Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-12
EUROPEAN NATIONS
AID LANDING FIELDS
Airports in Capitals Helped
by Governments, U. S.
Report Shows.

When the joint congressional commits
sion studying the airport requirements
of the National Capital approaches the
problem of ALLEGATION of the cost, it will
find that in several of the large Euro
pean capitals the national governments
provided sites for the original eStab-
lishment of the air fields.
This is shown by data gathered by
the Department of Commerce and
which will be available to the commits
sion IN its investigation of where and
how the local airport should be de-
veloped.
The Templehof airport in Berlin for
merry was parade ground for the Ger
man Army. According to the informa-
ton obtained by the Commerce Depart
ment, it was turned over to the city and
some funds were provided for grading
draining and lighting About two years
later the city purchased additional
ground to add to the original area. This
field covers $40 acres and is operated as
a municipal airport.
Croydon Field Similar.
In London the Croydon airfield was a
government training center during the
World War, After the armistice the
training center, but allowed CONNER
cial planes to use it. Later the military
activities were withdrawn. Its opera
ton is listed by the department as mu-
nicipal and federal. 1t covers 1888 acres
The development of LIE Bourget Field
in Paris was somewhat similar to the
situation in England except that the
army still uses part of the airport in
the French capital. but with the two
activities we'll separated LIE Bourget
Field consists of 400 acres, but the
Commerce Department tabulation indi-
Gates an area is to be added for strictly
commercial use.
Italy Aids Rome Field.
In Rome about 80 per cent of the
fund required to establish the Littorio
airport was from private sources, but
the government gave some assistance.
The airport Is commercially operated,
but is to receive funds from the govern
ment for certain improvements. The
Italian airport covers $50 acres.
The resolution under which the Joint
Senate and House Commission was Gre
ated to study the needs of Washington
directs the commission to make recon-
negotiations as to sites, plans land suit
able ALLEGATION of costs"
lIlt COIlUlloStUil ID awaiting reports
from the War, Navy, Commerce and
Post Office Departments as to what the
future airport requirements of the
Government will be in Washington, and
similar data from municipal stand
point is to be submitted by the District
Commissioners. When these reports
are in the commission will hold hear
ings, probably the first week in April
During consideration of the District
appropriation bill in the Senate re-
Gently Senator Bingham, Republican, of
Connecticut, in charge of local appro-
priation matters. expressed it as his
personal belief that the Federal Gov
eminent ought to bear the expense of
constructing an adequate municipal
airport, or at least large share of the
cost. He based his belief ON the feeling
that the airport would be used more
by persons coming here to transact
business with the Government than
locally.
Senator Bingham has been made
chairman of the joint commission.