Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-22
TEMPORARY PLANE
FIELD NECESSARY.
Commission Recommends
This Pending GraveIIy Point
Airport Development.

A temporary aviation field which
could be used as principal airport for
Washington during gradual develop
fient Of GravelIy Point is proposed by
the National Capital Park and Planning
Commission as a solution Of the airport
problem here.
The commission, which has completed
q study for a system of airportS for
Washington and its environs, suggests
That the temporary field later be used
as an auxiliary or emergency field. The
results of the study, part Of the an
nual report, are now before President
Hoover.
The comm, ,ssion studied the posi-
bilities of 48 fields and the report lists
second ring of emergency landing fields
around the central airport. In this are
included all present landing fields, the
golf course in Potomac Park, and site
near the proposed Mount Vernon Me-
mortal Highway, now in process OF con-
struction.
Adequate Airport Vital.
Pointing to the lack of an adequate
airport here, the Commission says, per
haps such a field in Government owner
ship is nowhere more needed
From his study there has been de-
bic central airports, emergency, auxili-
airy and intermediate landing fields in
relation to the primary air routes to
other important cities or fields, the re-
port says. The locations for fields are
suggestive of the kind of system for
air facilities which the commission has
IN mind.
81. For the central airport, sites at
Gravelly Point for commercial use, and
at Boiling Field extended for military
use, are shown on the plan.
-. Emergency landing nelds on
lands held either exclusively for fly
ing or on properties the use of which
can be accommodated to emergency
landings. Such landing places should
be within gliding distance Of the princi-
pal port and can be provided on the
golf course at East Potomac Park, in
Anacostia Park in front of the field
house in section c and north OF
the proposed stadium site on the Wash
ington side. The present airports at
the South End of the Highway Bridge,
should also be kept in mind, and. if
possible, preserved for their use. When
the bay at the mouth OF Oxon Run
below Blue Plains is filled, as proposed
by the District Commissioners. another
emergency field might be provided there.
Still another emergency landing place
might be located ON the low land east
Of the Mount Vernon Memorial High
way north Of Alexandria.
Favor Auxiliary Fields :.
IS. Auxiliary fields, suitable for local
use or for schools, would supply second
ring around the central port. The at
tention of the commission has been
called ito the possibility of such an
auxiliary landing place over the rail-
road tracks north of the Union Station,
because of the potentiality it holds for
passenger and mail transfer as well as
for emergency use. This suggestion IL
Illustrates the variety, both IN type and
cost, of possible landing fields which
the commission has considered. Other
sites which partake partly of the char
acter OF emergency landings might be
provided on or adjacent to the Alexan-
dria water works holdings at Baileys
Crossroads, north of the Alexandria
Leesburg road near the seminary, at
Silver Hill and Forestviile. in Maryland.
To the north and west Of the city loca-
lions should be considered along the
westerly route, possibly at Langley. along
the Pittsburgh route, in the proposed
extension of Rock Creek Park. and at
Halpine, where the Congressional Air
mort Is q possible unit in the system.
Along the New York route, or in its
general direction, there is now the field
ct College Park, and several poSS1blli-
Ties near Cnlllum In the Valey OF LLle
Northwest Branch.
"The two largest areas within reason
able distance of Washington for school
or other auxiliary purposes are located
at Camp Spring, in Maryland, and be-
tween Mount Vernon and Alexandria,
In the valley of Little Hunting Creek,
Va. 1t is understood that group Of
promoters have already purchased a
considerable area for this purpose in
the latter location.
q. intermediate fields, spaced at
from Is to 80 mile intervals along prin-
cipal routes, are shown on the accom-
panying plan at Quantico, Manassas,
teesburg. Frederick, Laurel, Bowie and
Camp Meade.
GravelIy Point Most Desirable.
''The details of this study and these
recommendations were placed before the
special congressional committee under
the craftsmanship of Senator Bingham.
The commission appreciates the cost
and time necessary to develop the GRAY
ely Point site as a principal CONNER
cial airport but for over two years has
been recorded (June II, 1920 as favor