Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-26
ADEQUATE AIRPORT
SITE HELD NEEDED
TO AVERT MISTAKE
Officials Warn Small Loca-
ton Soon Would Be Use
less to Capital.
BOILING FIELD URGED
AS IDEALLY SITUATED
Extension to Giesboro Point Would
Provide Unsurpassed Facilities,
Advocates Declare.

location of an airport in the Capital
feel a deep and disturbing apprehen-
sion that Washington Is headed to-
ward an irremediable mistake in serl'
ously considering any one Of the men
toned sites for a permanent CONNER
cial airdrome, it was revealed yester-
day.
Coupled with his judgment based on
the prospective development of air
travel in the next ten years or so Is
the fear that Washington will lose to
Baltimore it's one chance to make an
immediate start toward the establish
ment of such an airport, unless those
higher up in the War and Navy
Departments overcome prejudices and
permit the District of Columbia to
use Boiling Field for commercial air
purposes, jointly with the Army and
Navy.
1t was pointed out that the Depart
ment of Commerce without interfer-
ence with operations on Boiling Field,
has been using a hanger at Boiling
Field for the past six or eight months.
Within the past month. it was learned,
this hanger has been turned over Of
ficially to the Commerce Department
for it's sole use.
Fear Short.Sighted Policy.
Gravelly Point being out of ques-
tion for immediate or even early use
as an aviation field, it was learned
from official sources that there is fear
that Washington will commit itself to
the fallacy of selecting as permanent
airport site, such as Los Angeles did,
a small auxiliary field that will be ut
terly useless 10 or even years from
now.
But for the objections of the avia-
ton secretaries and other high Of
ficia1s in both the Army and Navy, 1t
was pointed out, the District of CO.
lumbia could avail itself of the use of
Boiling Field tomorrow. without in
convenience to Army planes, thereby
guaranteeing to Washington official
designation as a stop-over point on
the New York. Atlanta mail route.
Taking direct issue with the known
views of the so-called lair cabinet"
opposed to any form of unified air
control, those favoring the use OF Boil
ling Field warned that Washington,
being the seat of Federal activity, can
not afford to make the mistake OF
ignoring the future development of
aviation, both from the viewpoint of
national defense or commercial re-
quirements.
Giesb0ro Point Suggested.
Linked with the establishment of
an airport in the District of Columbia,
it was declared, the question for the
Government to determine is whether
the Army wants to remain permanent
ly at Boiling Field.
Sol1ltinn Of the whole nrOblpm. ii
was pointed out, would be extension
of the existing aviation facilities there
to include Giesboro Point. Washing
tons entire airport problem could be
solved temporarily and permanently,
under this plan, by the Army grad
ually installing it's entire aviation
equipment at Gesboro Point and
eventually turning over the present
Boiling Field to commercial purposes.
What is needed to meet the future
requirements that commercial and
passenger air travel is almost certain
to bring in the next decade, it was
emphasized, is an unlimited landing
and taking-off space, with terminal
facilities such as is maintained by
large railroads. Within the next 10
or Is years there will be a lack of
airdome spaces around the Capital, it
was pointed out. due to the increased
operations Of the Army and Navy
from Washington.
Unless these future requirements
are kept in mind in the selection of
a permanent airport here, experienced
aviators fear that Washington will
jeopardize it's present opportunities by
selecting one of the several sites now
under consideration.
Held Ideally Situated.
Extension of Boiling Field to in
clude the area around Giesboro Point,
they reminded, would be highly ad-
vantageous to commercial uses as
well as to the Army and Navy for a
number Of reasons. In the first place,
it would give a emile field. which
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