Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-01
COMPROMISE PLAN
TO ASSURE AIRPORT
FOR CITY EXPECTED
Executive Order Permitting
Use of Boiling Field Held
Possibility.
URGE WAR DEPARTMENT
TO REDUCE ITS DEMANDS
Failure of Business Interests to
Guarantee Backing Shows Senti-
ment on Project.

ment on Project.
Despite an apparent reluctance on
the part Of local business interests 10
underwrite what amounts to a $3.50
guarantee to clinch the War Depart.
ment's offer of Boiling Field, it was
evident today that some sort of a
compromise would be reached in time
TO prevent Post Office officials from
diverting 10 Baltimore the Atlantic
coastal airway service to be opened
this Summer
Two ways appear open out of the
deadlock which threatens again to
cost Washington a place on the New
York to Atlanta route.
Either the War Department can
scale its demands and turn over one
of the Army hangers for the tenl-
porary use Of air mail planes or Presi-
dent Coolidge can issue an executive
order permitting the District to use
Boiling Field for such purposes until
the question of a permanent airport
is thrashed out in the next Congress.
Tentatively Reject Backing.
As business proposition, the repre-.
sentatives of Washington's three trade
organizations yesterday tentatively
turned down a proposal to put up a
$4,000 or $4,000 guarantee, when
Maj. w. f. r. Covell, Assistant Dis
trict Engineer Commissioner, frankly
told the meeting that in his opinion
any money put into Boiling Field will
never come back"
The business meeting yesterday,
while it f91ed TO assure financial
backing of the airport project, accom-.
plished one good purpose which Maj.
Covell sought. II served to put all
the cards on the table, leaving no
room to doubt the feeling that exists
with regard TO the taxpayers of the
District putting III, the money for a
temporary air mail service from
which the Government admittedly
would reap the most benefits.
Expect Government to Act.
Frank admission by Maj. CovelI that
the cost Of a worthwhile municipal
airport would necessitate an increase
in an already burdensome District tax
rate, unless some local improvements,
perhaps equally desirable, are thrown
out of the budget estimate, caused the
business representatives to reserve
formal Endorsement of the. project
pending thorough research into all
questions involved.
While it was the consensus that a
temporary air mail service is not
worth $4,000 or $4,000 to the business
interests Of the city. the position of
local business representatives seems
to be that the Government, which
would be the chief beneficiary of such
a service. will not permit Washington
to lose its place on the New York-to-
Atlanta route.
Meanwhile the War Departments
offer of Boiling Field has not been
withdrawn. though there is a prob
ability that +. Trubee Dawson, As.
sistant Secretary of War for Aviation,
will construe yesterdays meeting as
a curt refusal to take advantage Of
his offer. Mr.. Dawson is now in
New York and will not return to
Washington until next Tuesday. At
that time Mai. Covell will confer with
him in the hope that the War De-
partment will permit the air mail
planes to use one of the Arrny
hangers at Boiling Field without q
so-called guarantee"
Regarded as Refusal,
While Maj. Covell was anxious TO
obtain the consent of Washington
business interests to underwrite the
financial offer, he let it be known that
it is possible the War Department.
will stretch a point in favor of the
Capital, rather than see the air mail
diverted to Baltimore.
The Post Office Department made it
plain today that it considered the ac.
On of
unmistakable refusal to meet the
terms required for establishing Wash.
ington as port of call on the air
mail route.
w. Irving Glover. Assistant POST
master General in charge of air mall
said: Washington has swept the
baby off its doorstep. 1t seems un.
fortunate, but the baby probably will
have TO take Baltimore as a step
father"
He declared that the Post Office De-
partment would make no immediate
move to take Washington Off the air
mail schedule, but made it plain that
II a temporary field is not provided
very soon, it would he compelled to
direct the planes to stop at Baltimore
instead.
Warns Baltimore May Win.
As soon as the Ford reliability tour
IS ended, Mr.. Glover said he expected
Pitcairn Aviation, Inc, to ascertain
the situation with regards TO landing
field in Washington. If one is not
available. Mr. Glover pointed out, the
would simply route its planes
% Baltimore. There would be no al.
he declared.
ut is unfortunate that Washington
,annot look farther than its own
lose," Mr.. Glover said. This Is n
commercial aviation project, with
reight and passenger service, link.
ng up eventually with Florida. Cuba
md through the Southwest to- Los
Angeles. The mail service would be
/ small part of it," e
The attitude of Washington BUSH
less men was clearly reflected to
Maj. Covell, who said today that he
would incorporate their views in the
eport he Is preparing for the Dis
rict Commissioners. In the mean-7
ime he will confer tomorrow with
United States engineers to determine
he actual cost of reclaiming the
iravelly Point site for a permanent
irport. Estimates now range from
] ESQ, 900 to $2.000,00O, which District
axpayers would be expected to put
CONTINUED on Page 5. Column Il