Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-30
URGES PROVISION
| FOR CITY A|RPORTS
Commerce Department OFF,
CiaI Sees Industries of the
| Future Demanding Them.

Industries In the future will frown on
cities that do not provide airports In
the business districts. and will refuse To
locate in such communities just as they
have passed up cities SO Short-Sighted
as to permit their railroad terminals to
be built far from the main portion of
the town, William p. MacCracken, lr.,
Assistant Secretary for AeronauticS, De-
partment Of Commerce, told members
of the National Association OF Real
Estate Boards at the convention Of that
BODY last week in Louisville, Ky.
Speaking of the effect of aviation on
future real estate development, Mr..
MacCracken warned the several thou
sand real estate men not 10 locate air
ports in outlying districts except as
subsidiaries 10 landing fields that must
be In the hearts of great cities.
One airport is not sufficient for the
city of today that is using the air to
the fullest possible extent, the chief of
the Federal aviation bureau declared.
Time spent in travelling even by fastest
motor car to the one airport in town
can be measured in dollars and cents.
American cities must plan TO develop
not only one centrally located airport.
but two or three others in strategic To-
cations that will cover the town.
THE value of property in the entire
community is affected by the location Of
the airport said the aviation secretary.
IF the city fathers do not purchase
the best property available for our air.
ports, their lack Of foresight Will hurt
every person in the community and
realtors most of all.
Railway Stations an Example.
'"You have seen this thing happen
with the location of railroad stations.
People in many growing cities. objecting
to smoke. dirt and noise of terminal
niaced their railroad stations two or
three miles from the business sections
of their towns. Later industries seek
Ing locations passed up these towns just
because of the distance between rail-
road stations and business centerS.
e'"TheSe towns strangled their own de-
velopment because they would not give
UP valuable property for this use. In
the same way cities can make the same
mistake unless the locatlof%of our air
ports is given precedence over land set
aside for any other use"
Mr.. MacCracken stated that airportS
will increase real estate values in out
lying districts of towns in which they
are located as well as the territory i'm
mediately adjacent to the airports.
The speaker also pointed out the
great advantage in the ease with which
a3rlines can eb echanged to meet the
march Of progress. He described the
expense of changing sites of railroad
terminals that were accurately located
when built but which have to be moved
owing to the changing direction of city
growth and other conditions. Airlines-
however, can be altered at will. and the
equipment, lights and hangers can be
moved with but little expense as COM
pared with the expense of picking up
a modern railroad terminal and putting
Il down In a more strategic position.
Mr. MacCracken said the only thing
needed to push airline development was
thorough confidence Of the public in the
safety of airplane travel The best as
surance he can give the public, he said
Is the action OF insurance companies
which now write into their accident
policies a clause that gives insurance
c0yerage whether or not the policy hold
er asks for it and without increase in