Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-17
DISTRICT AIRPORT
PLANS TO Be AIDED
BY MEETING HERE
Mai. Dawson Heads Commit
tee to Conduct Conference
October 24-25.
800 TO 400 EXPECTED
FROM OTHER CITIES
Regulations, Housing and Drainage
Among Road Builders Asso-
citation Topics.

The plans for development of mu-
nicipal airport for the District are ex-
pected to be aided materially at two
day conference on municipal airports
to be held in Washington October "a
and Is under auspices of the city Off
Gals division Of the American Road
Builders Association.
AS president of the city officials d.
vision of the road builders organiza-
ton, Capt H. C. Whitehurst. co-ordi-
nator and chief engineer of the engi-
neering department of the District gov
eminent, announced today he had ap-
pointed Maj. Donald A. Dawson, AS.
SiStant Engineer Commissioner, chair
man of the committee to conduct the
conference. Maj. Davison's appoint
ment Is regarded at the District Build
ing as Of utmost Importance, since he
has been in charge of all the prelim-
mary surveys and studies toward the
development OF the Districts proposed
municipal airport.
The conference will attract to Wash
ington, according to Capt. Whitehurst,
between 800 and 400 municipal govern
ment officials from all sections of the
United States as well as some Of the
country's outstanding airport engineers
and builders. The primary object of
the conference, he said, is to develop
specific knowledge of the present prac-
tees and future requirements of airport
portance to every city planning an air.
port development.
Conference Timely Here.
THE conference will be particularly
timely to Washington" said Capt
Whitehurst. because plans are Just be-
ginning to crystalline for an airport de-
velopment. The feasibility of Gravelly
Point as site for the airport As well
as all other sites that have been rec
commended, undoubtedly will be dis
cussed by municipal airport experts"
The varied list of subjects selected
for discussion covers airport construc-
ton in all of its technical and ergi-
neering ramif1cations. These are:
Factors to be considered in the Sc
lection of airport sites.
Transportation and traffic regulations
adjacent to airportS.
Airport management, housing and
building control.
European practices.
The design of runways, landing areas
and field surfacing.
Airport drainage
Relation of airports to public parks;
public attendance.
Airport finance.
Specialists to Talk.
The discussion Of each Of these eight
subjects. Capt. Whitehurst said, will be
led by qualified specialists. OF particu-
lar interest to Washington, he pointed
out, will be the questions of drainage,
the design of runways. landing areas
and field surfacing and factors to be
considered In the selection Of airport
sites.
The information developed at the
conference Capt. Whitehurst believes
will be invaluable, not alone to Wash
ington, but to all other municipalities
planning airports. The advice and opin-
ion Of the experts. he explained, will be
| free of bias or sales propaganda, and Of
the type which has cost New York, Chi
| cago and other large cities thousands of
dollars to procure.
Primarily the conference was ar
! ranged for the benefit of cities with a
| population of 100000 and under that
want to build airports. but cannot afford
to engage experts to advise them how to
| proceed.