field at
Gravelly Point could be scaled down to
a point within reason. He will begin
the preparation of final report to the
District Commissioners embodying
definite recommendations for financing
WashingtQn's airport in the light of
the War Departments present
position.
With the support of the National
Aeronautics Association, it was felt
that the District will be able to give
the War Department satisfactory
evidence. as demanded, of the in
auguration of definite project for the
acquisition of a permanent airport.
Mr.. Adams assured Secretary Davi-
son that his association would,
through its national organization, sup
port any project which might be
evolved. He added that. in his opin-
ion, the people of Washington would
be only too glad to give the War De-
partment the assurances which it de-
manded before making an exception
to it's well advised policy of keeping
commercial activities from military
reservations.
Baltimore Awaits Report.
From Baltimore came word today
that no further attempt will be made
to induce post Office authorities to
give that city preference over Wash
ington as an air-mail stop until the
special committee of the Baltimore
Airport Commission makes its report
this week. AS soon as the repor. is
submitted, according to John L.
Alcock, chairman Of the commission,
1t will be taken to Washington.
"When all is said and done. an
airport is like a railway station. In
that it always Is located as near
as possible to the center of popula-
ton and on q site that offers the
best facilities to the travelling pub.
lic,' said Mr.. Alcock.
when the site committee makes
Its report Ufeel that we shall have
evidence that Baltimore,