Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-20
AIRPORT IS URGED
At GRAvELLY POINT
Members of Citizens Council
Prepare to Inspect River
Site.

With a majority of the Citizens Ad-
visory Council declared by Chairman
J. G. Yaden to be in favor of Gravelly
Point as the location for the proposed
municipal airport, members of the
council were prepared today to inspect
the Potomac River site for themselves
before submitting any formal recon-
mendation to the District Connnis-
sioners.
AS a result Of last nights meeting,
which served to clarity the situation,
Chairman Yaden explained that the
council expected to reach a decision
tomorrow night. In that event the
District Commissioners may be able
to instruct Maj. w. Z. r. Covell. AS
sistant Engineer Commissioner, at the
board meeting Friday that they are
prepared to carry out the conditions
laid down by the War Department
for the temporary use of Boiling
Field as a temporary air mail stop.
While the Citizens Advisory Coun-
Gil, of whom the Commissioners asked
advice, will consider other available
sites within the District at its meeting
tomorrow night. there was reason to
believe today that all the members,
with the exception of DIR. George G.
Havenner, favored locating the air.
port at Gravelly Point.
Council Statement Issued.
On behalf of the council, E. S. Hege.
official reporter for the body, was in
structed to issue the following state
ment:
THE report of Maj. w. E. r. Covell
to the Commissioners on the airport
matter was read by that officer to
the Citizens Advisory Council at its
meeting in the District Building last
night, following which action num-
ber of questions regarding the sub
ject were asked and answered and
Mai, CoVell was thanked for appear
ing and complimented on his report.
There was some discussion as. to
the procedure Of the council. AS
result thereof it was agreed that Col.
H. G. Newcomer would, after perusal
of a report presented some time ago
to the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions by Maj. Clayton f. Emig, pre-
pare the report of the council, which
is desired by the Commissioners by
the end Of the present week. In view
of the limited time allowed for action
in the matter by the council and the
belief among its members generally
that the technical angles of the vari-
Gus sites under consideration have al
ready been pretty well covered, the
council concluded to avoid open hear
ings and to hold a meeting Thursday
evening for the purpose of adopting
a report Of it's views as to selection
of site and the basis on which the
expense thereof should be apportloned
as between the Federal and District
governments.
prior to the meeting Of the coun-
Gil tomorrow night several of its
members will visit thhe more promi-
nent of the sites discussed.
'Some of the council members ex-
press themselves as anxious the i'm
preston would not get abroad that
the council is opposed to the GraVelly
Point site, inasmuch as the weight of
the expert views thus far presented
to the council is strongly in favor of
Gravelly Point, and as final action by
the council has been deferred until
Thursday"
DR.. Havenner denied today that he
favored the Benning tract above any
other, although it is located in the
territory which he represents in the
council He declared his objection to
Gravelly Point was based on the un.
certainty that the District Of Column
bia could legally claim title to the re-
claimed land and also to the difficulty
of filling in a foundation for either
mooring mast or hangers at the Poto-
mac site.
District officials are confident that
the decision of the District Supreme
Court ruling that the District owns
all land on the Virginia side of the
Potomac covered by high tide suffi-
GENTLY protects all rights Of title to re-
claimed land at Gravelly Point. War
Department officials who have looked
into the matter, also have reached
the same conclusion.
Maj. Covell and Lieut.. Donald Duke.
chief of Army airways, probably will
accompany the members of the adyis-
ory council on their inspection tour
today.
Members of the council appeared
satisfied that Maj. Covell has given the
utmost consideration to every avail
able site within the District during
the month or more in which he has
conducted Investigations.
They had before them last night MAI.
Covell's report, which discussed in
great detail the merits of the various
sites, particularly the Benning tract
In the northeast section of the Dis
trict. They went over carefully all the
estimated costs of establishing an air.
port at Gravelly Point. for which Maj.
| Covell Is asking the District Commits.
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