Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-24

west to Fourteenth street, then south
over the Highway Bridge and con-
tinuing south over the old Telegraph
road through the plant Of the Mylex
Oil Co.. then east through the culvert
mentioned and ending at said point, is
as miles. The actual running time
one way was 90 minutes. The air
mail port will probably be within one
half mile of the culvert mentioned. so
that the distance from the post Office
TO the airport would be 5 miles, and
the time for which due allowance
would have to be made for possible
hold-ups for traffic and the drawbridge
over the Potomac would be not less
than 80 minutes one way.
1.-THE proposed site at Benning Is
shorter in distance from the Post Of
fee and would be served more expe-
ditiously through less congestion and
no delays caused by drawbridge over
the Potomac referred to in the dis
cussion OF the Gravelly Point site.
One of our postal stations is located
at Benning and is served by screen
wagon, The scheduled distance one
way is 3.5 miles and the running time
allowed is Is minutes. This running
time could be easily made between the
airport at Benning and the main Of
fee. In other words, from our point
of view the Benning location has the
advantage of being Is miles nearer
and from Is to 90 minutes less run
ming time each way. The selection OF
this site would also lessen the danger
of landing and taking off on account
of fogs, a feature strongly stressed by
you during our conversation in con-
nection with airports situated in proX-
unity to bodies of water. / have con.
suited the owner Of the Benning prop
erty, Mr.. Harry A. Kite, 1914 X street,
and have been advised by him that he
would be willing to allow the use OF
his tract without cost until such time
as the city can provide commercial
municipal airport.
Urges Inspection Of Site.
"May I suggest that you communi'
cate with the Commissioners OF the
District Of Columbia, advising them OF
the advantages and disadvantages SET
forth herein from the viewpoint of the
postal service, and with the request
that a member of the committee visit
the Benning site and confer with its
owner for the business details neces
sarv in connection with the purchase
of this property"
Criticism of Gravelly Point came
from another source today when J
Edward Cassidy, director general Of
the United States Air Force Associa
ton, protested it is War Depart
ment scheme to get appropriation:
for keeping the Potomac River
dredged.
He also declared that fogs on thu
river make ii unsuitabl as an airpor
site and warned it would require ap
proxinnately S2,500.000 to construc
and equip an airport there. Nor coulf
one be esta blished at Gravelly Poin
under FIVE to ten years time, he said
Meanwhile the Chamber of Com
naerce is pressing for the selection o
a site on the Anacostia River east 0
the Eastern High School. This site
in the opinion of Lieut.. Duke, is de
cidedly unsatisfactory from a fyln,
noint of view and also by reason
it's close proximity TO the city.
within five years" he said. "th
residents Of that section would b
seeking to have the airport remove
once 1t is situated there. 1t would'b
the story of Kelly Field all over agar
The noise and hazards associated VII
a large flying field compelled the r.
moval Of Kelly Field after the CIT
had grown up around 1t.
"In addition TO this objection" h
said. "the Chamber of Commerce sit
ia equally dangerous as the BENIN
tract. If not more so. Eastern Hig
School is on one end Of the tract an
it is more built up than the BENIN
tract. There would always be ha
ard in case of accident"
Proposes Compromise Plan.
Lieut.. Dukes proposal for the ten
porary use Of Boiling Field with III
establishment of an air mail station
Giesboro Point, adjoining the nsT