Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-01
Enthusiasm, Ideals and Airport.

WaShington's chances for getting
an airport for the accommodation of
the aerial mail service, which were
bright some days. ago when forces
were set at work for the procuring of
a site and funds for it's equipment and
maintenance, are now dimmed by the
display of apathy on the part of rep
resentatives of the civic and business
organizations who met yesterday to
consider ways and means Of financing
the enterprise. The prospect of rails
ing the necessary s35. 00) or 5000
was not faced with the spirit that has
heretofore as rule prevailed in the
Capital when matters affecting the
development Of the community have
been at issue. AS a result 1t IS likely,
unless an immediate change occurs,
that the air mail relay point will be
established at Baltimore instead Of at
Washington, and this city must wait
for the uncertain action Of Congress
in providing for a municipal airport.
One of the speakers at yesterdays
meeting declared that this is no time
to be swayed by enthusiasm and
ideals" 1t is in order to ask whether,
according to such a philosophy, there
is ever a time to be swayed by such
forces. Washington is city of ideals.
and should be always swayed by
them. 1t is true that 1t is not rich
community. as compared with others,
which are possessed of concentra-
tons of wealth in the form of indus
tries and business. 1t is city of
moderate means. 1t cannot afford
some of the luxuries, without the aid
of Government, that are enjoyed
by others. But it can and should be
always impelled by its ideals to ad-
vance as far as it's resources permit,
and to allow its enthusiasm for the at
tainment of those ideals to press it on
to sacrifices and investments in mu-
nicipal development.
There may not be any direct ma
terial dividend from the establishment
at Washington Of an airport at this
present time. Probably those con.
tributing to the initial cost and the
expense of maintenance would not for
a period receive any return in the
form of interest. But it must be re-
membered that the modern city with
out an airport will in very short
time be as handicapped as a city with.
out a railroad station. Aviation Is the
coming mode Of transportation. It
cannot be questioned that in a brief
period the municipal airport will be
regarded as quite as essential as are
the very streets.
Perhaps the best to be hoped for
now is that. this opportunity lost,
Washington will eventually secure an
airport that will be commensurate In
size, in equipment and in location.
Maybe 1t will be an ideal airport,
about which it will be possible to feel
enthusiastic. But meanwhile the Capt.
tai will have become by-station on
the main air route between the North
and the South, and there will remain
the uncomfortable feeling that the
city that was the first to welcome
home the Lone Eagle, whose nlagnifi-
cent performance set in motion the
activity for commercial aviation on a
large and practicable scale in Amer
lea, so quickly lost its enthusiasm for
the fruits of that splendid effort and
forgot it's ideals in facing the task of
raising a paltry sum for a temporary
equipment to accommodate the mails
and the other commercial air services
that are surely to be developed.
a AHy and catches