Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-28
Dawson Makes Offer, Pro-
vided City Moves Imme-
diately to Get Own Field.
CIVIC LEADERS MEET
TO ANSWER CHALLENGE
Engineers Estimates Exceed
Earlier Figures for Gravelly
Point, Perplexing Covell.

Official authority for the District
of Columbia to use Boiling Field
temporarily as a landing place for
air mail planes was given today by
+. Trubee Dawson, Assistant Secre-
tary of War for Aviation. provided
the District Immediately demonstrates
it's intention to obtain a field OF its
own"
This challenge of the War Depart
ment official is being answered today
at public meeting of representatives
of all business organizations and aero
nautical bodies. at which a concerted
movement is to be launched to guar
antee establishment of. permanent
commercial airport in the District.
Addresses at this meeting in the
City Club are to be made by Mr..
Dawson, William p. MacCracken, jr.,
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for
Aeronautics; w. Irving Glover, Sec
ond Assistant Postmaster General, in
charge of the air mail; Lieut.. Col. u.
S. Grant, Sd. executive officer of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission. and Maj. w. e. r. Covell.
Assistant Engineer Commissioner of
the District. who is charged with the
duty of selecting an airport site.
Hailed With Enthusiasm.
The decision of the War Depart
ment to relieve the District of it's en-
barrassment caused by the threatened
loss of advantages to be derived from
being designated as stopping place
on the New York-to-Atlanta air mail
route was hailed with enthusiasm to-
day. 1t removes the chief problem
confronting District officials, that Of
locating q temporary field.
Chief credit for obtaining the con-
sent of the War Department in time to
avert designation Of Baltimore as a
port of call Tor the air mail Is due
Lieut.. Donald Duke, chief OF Army
airways, who has been cooperating in
airport matters with Maj. Covell.
With the use of Boiling Field now
assured, another problem of an equally
grave nature arose to confront Maj.
Covell today.
Estimates prepared by District en-
gineers for filing a portion OF the
shoals at Grayelly Point within the
year so exceeded earlier estimates that
Maj. Covell reluctantly admitted that
there is some doubt whether this site
on the Potomac should be recon-
mended for permanent airport. Ex.
elusive of the cost of buildings, he
said, the work of preparing an avia.
ton field 5000 feet by 5000 would en-
tail an expenditure Of approximately
100000
Plans Forge Ahead.
Despite this setback in the esti-
mated cost, it was known today that
oh
with their plans relative to locating
an airport at Gravelly Point in pref
erence to the tract at Benning, favored
by Post Office officials.
All necessary work at Boiling Field
in connection with it's use by the Dis
trict, Assistant Secretary Dawson
points out, must be accomplished
without expense to the Government.
Mr.. Davison's statement Is as follows:
1.-THE District of Columbia seems un-
able to provide a temporary landing
place for air mail planes pending the
selection and construction of a per-
manent airport.
June II I received a letter from
Maj. Covelf. Acting Engineering COM
missioner from the District, inquiring
If it would be possible for the War
Department to permit the temporary
use of Boiling Field at Anacostia for
air mail planes.
Given Close Study.
"My reply to his inquiry was that
the War Department has a we'll estab-
lished policy not to permit commercial
enterprises to use Army air fields ex-
cept under extraordinary circuin-
stances.
II have given Washington's airport
problem close study and realize that,
unless a temporary landing field is
provided, the city may be deprived OF
the advantage it would reap from
being a station on the New York.
Atlanta air mail line. The situation
is serious and should be remedied.
1T goes without saying that the
War Department always desires to
promote the interest of aviation in
all It's phases 1t has given proof Of
this cooperative spirit numerous
times and is prepared to do so on this
occasion.
"Inasmuch as the District Of Co.
lumbia, due to it's inability to provide
an airport of it's own for immediate
use, is in an embarrassing position,
the War Department stands ready to
extend helping hand.
Proposal of Department.
"What we propose to do is this:
1.-The War Department will permit
the temporary use of Boiling Field as
a landing place for air mail planes.
provided that before consent for the
use of the field is actually given, the
District of Columbia Immediately DEM
onstrate it's intention to obtain a field
of it's own. Unless such steps are
taken the War Department cannot per-
nit the use of one Of its Army fields
for commercial aircraft.
Boiling Field is a military reserva-
tion. AS such it should not be the
scene of any flying activity which
might interfere with military opera
tions. Its use as an air mail field in
this emergency must. therefore. be OF
very brief duration and the War De-
partment reserves the right to revoke
this permission any time military
necessity demands it.
$50 far as housing and servicing
facilities for the air mail planes at
Boiling Field are concerned, it will be
necessary to provide these without
expense to the Government. However,
all weather and other air navigation
lata available at Boiling Field would
De at the disposal of the mail pilots.
Warning i'm Offer.
"I am delighted that 1 am able to
announce the ability of the War De-
partment to give the District of Co
umbia temporary relief in solving it's
air mail problem. I hope that as q
result Of this offer no time will be
wasted in definitely launching the
airport project. AS
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