Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-27
w WASHINGTON last week
NAi found itself in a posi-
Wv ton somewhat ana "a

wv ton somewhat anala-
'. gouS to that Of the
maiden lady who tells youns
mothers how to raise their chill
dren. The city for two days ha:
played host to airport designer;
and builders, aeronautical leaders
and city off1cialS concerned with
airport management.
These people were here as dele
gates to a national municipal air
port conference held under aus
pices of the city officials division
of the American Road Builders
Association and the Aeronautical
Chamber of Commerce. Airport
construction has become a matter
of vital interest to road builders
because of the necessity for paw
ing of great areas Of apron
taXiwayS and runwayS. Drain
age and surfacing problems of
this character are the life work
of the road builder.
Having no municipal airport
problems of it's own to worry
about, by reason of it's unusual
position as one of the few cities
of it's size without a municipal
airport or the immediate prospect
of having one, the National Capt.
tai was able to give quite a bit of
attention to the airport problems
of its guests.
City Is Only Meeting Place.
That the city was able to offer
anything more than a meeting
place is due to the presence here
of Federal officials who have
gained their practical knowledge
of airport construction and main
tenance from travels in this coun-
try and abroad.
It was the general sense OF the
conference speakers that, while 1t
is essential that airportS OF the
most complete character be built
today, anticipating as far as pos
Sible in their planning the needs
of the future, there is no adequate
knowledge of what form the air
port of tomorrow will take.
There must be a great deal OF
foresight used in endeavoring to
determine what course aviation
will follow, future developments
and their influence upon airport
design.
Upon final analysis" it was
pointed out by B. Russell Shaw Of
St. Louis in the opening paper OF
the conference, "the wind tunnel
is the cradle Of airport design,
for If by the use Of the wind tun-
mel new types OF aircraft can be
developed, then these will exert
the greatest influence upon what
we picture now as an ideal airport.
To say that we have learned all
there Is to know about airport de-
sign is as ridiculous as to say that
we know all there is to be known
about electricity.
eve must begin with the begin
ming Of aviation for our back
ground and follow through in the
various cycles of development,
never being satisfied with what
we have, but always looking to-
ward the future and with an in
innate knowledge of the develop
ment of the industry and Of air.
craft and endeavor to anticipate
the development of tomorrow"
There may be some attempt
made to use such arguments to
delay the construction Of nlu-
nicipal airport for the National
Capital. Such an attempt must
brand those who make it as pitt
fully shortsighted. Unless the
National Capital establishes its
airport now and makes an earnest
effort to build up an air transport
center here, the city will find it
self well off the beaten air line
when it does decide to provide the
necessary ground facilities.
Trend of Design Hopeful.
The conference revealed many
hopeful trends in airport design,
construction and operation in this
country. There is an apparently
strong movement to improve air-
ports, not only by careful study
Of the current needs OF aero
nautics, but by an effort to fore
see and provide for the future.
Increasing heed Is being paid to
the comfort and convenience Of
passengers, spectators and per-
sonnet. The need for better de-