Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-17
FREE USE OF FIELD
FOR AIR MAIL STOP
G|VENBY YBERL|NER
Offer Made by Head of Po-
tomac Flying Service, Inc,
Through CovelI.
ACQUISITION OF ADDITION
TO HOOVER AREA URGED
Various Groups Show Interest in
Giving Washington Suitable
Airport Immediately.

AS a solution for the present prob
lem of providing landing facilities for
the contract air mail route from New
York to Atlanta, with Washington as
a stop, Henry A. Berliner. president
lessee Of Hoover Field, has offered the
use of his facilities to the Commits
sioners for the remainder Of the year
free Of charge.
Mr.. Berliner's offer was accom-.
panied with the recommendation,
however, thst steps be taken imme-
diately to acquire some of the ground
adjacent to his field which now is
owned and used by the Department of
Agriculture for an experimental farm.
He pointed to the necessity of this
enlargement for night flying work, as
both their northbound and southbound
planes will pass through Washington
after dark. Mr.. Berliner feels that
any strange airmen could not nego-
tiate the short field at night with any
degree of safety.
Offer Through Coyell.
Mr.. Berliners' offer was made
through Maj. w. z. r. Coveil, as
sistant Engineer Commissioner, who
has been designated to locate suitable
facilities for an airport. Mr.. Berl.ner
said his field could serve the purpose
until Congress acted on legislation, be-
fore it at the last session, calling for
the establishment OF a municipal air.
port.
The present dimensions Of Hoover
Field are 1900 feet long and 900 feet
wide. 1t would be necessary, in Mr..
Berliner's opinion, to extend the width
another900feet. While he thought there
would be no charge for the use of this
field, Mr.. Berliner said If the concern
from which he leases it demanded
additional rental, he himself would
pay the amount. If, after the first
OF the year, there was no other land.
be forced to ask the District to bear
the expeEse. --5~-sa..s'a-~ r.
Matter Of Lighting.
The matter OF lighting the field at
night, he explained, wofild cost about
$4,000 a year and MFR. Berliner said
he would be willing to contribute
$1,000 toward a public fund for this
purpose IL the District government 10
unable to pay the bill. Mr.. Berliner
is president of the District chapter.
National Aeronautic Association, ana
in that capacity has been working for
more than a year toward the estab.
lishment Of a municipal. airport on
the underwater site now lying be-
tween Hunter and Gravelly Point on
the Virginia side Of the river. This
would be District property, once ii is
filled in, however, and would offer
facilities for both land and sea planes.
The close proximity to the center OF
the city, he said, Is another adj
vantage. while a still greater one is
the fact that 1t can be enlarged to
meet the increasing needs OF air
traffic.
The airport problem was the prin
cipal subject for discussion at Z
luncheon today at the Cosmos Club.
where four Government departments.
the Federation Of Citizens Associa-
tions, Board of Commissioners, the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission and the National Aero
nautic Association were represented.
Many NotabIes Attend.
The luncheon followed the first ses.
sion of the Park and Planning Com
mission at its Office this morning and
Grant, Sd, a member of the commits.
sion and director of the Office Of Pub
lie Buildings and Public Parks Of the
National Capital.
The luncheon guests included all
in the city for the Planning
Commission meeting; Second Assistant
Postmaster General w. Irving Glover.
Assistant Secretary of War F. Trubee
Dawson, Assistant Secretary Of the
Navy Edward P. Warner, Ernest l..
Jones, representing Assistant Secre-
tary of Commerce William p. Nc
Cracken: Maj. Gen. Mason Patrick,
chief of the Army Air Corps: Lieut..
Comdr. w. d. Thomas. representing
Rear Admiral William A. Moffett,
chief of the Bureau of Aeronautfcs of
the Navy; Porter H. Adams. president
Of the National Aeronautic Ass0cia-
ton: Proctor l.. Dougherty, president
Of the Board of Commissioners of the
District of Columbia: j. G. Yadefl.
president of the Federation of Citizens
and DR.. George G. Ha-
of the Federation OF Citizens
Will Inspect Sites.
An inspection trip of suggested
landing field sites will be taken tornor-
row afternoon by a special committee
of the Chamber of Commerce. The
is headed by Joseph Fan.
,iulli, who has had experience as
of airplanes, and COM
Drises Merritt o. Chance, former post
master; Maj. Gen. Anton Stephan,
who Is chairman of legislative COM
nittee of the chamber. which began
| campaign two years ago to obtain
In airport here; John q. Walker and
Thomas p I.ittle-~~g ge
The report of the committee will be
presented at a luncheon me- ting,
which will be called shortly by the
Chamber Of Commerce, and which will
include representatives OF the Board
II Trade, the Merchants and Manufac.
urers' Association and other bodies
1itally interested in the creation OF
he airport. Representatives will be
invited from Government departments
oncerned with aviation and Maj.
;ovell will tell Of the result Of his in.
designations.
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