Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-27

those who are looking forward to the growth OF
business in the air.
There is no consideration more important
than safety ON the modern airport, the Depart
ment Of Commerce experts say. The airport
should be free from obstacles and capable OF
being operated ut an times Of the year. It
should be as close to the heart Of the city 1t
serves as 1t can be with safety OF operation.
Time Is deemed the measure Of distance. One
Of the chief things awaiting the future develop
ment of aviation Is held 10 be the close-in air.
port facilities in the major cities
Detroit is now engaged in constructing giant
airport, the Department Of Commerce officials
say, by way OF illustrating the development that
is going forward in the metropolitan centers.
Some $6OO00OO worth of land has been
acquired and about s. Oo00 900 is now available
to begin immediate development.
Baltimore is likewise embaTking on An am
bilious program Of airport development, as yet
another index of the growth Of aviation activity
in this section OF the Nation. Altogether. there
are now nearly 1000 commercial and municipal
airports and about 800 Department Of Conn
mercc intermediate fields.
A PART from the construction of the airport
proper there arc numerous accessories that
are coming to the fore In making UP the latest
in airports. Hangers equipped with ventilatcrs
to let out the motor exhaust fumes: brilliant
food lights for night Aying; properly lighted
and ventilated quarters for the men who service
the ships. with sliding doors to conserve space:
unobstructed fOor space. without columns; .
neld that Is property laid cut. marked. Drained
runwayS. lighting. M00ring maSts and architec.
tural finish, with the wind cone properly illumi-
mated and r,mways and field boundaries ade-
qaately marked all 60 into the making Of the
modern airport
The experience gained in marking out golf
a. 10 tn kIHa
out Of airports. for tractors. mowers and rollers
are being brought into play to make the ideal
airport and proper drainage Is, of course con-
Sidered essential as an element Of safety.
That these considerations are not merely the
theories of the engineer, the architect and the
airman Is evidenced By the fact that today in
America there are airp0rts humming with
activity and the music OF business. Airmen say
that among the very best airports in the Nation
today are Buffalo, N. Y; Cleveland, Ohio, and
Oakland, Calf. and 1t is an airport such as
these that Washington must have If it is to at
tain the standard of the model airport of the
country.
TO get clearer insight into the situation The
Star asked Nathaniel e Duffy, director OK
the airport at Buffalo, ". Y. to tell of present
facilities there, and what is planned for the i'm
mediate future. Mr.. Duffy explained that Buff
falo Airport at present comprises SIS 1-3 acres:
administration building in which the
directors Office, business office, a modern wealth.
er bureau. radio room, accommodations for
both customs and immigration. Buffalo is a
port of entry. as well as some general Offices for
operating companies.
"On top of the administration building we
are building modern control room from which
all traffic on the field will be directed" Mr.
Duffy said we have five hangers. Two %
these have just recently been constructed and
are of the duplex type; that is, they are di-
vided in two for either manufacturers or OPP
Grating companies with openings at both ends
Our future development calls for a cinder run
way not less than 5000 feet long and 200 feet