Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-28
The CAPITAL City Airport.

Inc Capltal City airport.
That Washington is destined to BE-
one of the great airports of the world
is one of the outstanding conclu-
sions from the hearings that have
been in progress before the special
Joint Airport Commission headed by
Senator Bingham Of Connecticut. vir-
tually all of the expert witnesses. es-
pecially those from the Department OF
Commerce, who are making an intensive
study of developments all over the
country, and the trend In this new
science and transportation possibilities,
have so testified. Assurance has been
given that Just as soon as adequate air
port facilities are afforded here WASH
ington will be conspicuous on the air
map and considerable volume Of bust
mss will be observable.
The commission has until December
to make its report to Congress. The
hearings are practically closed. Tech
nical data is being prepared for the
commission, and conferences with Gov
eminent engineers will continue for
some time. There is a serious intention
to do the Job here right. The decision
will be one Of equal importance to the
FEDERAL Government in economic, EN-
cient and expeditions transaction Of Its
business as to the commercial interests
Of the local municipality. While the
wording Of the act directing this In
vestigation specifically directs attention
to the requirements Of the departments
of War, Navy and Commerce and the
Postal Service, practically all Govern
ment departments are now using air.
planes, and the value Of an adequate
airport here to the Federal Government
Is inestimable.
To meet the commercial needs Of the
local municipality the oravelly Point
site. on the water front. Is recommended
by the District Commissioners.
Several witnesses before the commits
sion, which has been conducting the air.
port hearings, have stressed the desira-
bility of having two airports here--one,
q centrally located landing field for de-
livery of mail and letting on passen-
gers, and the other in the suburbs, which
would be much larger and where would
be located hangers. repair shops, oppor-
tunity for student flying and all the APP
purtenances Of . great airport for ma
tional and international service. OF
course, the essential point on which the
commission is focusing its attention 10
to get one field first and to get that In
operation as soon as possible, with due
consideration Of all the interests In
VOWED.
The commission has detailed estimates
on the Gravelly Point site and Is coll
lecting all the information readily OBJ
tainable on other sites suggested In the
outskirts of the city. It has been
stressed that ut Graveily Point It will
not be necessary to buy any land. and
that the field will be built UP by dredg-
ing the channel, grading and filling.
The commission Is weighing this argu-
ment against the length of time 1t will
take to make 0ravelly Point suitable for
an airport In comparison with the pos
sibility Of buying fiat area that could
be used ut an earlier date.
The commission Is also making q spe-
cial study Of fog and weather condi-
tons to be expected at Gravelly Point
to see II they would be serious handi-
cap to an airport as against some more
inland location on higher ground. Fly
ers who have testified have not agreed
as TO the influence Of fog or weather In
the location Of such an airport. The
Weather Bureau has compiled techni-
cal information for the commission after
study Of the weather conditions to
be expected at the various sites sue-
gested.
Still another problem on which the
commission has been seeking expert ad-
vice is regarding the surfacing Of the
airport-whether 1t should be con-
structed with runways or whether II
should be an always field, on which
landings could be made from any d.
rection. and whether it should have
q cinder or q sod surfacing.
It will be readily seen that the COM
mission is making q very careful study
Its recommendations should have great
weight with Congress. Since 1t Is I'M
possible to get any decision on this
matter OF extraordinary interest to thu
Government itself and to the local mu'
nicipality before the December session
Of Congress, everything possible In
preliminary way should be done; the
individual members Of Congress shoule
be fully advised, 90 that this measure
may be one OF the very FIRST TO be con
sidered in the hrst regular session o.
the present Congress.
There is no difference Of opinion tina
Washington should. just Is soon as pos
sible, have q nrst-class airport.
A ,r,vata car ufil convey Harry Sin.