Evening star., 1928-04-25
Urge Gravelly Point.

All Of the witnesses last night spoke
In favor OF the Stalker bill 10 establish
the airport at Grayelly Point Ihey
were croSS-eXainined by MIR, GaSque
author OF the bill providing for site
a. Bennink.
/ Henry Berliner. inventor, president OF
the Potomac FLYING Service and hea0
OF the Beyliner Aircraft Co. which Is
manufacturing airplaneS at Alexandra,
declared that the GTavelly Point site
was the only logical one near Washing
ton for a permanent munlclpai airport.
y was somewhat peSSlmlSuc ABOUT
the future Of aviation before last year,
said Mr. Berliney. but now am Ger
tain that nothing can stop It's deVel-
ppment
Mr.. Berliner said the Potomac Flying
Service carried 10000 tourists over
Washington last year and expected 70
carry SO. GOO this year. Other local con-
Germs. he said. carried probably 5000
additional tourists over the city last
wear His own company. he said, car
Tled 1000 persons during Easter week
ghis year.
Edwin A. Schmitt. civilian engineer
nita the Army Engineers office, teSu-
fed that an airport al Gravelly Point
could be completed in two years at
cost Of 1889 200. II five-year pro-
gram were adopted. he said. the cost
probably would be about $4,000 less
se estimated that the field could be
completed in one year al an additional
cost of about S75.0 900. He described how
silt from the river could be pumped
behind a levee, already constructed at
Gravelly Point, and the site OF the pro-
posed air field filed in.
"It is entirely feasible and very
simple engineering proposition" said
hzr. Schmitt.
Brown Says Site Would Grow.
Mai. Carey Brown. engineer officer
with the National Capital Parks ann
Planning Commission, strongly auvo-
Gated Gravelly Point He said the site
would grow "of its own accord" by the
cunuing OF river silt there in the
DREDGING operations Cn the river.
The need Of an airport here today
said Mai Brown. lis as great as was
the need Of a Union Station few years
ago"
Among the other witnesses called by
Alien N Smvthe. chairman Of the air
port committee Of the local chapter OF
Ihe National AeF0nautic Association,
we're jerome Fanciulli, chairman OF the
airport committee Of the Chamber Of
Commerce. and Lawrence f. Williams.
chairman of the aviation committee Of
the Board Of Trade who said their or
Plantations were unanimously IN favor
Of the Cragelly Point site.
Representative Hall Of Indiana asked
about the sDpoTtionment Of the cost
Eno Mr. Williams replied that the Board
pf Trade is stoutly on record in favor
O. tne G0-40 plan and makes no excep-
kl9n IN the case os the airport"
Mr. Fanciulli formerly vice president
end general manager oi the Curtis Air
plane Co declared that the CONNER
rial Development ~ aviation would de-
pend largely upon the use ~ hydro
planes. and for that reason the GgaFelly
Point site on the Potomac River Is ideal
Ma. Clayton EFnig representing the
Federation of Citizens Associations.
said that organization was on record IN
favor q an airport at GraTellY Point
and had favored Use Of the Benning
Ste only temporarily. while the perma-
fent field wsg being completed lie said
that since the Army would permit the
Use of Boiling Field pending the COM
pierloa q a permanent airport. il might
b. unnecessary 70 lse the Benulag site