The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-07-17
AIRPORT TRACT
is INSPECTED
BY CITY Chief
Slack Looks Over Proposed
Addition to Be Leased
for Flying Field.

Mayor L. Ert Si&ck today in
spected the proposed addition to the
Indianapolis Airport, Mars Hill,
with the view of cooperating with
the indianapolis Airport Corpora
ton On new plan for municipal
airport.
Slack has conferred with corpora
ton representatives on the advisa-
bility of leasing additional land to
provide an adequate airport for the
city.
Unless the city or business men
act quickly, it is feared Indianapolis
will be without a public landing field
in event the Indiana National
Guard goes ahead with its reported
plan to buy 1872 acres which it now
leases from the Indianapolis Airport
Corporation.
Discuss Leasing Plan
1t is understood the airport cor
poration directors will meet this
week to discuss a plan for leasing
282 acres of land proposed as an
addition to the airport.
Under this plan the city would
lease the ground for three or four
years with option of buying it at a
set price in three or four years when
it is expected the city will be in a
better financial situation.
Options on the additional acreage
have been obtained by local real
estate man representing the airport
corporation and the National Guard
Slack said he favors the munich
pal airport idea, but is opposed to a
partnership with the State or any
other organization"
Adjt. Gen. william II. Kershner
and the Indiana National Guard Ar
mory board visited the mayor last
week, asking him to join the Guard
in buying surrounding land for a
landing field.
Guard to Buy Field
The mayor previously had sur
veyed part of the ground surround
ing the airport at Mars Hill and
planned viewing the remainder this
morning. Slack recently said he
favored a municipal airport south
west of the city in connection with
huge park along White River,
which would be available over a
chain of improved streets.
The Indianapolis Airport Corpo-
ration raised $4,000 to move the
18th Observation Squadron from
Kokomo, paying $4,000 for the
moving and the remainder for i'm
provements on the field. The plan
was to operate the field as a city
landing field with the National
Guard in charge of operations. The
guard sub-leased 1872 acres from the
organization of business men who
raised the fund.
Kershner indicated the guard will
buy the present landing field vheth-
er the city enters into the plan or
not.
Capt. H. Weir Cook, u. s. Army
instructor assigned to the 18th OBJ
servation Squadron, declared the In
dianapolis Airport is an ideal land
ing field under all weather con-
ditions.
Cite Need for Airport
Those interested in the develop
ment of commercial aviation have
urged that immediate steps be
taken to provide a municipal field
to prevent commercial lines from
using other airports.
Assurance that Transcontinental
Air Transport Corporation, OF
which Col Charles A. Lindbergh is an
officer, will make stops at Indian
apolis has been given provided the
city furnishes an airport suitable
for heavy type planes.
william Fortune, Chamber OF
Commerce civic affairs chairman
and President Dick Miller, recently
cited the need for an adequate
municipal airport at meeting
with Slack and city officials.