Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-05-08

Proper terms Of contract for lease or operation OF
an airport is not a p~roblern peculiar to Brownsville.
Papers Of other cities are filled with reports Of
difficulties being encountered in arriving at a fair
agreement between the owners and operators Of air
lines. The trouble appears TO be largely an entire lack
Of precedent to guide the contracting parties.
Formidable opposition has developed In New York
to leasing Of the Floyd Bennett Flying Field, a mu-
nicipal airport. TO the Curtiss Flying Service, Inc. for
a period Of ten years for the operation Of a flying
school.
According to the New York Herald Tribune. Mayor
Jimmie Walker ordered postponement Of action on
the lease while a study Of the proposal was being
made.
The Herald Tribune says:
Opposition to the granting OF an exclusive priv
ilege for a flying school AZ the municipal airport to
the Curtiss Company came principally from rivals for
the privilege. although Leo J. MacDermott. represent
ing the Citizens Union. and Clarence Chamberlin,
aeronautical adviser Of the city. opposed the proposed
Curtiss lease in its present form.
Colonel Raymond Egan, a brother of James r.
Egan, secretary Of Tammany Hall. appearing on be-
half Of the New York Flying School. objected to the
granting Of the privilege without throwing it open to
competitive bidding. He said his client was anxious
TO offer terms equally as favorable to the city.
TO extend the lease over a period of ten years
without q public hearing. he said, would amount to a
grab
Mr.. MacDermott opposed the lease as a virtual
monopoly which would ieopardize the citys right to
develop the field in the future. No lease. he said.
should run for more than a year without a cancella-
ton clause.
Mr.. Chamherln. who as aeronautical adviser is
supervising the development Of the municipal airport.
said ne was opposed TO granting the flying school
privilege Tor ten years as 1t might develop that the
city would not want a flyirs school connected with the
field at all. The school, nc said. might prove hazard
Gus to mail and commercial flying.
Mayor Walker inquired how much the citv Was
% receive as compensation for the use Of the field.
casey 3 Jones. president cf the Curtiss Corapanv. said
the lease provided for a rental Of $4,000 pr wear nl,s
ten per cent Of the gross receipts for the first five
years The terms for the second five. ne said. were ~
DC liked ny arbitration. On the basis OF the exnecte5
receipts Mr.. Jones estimated the tity's share at s4o :
600 a year"
Aviation Is in Its infancy as a commercial trans
portation method and even the most experienced arc
not willing to attempt to forecast what the future de-
veiopment VIII De. For this reason no one & uil,,r,
70 stand as authority for what would b. fair ~ ,ha
lessor and to the owner Of an airport.
In time experience will determine an sor,,.h,.
lsure' put III the present pioneering stage these srs
problems which merit carefuI consideration ~ no,h
parties concerned. The subject must he annroarh.J
~ = spirit Of fairness and contracts will necerxar,,r
nave 20 oe drawn In such d manner a. ~ ns~r,,. -L
JustmentS TO future Developments.