Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-21
GRAVELlY POINT SITE
FAVORED AS AIRPORT
FOR CAPITAL CITY
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use of Hoover field for the mail
planes, is equally enthusiastic over
| the possibilities of Gravelly Point.
In event the Army and Navy would
agree to permit use of Boiling field
for night landings, he offers to eX-
tend use of his own field for anyday
use that might be needed pending
the establishment of a permanent
airport.
| Gravelly Point is SO situated that
| hydroplanes could easily use the site
and the accessibility to the city over
Highway Bridge, along routes where
traffic is light to Pennsylvania aveune,
makes it desirable for every point
of view, it was said
Express Enthusiasm.
culture would part with a strip Of it's
experimental farm, both Maj. Covell
and Lieut.. Duke were enthusiastic
over Hoover field as a permanent site.
It was pointed out that the Depart
ment of Agriculture must eventually
relinguish its experimental farm by
the time Arlington Memorial Bridge is
nearing completion. The land, it was
said, belongs to the War Department
and is part of the Arlington tract.
Whether Secretary of Agriculture
Jardine would be willing to part with
even 200-foot strip at this time. is
a matter for the department to decide,
| With such a strip, it was believed.
an additional runway could be util-
lied at Hoover field, making it ade-
| quate for commercial uses until the
farm eventually is abandoned.
Site Called Ideal.
The location of Hoover Field. right
at the Virginia end of the Highway
Bridge, makes it an ideal site for a
permanent airport such as Washing
/ ton Is hopeful of securing. In addi.
ton Columbia Island, almost adjoin-
ing, would provide an emergency land
ing place, and seaplanes could taxi to
it under the bridge, it was said.
Maj. Covell has not entirely aban-
| doned hope of securing strip of the
experimental farm, but the outlook
| for this does not appear any too good
| to him.
Accompanied by w. E. Hutton, rep
resenting interests who own the
| Hampton site, in Virginia, the party
| Duke was familiar with it. having
once made a landing there. BY short
| cut. going via the Seminary road, it
| is located exactly six miles from the
District Building.
Secluded From City.
| Except for it's seclusion from the
city, the inspectors were agreed that
| it afforded an, ideal site. The 112 acres
are as fiat as the top of table and
| there is additional land on three sides
that easily could be made available.
The acreage is $500 feet long by 1000
feet wide at one end and 1.46O feet
wide at another. According to Lieut..
Duke, it meets with requirements both
as to size and drainage.
The Alexandria Leesburg pike, run
ming along the west end of the field,
gives cement approach connecting
with the Russell road. The other APP
proach to the field via the Seminary
road, however, is rough travelling,
partly over steep hills. 1t was esti-
mated that the cost of the land alone
would be about 100000.
Meets Mr.. Beriiner.
After leaving this site, which has
an elevation of ESQ feet, the party
met Mr.. Berliner at Hoover Field and
there it was decided to let Lieut.. Duke
pilot plane over Gravelly Point.
Upon their return the party made its
way to the Anacostia tract, the site
of the old Benning race track.
1t was surprising to the party that
the trip there was made in Is min
utes by auto from Twelfth and L
streets. According to Lieut.. Duke, the
main objection to the Benning tract
lies in the danger offered by surround
ing high trees and tall smokestacks,
particularly those of the Benning
Power Plant. To add to the dangers
Of forced landings, the surrounding
marshes, though they will eventually
he reclaimed, would sink any plane, it
is said.
Aside from these handicaps, which
it was pointed out are serious ones, the
field itself presents favorable posi-
bilities. Lieut.. Duke declared, how.
ever. 1t could be made no larger than
a Glass E field, with possibly six run.
| ways, whereas eight runways are re-
garded as essential to the kind of air
port Washington is supposed to con
Struct.
Railroad Runs Near.
The site for the hangers, it was
SAID, would be along the railroad track
at the east end of the field. This
would provide n straight-ahead run
way of about 5000 feet, more than
ample, though banked at the far end
by trees and the marshes that consti
tute the Anacostia River, some dis
lance back.
Speaking of Washington's needs for
permanent airport, Lieut.. Duke re
called that the Ford reliability flight
which starts Monday, will take in
most of the larger cities except the
National Capital. This is the third time
that Washington has been on the "out
side" he said, because Of it's lack of a
suitable landing field outside of Boiling
If Gravelly Point is to be considered
both he and Maj. Coveli agreed M
time should be lost in tackling Con
gress with the proposition. Since tht
Government owns all the land, the
only cost entailed outside the construc
ton of hangers would be the filling-in
Maj. Covell believes this would b.
comparatively cheap, considering th'
; cost of other sites. by reason Of thu
necessary work done each year il
keeping the channel wide and deep.
Then, too, it was pointed out, thu
District government must make some
/, future ARA ngement for an additional