Smyrna times., 1929-07-10
PLANES MIGHT CRASH into
STRUCTURES WHEN LANDING
SKYLINE UPSET BY AIR TRAY
EL-AIR PORTS NEEDED
Architecture of Cities to Change
With the Growing Use of
the Airplanes

the AIrplaneS
Washington.-A few days ago 9
factory chimney, 100 feet in height
was Gynamited and brought crash
ing to the ground. The reason was
that the towering spire was located
near the site Of the new airport OF
Newark, \. J., and that its pres
ence was menace to naYigators
of the air seeking to make a land
ing on the field. Bird lovers took
especial note of the fact that the
chimney, rather old one, had for
long been the home of a large mum
Der of chimney swifts and of such
other birds as nest in lofty places.
Their cOnveninece was sacrificed to
protect human bird-men who, espe-
cially at night, might crash into
the structure in seeking the ground.
The incident sharply emphasizes
what influence the development of
flying, especially of the establish
ment of regular commercial air
lines, is having and is going to have
on architectural features of cities,
particularly in the neighborhoOd of
municipal airports.
When the airplane first was be-
ginning to demonstrate its pOten-
tialities, favOrite subject for illus
traitors of imaginative stories was
the possible appearance of cities of
the future when navigation of the
air should become q matter of
course. For the most part the draw
ingS portrayed vast and lofty edi-
fees with landing platforms on top
of them, and with all manner of
aircraft landing and taking off.
They were reminiscent of the fan
tastic pictures which nearly gen
Grafton ago depicted in Sunday
newspaper supplements the adven-
lures of Little Memo on Mars. Then,
general navigation Of the air
seemed about as far distant in time
as Mars is in space.
Dreams Coming True.
But the fantasy has come. 1t has
turned into reality. Plans already
have been drawn for a building to
constitute one of the many air
ports for New York city. They call
for a structure $50 feet in height.
Nothing which Little Memo encOun-
tered could be more fantastic. The
building would be cylinder ris-
ing from the ground. The lower
floors would be occupied by stores.
There would be business Offices in
various parts of it, auditOriums and
many other features which large
modern structures have. Other
floors would be given over to ho-
tel accommodations and, atop of
all, an enormous landing field 1000
feet in diameter.
RunWays for landing and taking
off would be provided so that
more than 40 planes could be either
alighting or taking flight at the
same time. Rising yet above the
roof would be a mOoring mast for
dirigibles. This is not dream of
Little Memo. Architects and en-
gineers actually are working on the
final plans and the project of fnanc-
ing the project is occupying the
time of skilled men.
The Department of Commerce
which have arranged for the con-
struction of airports and has in
its files correspondence relating to
plans of another 1000 places look
ing forward to The same sort of en-
terprise.
Change in sI<yInes.
It appears certain that architec-
ture will be greatly affected be-
cause two types of field are TO be
built. One for large cities, would
of the nature of the vast
already designed. This
would be necessary to obtain suf-
icient space for ports anywhere
near the centerS of such cities as.
or example, Chicago, which is
many miles from one extremity to
mother. The time gained BY fy-
ng would be lost in fran smission
# mail and transportation by other
means of passengers from a subur-
IAN port to the center of town. So,
or the large cities, the present
may fully expect to see
resembling some
hing more fantastic than any cas-
les in Spain or dreams Of a hash
.esh eater.
The second type is to be employed
~ lesser communities. They will I
,e on the ground. But, here, too.
he architecture Of the cities must
'e changed. It will not be con-
-enient to have tall buildings in
he neighbOrhood Of the fields, and
thousands will be razed as the New
Irk chimney has been.
SO the skyline of American cities
# the near future will take on en-
rely new aspects. The great cit
es will have spring peaks higher
han any of the surrounding build
ngs. while the smaller places will
ave skylines revealing depressions
rom the general level, the effect
eing undulating.
Practical aspects of construction
re not being neglected. A plan
las been worked out and has re-
eived the approval of Postmaster
ieneral New, providing for plane
ABILITIES slightly resembling the
Genie railways, or shoot the chutes
mi