Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-07

Post Office Department to
Make Final Selection by
August /.

Washington received an extension
from July Is to August by the Post
Office Department today before official
Atlantic Coastal Air Mail line to
Baltimore in the event full accord
over the use Of Boiling Field is not
reached.
Understanding that a final agree
ment with respect to the use Of
Boiling Field still remains to be
worked out, w. Irving Glover. AS
sistant Postmaster General in charge
Of air mail, told The Star today that
the department would "sit tight" until
August l so that the District would
have ample time to meet ali conditions
set forth by the War Department.
1t was expected that Maj. w. f. r.
Covell, Assistant District Engineer
Commissioner, would submit to the
District Commissioners his report on
the local airport situation by Saturday
at the latest. Upon this report. 1t
was said. hangs the use Of Boiling
Field without expense to the District
as a temporary landing place for the
air mail plane.
DcIlIcS u. >. CHfct OScT.
Assistant Postmaster General Glow
er exploded popular belief that the
Government would be the chief bene-
ficiary from air mail service. an ar
gument that Is being used to estab-
lish Washington as a port of call on
the New York to Atlanta route.
Despite the fact that Washington
is the seat Of the Federal Govern
ment with all it's requirements for
air mail service, Mr.. Glover declared
today there was no doubt but that
the business interests of Baltimore
would use the air mail to a much
greater extent than the Capital.
Baltimore's airport commission has
not yet submitted its report to the
Post Office Department. In this re-
port, 1t is understood, Baltimore will
emphasize that it will be a greater
user Of the afr mail than Wash
ington.
Mr.. Glover pointed out that Con-
gress and the Government depart
ments would use the air mail only
sparingly because Of the charge of
10 cents a half ounce for letters car
ried by plane. Franking privileges
enjoyed by members Of Congress and
the Government departments, he re-
minded, would not be extended to the
air mail service. Only occasionally.
when one Of the departments has to
meet an emergency, would the air
mail be used by the Government, Mr..
Glover said, and to back up his state
ment, he said that was the condition
that applied to his own branch Of
the Post Office.
Must Start Making Route.
Dnf1 b.
limit fixed by the Post Office Depart
ment to make its own decision with
regard to designating either Wash
ington or Baltimore as an air mail
stop, Mr.. Glover said it would be alb
solutely necessary to begin marking
the airway route with beacon lights
by that date.
eff Boiling Field Is not available by
that time" he said. sit will be neces-
sary to inform the Pitcairn company
that Baltimore Is to be the stop. We
will not be able to wait any longer"
Meanwhile, the situation here looks
brighter than ever before, despite the
readiness Of Baltimore to enlarge
Logan Field at an expense Of $780,
900 to equip 1t as a commercial air
port. The War Department virtually
has assured the District the use Of
Boiling Field, provided the people of
Washington give adequate evidence
of their determination to back an
airport project. Washington's trade
representatives have gone on record
as favoring any business line ar
rangement between the Federal and
District governments for construc-
ton of an airport at Gravelly Point.
Such an arrangement is now being
worked out by Maj. Covell. but the
final decision for the use of Boiling
Field rests with the War DEPARTMENT.