Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-17
Citizens TO STUDY
AIRPORT PROPOSAL
Advisory Council to Survey
Plan Before Signing
Recommendations.

Action by the District Commission
erS on the recommendations for
carrying out the proposed permanent
airport project at Gravelly Point will
be delayed, 1t was announced yester
day afternoon, until report is re-
ceived from the Citizens Advisory
Council.
Since the council already has gone
on record as tavoring the establish
ment of an airport for Washington,
formal acceptance OF the report sub
mitted by Maj w. E. r. Covell,
Assistant District Engineer Commits.
sioner. is expected soon.
At the request OF James G.. Yaden.
chairman of the Citizens Advisory
Council, the District Commissioners
ordered the report referred to that
BODY SO that the views of the council
saight he obtained.
May Meet Tomorrow.
Chairman Yaden will call meeting
OF the council probably tomorrow. In
recent communication to the Com.
missioners. Mr.. Yaden expressed the
opinion that the airport project is
one in which the Federal Govern
ment has no interest and should be
purely n municipal matter. The
council last year. however, recon-
mended an appropriation in the sup
Elemental deficiency bill to put Wash
ington on the air map.
In his report on the advantages to
Washington of having an airport 10.
Gated here. Maj. CoveH asked the
commissioners to recommend an in.
itiai appropriation of $4,000 for
starting work on the Gravelly Point
site. half the money to come from the
District funds and half from the funds
OF the Federal Government. 1t would
be the first installment of about $685.
o00. the total amount needed to equip
class A field. 5000 by 5000 feet.
over a five-year period.
1t is highly important to take with.
out delay the necessary steps TO in.
sure that Washington will be retained
as stop on the New York.Atlanta
air mail route" the report states.
IhlS can easily be done by comply.
ing with the requirements laid down
by the war Department in order TO
secure the temporary use of Boiling
Field. Hoover Field can be relied on
as a landing field for other CONNER.
cal planes for the next few years.
More Advantages Seen.
The location known as the Gravel.
Foint site seems to offer by far
the most advantages for permanent
airport. 1t pleaSes me to report that.
except for the jealous advocates of
particular sites. this location has re.
ceiFed the approval of all the bodies
tnat nave interested themselves in
this problem. Most important from
tins congressional point Of view is the
fact that the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission has officially
approved this site, thereby confirm.
ing its opinion previously arrived at
by independent investigations. This
site has also received the approval of
the War Department, the Navy De.
partment. the Department of Com.
merce and representatives of the
Board Of Trade, Chamber of Com.
merce. Merchants and Manufacturers
Association and the Federation of
Citizens Associations.
Its one disadvantage is the time
necessary to develop it with economy.
but with the pressing immediate
needs cared for and with the assur-
ance that a delay of five years will
cause no permanent injury to the in.
terests of nor loss of prestige to the
city, Washington can well afford to
choose as a site for it's permanent
airport that location which promises
to be most nearly ideal and which of.
fers the finest opportunities for fu.
ture expansion and development. par.
ticularly when the financing of this
airport promises to fit into the budget
of the District with far less difficulty
than that of any other"
Temporary Port Needed.
The first problem presented is the
establishment of temporary airport
at least sufficient to care for the air
mail, Maj. Covell points out. AS it is
possible that the air mail will start
in November, before Congress con-
venes, he stressed the necessity of
ditionS for the use Of Boiling Field If
this service Is to be secured for Wash
ington.
1t is quite possible, Maj. Covell
points out. that a portion Of the
$4,000 needed during the first year
might come from private sources
But the report adds that the poten-
tial revenues from concessions. SER
vice to local and visiting planes,
etc, will help to offset the expense
of operating and, shortly after per-
manent airport is inaugurated. should
make the establishment self.support-
Ing
Because Of the increasing tax bur-
den upon the local residents, the re-
port declares that the financing Of a
satisfactory airport presents the most
difficult problem. 1T is believed that
the interests of the Federal Govern.
ment certainly equal and probably
exceed those of the municipality and
that this should be taken into con-
eidera tion in the division of costs {"
the report adds.
l0uMc0N EETE CP0Ilp