Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-01
CAPITAL AIR RACE
BID HINGES ON PORT
Washington Files Formal Ap-
pIication for 1880
Aviation Meet.
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON,

CLEVELAND, August 31.-Formal re-
| quest that the 1880 national air races
be held in the National Capital next
August was made to the newly elected
board of governors of the National
Aeronautic Association this afternoon.
The request was submitted by the
Aero Club of Washington Chapter of
the National Aeronautic Association
through MAJ. Clayton Emig, dele
In making this request the Aero Club
indicated that 1t is prepared. II re-
quested by the national body, to submit
a formal bid for the worlds greatest
air event This bid. which will be
very detailed in character, will cover
necessary financial guarantees and will
pledge the National Capital to provide
the mass of physical equipment neces-
sary for the staging of the show.
Consideration of Washington's bid
depends upon the establishment in
Washington of an airport of sufficient
size to handle the hundreds OF visiting
planes and permit the adequate staging
of the many air races and aerial con-
tests and demonstrations which go to
make up this greatest of all shows.
Bingham Promises Speed.
The request was received by the
board, of. which Senator Hiram Bing-
ham of Connecticut, president OF the
National Aeronautical Association. is
head. Senator Bingham is chairman Of
the congressional joint committee In
charge of District of Columbia airport
legislation. He has stated that the nee
essary enabling and appropriations blllS
will be introduced in Congress as soon
as possible after the special session be-
gins this Fall and will be pushed
through as rapidly as possible.
One of the last acts of the National
Aeronautic Association, at its closing
session here yesterday, was to approve
unanimously a resolution calling upon
Congress to establish model national
airport Immediately at Gravelly Point,
on the south shore OF the potomac River,
opposite Hains Point.
While the National Capitals request
will not be passed upon by the board
until December or January, it is known
that the request is very favorably re.
garded by members of the board and
officers of the association. The delay in
making the final award is to enable the
association to 60 thoroughly into the
qualifications of the bidding cities.
Five Bids Are Received.
The board yesterday received flve re-
Quests for the 1880 classic in addition
to that from Washington. They were
submitted by Chicago, Miami, san An
tonic Portland, Greg, and st. Louis
Under the rules of the association addl-
tional bids may be received up to the
time the final award is made.
The experience of Cleveland shows
that it would not be at all impossible
for the National Capital to make the
necessary physical preparations for the
show If the requisite legislation for an
airport can be enacted by Congress by
the end of January.
Cleveland was awarded the present
air races last January and the work of
preparing for the event, which un-
doubtedly is the greatest aeronautical
meet in history, began last February.
Although Cleveland already had a
municipal airport ranking among the
best in the country, the races are being
flown entirely on section of the port
which last February was in farmland.
(Continued on Page 8. Column a.