Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-21
ZEPPELIN AIRPORT
HERE BEING URGED
Chamber of Commerce Com
mittee Plans Drive to
Get Terminal.

Plans to establish this city as the
United States terminus Of the proposed
transatlantic Zeppelin service, in ac-
cordance with the suggestion of Dr.
Hugo Eckener, builder and commander
of the Graf Zeppelin, were in progress
yesterday.
At the request of Capt. Ernst A. Leh-
mann. first officer of the Graf Zeppelin,
maps. aerial photographs and data con-
cerninh the site of the Congressional
Airport on the Rockville pike, north of
the District line, will be assembled to-
morrow and sent to the Naval Air Sta
ton at Lakehurst, N j., where the Graf
Zeppelin is housed.
A campaign to bring the terminal
airport to this city was planned at a
special meeting of the committee on
aviation of the Washington Chamber
of Commerce yesterday afternoon.
AS the first step to insure recogni-
ton OF Washington by the promoters,
the committee will inaugurate de-
termined drive to obtain action at the
next session of Congress on the bill
providing for the establishment OF
great municipal airport at Gravelly
Point on the Virginia side of the Po-
tomac just below Highway Bridge.
A joint meeting of WaShington's
three trade bodies was suggested at an
early date to discuss plans for the de-
velopment of airport facilities in the
Capital and also to obtain appropria-
tions from the Federal Government for
q study of conditions here for flying.
Dorsey w. Hyde, jr., secretary OF the
Chamber of Commerce, furnished the
committee with mass of statistical
data obtained from the Army, Navy and
Bureau of Aeronautics on airplanes and
lighter than-air craft for use in the
campaign.
Statement of Committee.
The committee, which is headed by
Jerome Fanciulli, set forth its position
in the following statement:
THE committee on aviation of the
Washington Chamber of Commerce,
after consultation with qualified experts
finds that Washington is peculiarly
well fitted to meet the needs of airplane
and airship transportation for such
reasons as the following:
II. Local climate is adapted to air
transport needs in that it furnishes
maximum of stabilized weather.
"2 AS compared with other sections
is comparatively free of strong wind
currents.
"3. Washington is equipped with ex-
cellent transportation facilities by rail,
air and road connecting with other parts
OF the country.
"The committee calls attention to the
modern airport to be located at Grav-
ely Point which, when completed, will
furnish ideal facilities for land and
sea planes and for airships. It Is imper-
alive that the bill now pending In Con-
gresS be enacted at the earliest possible
moment to meet the rapidly growing
air transport needs of the National
Capital.
IN furtherance of this object, the
committee directs that the Commission
ers of the District of Columbia be re-
quested to ask the appropriate Federal
department to make study of Wash
ington's facilities for air transport with
reference in particular to weather and
flying conditions.
1.-THE committee recommends further
that all organizations and citizens Of.
the District exert themselves to the ut
most to obtain the passage OF the
Gravelly Point bill. s~.t>xA -.s.......
Lehman Gives Opinions.
Those attending the meeting, in adj
dition to Mr.. Fanciulli, were Ivan G.
Weld, president of the Chamber OF
Commerce; Charles ]. Stocklnarl, Ernest
E. Herrell, Gen. Anton Stephan, Maj.
William O. Tufts, Maj. Harry M. Hor-
ton. head of the new congressional air.
port, and Lieut.. Fred SchauSS, assist
ant chief pilot of the airport.
Capt. Lehman yesterday expressed
his interest in the Rockville pike site
and said that he will try to return to
Washington this week to inspect the
airport and its surroundings personally
in order that he may be in position to
make recommendation upon his return
to Friederichshafen, Germany, later in
the month.
Capt. lehman indicated that the
site on the Rockville pike, which now
is being developed as a commercial air.
port, appears to be the best suited to de-
velopment as Zeppelin airport Of the
sites in this vicinity which have been
described to him. He conferred for
some time with Maj. Horton, president
of Congressional Airport, and Lieut.
Schauss and appeared satisfied with
their descriptions of the property.
A site of approximately 1000 acres,
extending mile in every direction, is
required for the safe operation of dirigi-
bles the size of the Graf Zeppelin, Capt.
Lehman indicated, and there should
be no distractions in the vicinity to in
terfere with the maneuvering of the
ships coming into land.