Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-31
BARRACKS PLANNED
AT BOILING FIELD
Army Wants More Room and
Better Facilities at
Airport.

Boiling Field would be considerably
enlarged, with improved barracks for
officers and enlisted men and proper
provision made for draining the field so
as to convert it from its present unsafe
condition into permanently safe field
for airplanes. under plans prepared by
the chief of the Air Service. and ex-
planned by Gen. Fechet and others at
hearings on the War Department APP
preparation bill before subcommittee
of the House appropriations committee;
From an air standpoint Boiling Field
is valuable as headquarters airdrome,
although not as tactical airdrome.
Assistant Secretary of War F.. Trubee
Dawson told the committee. Boiling
Field at the present time Is in very
bad shape, very dangerous shape. ne
said. "A few months ago we wanted 10
bring up here a squadron OF lombard
ment planes. We could not bring them
up for about week running, because
that land is all filled land. 1t had
been raining 1t was muddy. and you
could not land large ships on that held
without running a good deal OF danger
of cracking them up. You would no.
have killed anybody but you would
have damaged your ships very severely
Wants Good Airdrome Here.
~ think there is no question but that
at the Capital We ought to nave an ar
drome that is not large one. but an
eficient one. we'll drained and with
good. suitable buildings and hangers.
Mr.. Dawson added that the Air corps
is now studying the problem OF I'M
provement of Boiling Field. where run
WAYS can be built at comparatively
small expense. of cinders. THAT would
be big improvement" he said. with
Substantially small expenditure OF
money. I do feel that 1t is important
to have in Washington an airdrome
where YOU can land and get on at any
time. We do not have that now. II
is in very bad shape"
An item of $4,000 Is contained In
the auartermaster's estimate for ne"
barracks at Boiling Field. Gen. Fecnet
told the subcommittee the Army Woulu
be justified In putting new barracks at
the field. IF there is any increase III
the land there, 1t will simply be land
living south of Boiling Field" he said.
1T will not move the station away from
Boiling Field. The garrison at the end
of the five-year program Will be 5ol
men. and that request Is for barracks
for 266 men. Under the five-year pro-
gram we would need barracks for 3Sl
men In 1882. There were $50 In 1927"
Answering a question by Representa-
tive Taber of the committee, Gen.
Fechet said such a program would make
Boiling Field a substantial flying Held
OF the Army.
THAT Is a very low, damp location,
and 1t Is very uncomfortable IN Winter
time 1t Is very SLOPPY around there
and damp. and ! think that perma-
nty~ vyas.fI ba Harf1ef nd
vantage and almost necessity. The
placing of the barracks at Boiling Field,
as It is now. would in no way jeopardize
the Governments use OF the buildings
II 1t were TO be given up. This Gravellv
Point Field NAV be in your mind. That
will not be available for five or six years.
/ do not think 1t would be OF any adj
vantage to the Government TO go there.
I think Ii would be disadvantage to
put large military organization at an
air port. That is what they are making
that into"
1929 Estimate 100000.
Civilians are not used to the Army
system of operation and object TO what
they feel Is the tyrannical discipline
necessary 10 maintain military fields.
Gen. Fechet said Gen. Preston Brown
is slways complaining about operating
lhe flying field at Boston," he con-
Guided.
The sum of $l00. 900 would be appro-
priated for Boiling Field under the 1929
estimate. In addition TO the barracks
construction estimate. TO build supply
warehouse at cost of $4,000 and an
administration building at a cost of
$4,000 Since preparation OF the Air
Corps preliminary estimate 1t has been
determined a total OF 100000 will be
required In 1929 for improvement OF
Boiling Field. This would include the
original $4,000 estimate of the Air
Corps and $40 900 more