The Coconino sun. (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1898-1978, 1927-09-02
UNITED STATES HAS 864
PORTS FOR AIRPLANES

In a survey of the airway facilities
in the United States, the department
of commerce finds that there are 864
airports and intermediate landing
fields, according to VIM. P. Mac
Cracker, Jr., assistant secretary for
aeronautics.
During the past year." MacCracl-
en- said, more than so new airports
have been established and twice that
number of cities have set aside funds
or have begun plans for modern air.
ports. Chambers of commerce, bust
ness clubs and other civic organiza-
lions are cooperating in the effort to
build up a complete airway and air.
port system. By the end Of 1927,
about 1000 airports and intermediate
fields will dot the United States, from
coast to coast and from the Canadian
border to the Gulf of Mexico"
The present 864 fields include 207
municipal, 1913 commercial and private
airports, 124 department of commerce
Intermediate fields, 287 miscellaneous
intermediate fields and 81 army, navy
and national guard fields, treasury,
and agriculture field. BY the end of
! the 1928 fiscal year the department
of commerce estimates that lighted
and marked intermediate fields will
total approximately 262 compared
with 1874 at the present time. In adj
dition, 90 municipal fields are pro-
posed Besides these, the department
of commerce has on record about 5000
unimproved fields, such as pastures or
similar areas throughout the country
on which landings and take-offs have
been or can be made.
One of the large number of cities
which established airports since the
passage of the air commerce act of
1926 is Buffalo, which has constructed
a 51S-acre airport and equipped it at
cost of $727,255. This airport has,
an extensive system of runways and
the most modern airport equipment.
Chicago's municipal airport is an
other example Of progress in the right
direction. This city has laid out a
great airport with an eight-direction
runway system, complete night light
ing, spacious hangers and other nee
essary equipment.
On the west coast, Oakland is con-
structing an airport on sheltered
island, which will accommodate both
land and seaplanes and is only a short
distance from the heart of the city.
San Francisco likewise is developing
modern air terminal to accommodate
traffic from the transcontinental and
the Pacific coast airlines. Sacramento
also has made good progress with its
new municipal airport.
Farther up the coast, Portland is
using Swan Island for its new airport,
which will be equipped to accommo-
date planes Of both land and sea types.
In the south, New Orleans has pro-
ceeded with the development of Cal
| lender Field, which was made avail
able for operations in November,
1926.
In the midwest, Cleveland has con-
| tinued to improve its already well de-
signed airport, paying particular at
tention to better drainage and added
hangers and new equipment as neces-
sary.
These are few typical cases. 9th
er cities are pushing ahead with con-
struction or have voted funds for this
work. Schenectady has commercial
airport in which $120,500 worth of
stock has been paid. Baltimore has
voted $1,500,000 for municipal air.
port. San Diego has been authorized
to proceed with the establishment of
large airport for both land and sea
planes. Kansas City has just voted a
modern airport within five minutes OF
the center of the city.