The Washington times., 1927-06-17
AIR CHIEFS urge HUGE
WATERFRONT ARP 0RT.
FAVOR SITE ON
VIRGINIA SHORE


washington, to handle the future
air traffic which this city is GER
tain to command, should have a
great central waterfront airport
an emergency landing field on high
ground in the District above the
river fog belt, and an air freight
and ''garaging" field where land
rates are cheap, outside Of the Dis
trict.
This opinion was advanced today
by J. F. Victory, of the National
Advisory Committee for Aeronautics,
and Carl Shorey, Of the National
Aeronautic Association.
Both men, recognized as national
leaders In aviation circles declared
that the District should provide q
temporary field Immediately to In
sure the Atlantic coastal airmail
line being routed here this summer.
GraveIIy Point Picked
Both are in favor Of the creation
OF a great municipal airport for
both land and water landing. at
Gravelly Point. on the Virginia
shore below Highway Bridge.
The National Aeronautic Associa-
ton today appointed its national
president, Porter Adams, to repre-
sent 1t in the movement now under
way to establish q local airport.
Mr.. Victory will represent the ad-
visory committee should 1t be called
into the movement.
The associations local airport
committee, headed by Henry Ber-
liner, chairman of the District
chapter of the association is ex.
pected to take an active part In
the drive to establish port here.
Washington should look to the
future in establishing its airport"
Mr.. Shorey said. when Sixteenth
Street was laid out at its present
width in the early horse and car.
riage days, 1t was regarded as ex-
travagantly wide. Today 1t is
found necessary to bar parking on
Sixteenth Street to handle the traf-
fic.
1T is. absurd to think Of deveI.
oping q great airport for land
planes alone without providing for
hydroplanes. There are many rea.
sons why the great municipal air
put VI INC AuAuiS ShOuAu DC Uu
the waterfront.
Mr.. Victory also Endorsed the
waterfront port, with an emerg-
ency field on higher ground in case
of bad river mists. He advocated
retention of the former airmaiI
field at College Park, Nd, as a
freight and storage field.
Will Survey Site
The special airport committee Of
the Chamber of Commerce will
meet tomorrow afternoon for an
inspection tour of several airport
sites under consideration. The sites
which win be inspected are as fol-
lows:
The Benning race track, the area
northeast Of Good Hope, a field
near the mouth Of Four Mile Run,
Giesboro Point, a river site between
the Highway bridge and Arlington
and a field at College Park, Nd,
which was formerly used by Army
and airmail planes.
Members of the committee favor
field near a large water body be
lieving the air currents to be more
steady near the water.
1t is believed that the use of a
y
charge, provided the site is later
converted, into permanent airport.
A temporary field must be at least
1000 feet square and q permanent
field not less than $500 feet square,
members of the committee said.
Discussed At Luncheon
The National Capital Park ana
Planning Commission discussed the
airport question today at a lunch.
con at the Cosmos Club, with va.
rious interested persons, including
District Commissioner Proctor l..
Dougherty, Assistant Secretary OF
the Navy Warner, second Assistant
Postmaster General Glover, Major
\ General Patrick, chief Of the Army
Air Corps; Assistant Secretary Of
War Dawson, James G. Yaden,
and DR.. George c. Havenner, rep.
resenting the citizens advisory
council; Porter III. Adams, presi-
dent Of the National Aeronautic
Association; Lieut.. Comdr. w. P.
Thomas, and Ernest L. Jones.
Lieut. Col. U. s. Grant Sd was
host and made a brief address ont.
lining the airport requirements. An
informal decision was reached to
expedite the acquisition Of an ade-
quate airport.
It is probable that the Park and
Planning Commission, during it's
four-day session, will make some
definite airport recommendation to
the War and Navy departments.