Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-12
DAWSON STUDIES
AIRPORT FIGURES
WithhoIds Decision on Boiling
Field Pending Action on
Permanent Project.

Following conference on the local
airport situation today, +, Trubee
Dawson. assistant secretary Of war in
charge of aviation. announced that he
would withhold final decision regard
ing the designation OF Boiling Field
rs an air mail stop until he learns
from the District Commissioners their
recommendation for the establish
ment of a permanent airport.
After receiving a preliminary re-
port from Mai. w. f. r. Covell. as
sistaGt District Engineer Commission,
er, Secretary Dawson declared that
in his opinion the airport project
seems TO be coming along satisfac.
torily." Maj. Covell left with him
the estimates on the cost of the GRAY
ely Point project. recommended by
the joint airport subcommittee. which
Mr. Dawson will take up with his adj
Visers.
THE War Department must have
definite assurances that Boiling Field
is only to be used temporarily by mail
planes before we can turn it over to
the District" Mr.. Dawson said. I'VE
must know. first. just what the Dis
trict Commissioners plan 10 do in the
way of a permanent airport before
giving a final decision"
COvell EXpediting Report.
Maj. Covell is expediting his report
on the airport project in the expecta-
ton that it will be submitted to the
Commissioners in the next two days
BY this time next week, it is expected
the situation Will so shape itself that
the War Department will have no
difficulty in reaching a final decision
regarding the use OF Boiling Field
Such use, it is understood. would be
without expense to the District, as
agreed upon heretofore
A conference will be held between
Maj. Covell and a committee of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission Friday morning. at which
the commissions will be asked to in
dorse Gravelly Point as the site for
the proposed airport as well as the
recommendations in his report
1t was pointed out today that the
War Department is particularly anx-
ious to know what part of the cost of
the Gravelly Point project the Dis
trict Government proposes to bear.
1t is upon this recommendation of the
District Commissioner that the future
of the airport seems to hinge. With
the Federal Government contributing
half the expense, Maj. Covell has
estimated roughly that the total cost
to the District would be approx.
mately $4,000 annually over a period
of five years. This estimate, includ-
ing the cost Of equipment, would pro-
vide a field 5000 feet by 5000 feet.
Survey to Cost $4,000.
Maj. Covell estimates that the sur
vey of Gravelly Point, as recommended
by the subcommittee of the joint air
port committee, would cost approx
mately $4,000. which would have to he
provided in the first deficiency appro-
priation bill.
The subcommittee which went on
record in favor of Gravelly Point con-
sists of +. c. Graham of the Board of
Trade; Jerome Fanciulli of the Cham
Der of Commerce; Maj. Gen. Anton
Stephan of the Merchants and Manu-
facturers' Association, and Dorsey
Hyde, jr, of the Chamber of Com
merce, and Robert j. Cottrell of the
Board of Trade.
At the same time the subcommittee
recommended that the District Com.
missioners include in their budget such
a part of the cost of the airport as
should be equitably borne by the Dis.
trict.
A statement issued after the meet
ing said:
The committee was influenced in
its approval of Graveily Point by the
fact that its development can be CO.
ordinated with several large projects
now under consideration by the Fed
eral Government, such as the proposed
Mount Vernon boulevard Ia saving of
around 100000 can be made in this
item alone). the annual dredging of the
Potomac River by the River and Har.
Dor office; it's accessibility to the pro-
posed new Government buildings in
the triangle; it's availability for ex
pansiOn into a splendid joint Army.
Navy and commercial airport i'm the
future; it's availability for experimental
ton and development work by the
Department Of Commerce. and. in adj
dition, by it's availability for such
local commercial activities as may
develop"
VIII Suggest Federal Aid.
Mai. Coven believes the Federal
Governme should bear it's proper
tionate cost of an airport here, which
would he used by the Government in
| times of a national emergency. He let
| it be known that he approves the rec
Omme ndations of the trade representa-.
| tives and will incorporate in his report
| to the commissioners suggestions
along the sa he line.
In planning for the airport, Mai.
| Coveli has had the active cooperation
of Maj. Clayton +. Emig, chairman of
the special airport committee of the
Federation of Citizens A. 'ociations
Mai Emig has had long experience in
airport matters, having conducted an
! investigation into the proposed local
! project a year ago.