Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-16
ENGINEER PICTURES
MODEL D. c. AIRPORT
AT GRAvELLY POINT
Edwin A. Schmitt Outlines
Plans at American Road
Builders Convention.
SITE TO BE ON FILLED
LAND IN RIVER CHAN MEL
Equipment Will Be of Latest De-
sign, With Concrete Roads
Making Access Easy.
BY stan Correspondent of The Star.

committee OF the American Road Build
ers' Association, now holding its annual
convention in the Atlantic City Audi
forum.
The plans were outlined to the COM
mittee yesterday by Edwin A. Schmitt,
assistant United States engineer for the
District of Washington, who was in
charge of the preliminary engineering
for the Gravelly Point project. The
guiding motive behind all the plans, Mr..
Schmitt said, is to make the proposed
airport for the National Capital one
which will rank as one of the finest in
the world.
The airport is to be made on filled
land on what is now mud fiat covered
by shallow water extending from the
Potomac River channel to the Virginia
shore, Mr.. Schmitt explained. Levees
are to be built around the area selected
for development and the dredging fill
deposited in the resulting basin by hy-
draulic dredges.
Site Capable Of Expansion.
The Gravelly Point site is capable Of
expansion to an ultimate size of 10000
by 1000 feet, he showed, the first unit,
at the northwest end being approx
mateiy 5000 by $500 feet in dimensions.
The levees and filled ground are to be
freshet level, the quantity of material
estimated for the fill being increased by
80 per cent to allow for settlement and
shrinkage. The river face is to be pro-
tected by riprap stone wall estimated
at eight tons to the foot.
Roads to connect with existing main
highways and service roads on the field
are to be of the most modern concrete
construction. The problem of adequate
drainage has been most thoroughly
studied and a system of laterals spaced
40 to so feet apart and rock filled drains
by the runways has been decided upon,
he said. Cost of drainage installation on
the surfaced portion of the field Is esti-
mated at 1915 per acre and on the un-
surfaced part of the field 1886 per acre.
Complete meteorological equipment
was planned, including wind indicator,
illuminated tee, barometer, thermometer.
ceiling indicator and other necessary
instruments, at cost Of $4,000. There
Is to be complete field radio equipment,
including tower behind the airport
buildings, to cost $4,000.
Modern Emergency Equipment.
Miscellaneous items planned include
f1rst-aid equipment ambulance, COM
pletely equipped emergency room in the
hangers and shops, for an estimated
cost of $4,000. Fire-fighting equipment
proposed includes chemical truck and
hose carts, together with an extinguish-
ing system In all buildings, at an esti-
mated cost of $4,000. Sufficient fire
MIGRANTS and outlets on water mains
are covered in the water service esti-
mates.
For maintenance of the field, har-
Nll
laneous equipment are covered by an
estimate Of $4,000. Adequate equip
ment for field maintenance, Mr.. Schmitt
said, was recognized as of first impor-
tancc.
Hard-surfaced runways for eight-di-
rection service are planned for the first
unit and subsequent units, to be of
200 foot width. though In some in
stances only width of 100 feet is in
cluded in the estimate for construction
under the present program. Airplane
taxi roads at the sides of the field are
planned to provide access to all of the
runways. Concrete aprons were esti-
mated for in front of all hangers and
the administration building, with uni
form width Of 200 feet.
Sanitary Sewer System.
For each field unit complete sani-
tary sewer system was planned with
connections to all buildings and small
disposal plant. The cost for the system
for 3,000-by-4, 500-foot unit is estimated
at $13,500. An adequate water supply is
regarded as essential for all except one
unit of the proposed field, and will De
provided by laying q main from the
existing water system.
Sketch plans were prepared, Mr.
Schmitt said, for large administration
building with marquee, waiting rooms.
restaurant, guest rooms, Offices and
towers overlooking the field. This will
be a building of substantial construction
and pleasing architectural design, with
an estimated cost of $165,000. The
latest hangar estimates call for struc-
lures each 100 by 200 feet in size, sub
stantial in character and of archi-
tectural treatment in keeping with the
administration building. The unit cost
of the hangers Is estimated at $4,000.
Garage and repair shop and two pub
lie comfort stations were included at an
estimated cost of $4,000 for the ga
rage and repair shop and $500 each
for the comfort stations. Repair-shop
equipment is estimated at $4,000, in
GLIDING complete equipment for repairs
to motors and planes A fuel truck for
gasoline and oil, with tanks and fueling
pumps at all hangers are provided, at
an estimated cost of $1,000.
Complete Lighting Equipment.
"Of prime Importance" Mr.. Schmitt
said, SIS the night lighting equipment,
as the field would be terminal for
mail and other planes flying at night.
After consultation with the aeronautics
branch of the Department of Com
merce, an estimate of 100000 was made
which would provide for beacon, COM
plete system Of boundary lights, ap-
proacll lights, flood lights for landing
and flood lighting OF hangers and ad-
ministration building"
A fence eight feet high is to be
placed on the land sides of the field.
An item that is not customary at most
airports was included for landscaping,
Mr.. Schmitt said. An estimate of $25,-
600 was included for special treatment
with shrubs and trees around the air
port buildings and along the approach
roads. as
A seaplane development complete in
itself was planned at Gravelly Point.
This development will be necessary
whether the landplane field be located
at Gravelly Point or at some other
location away from the river, Mr..
Schmitt said.
A Navy type hangar, 100 by 220 feet
In size, with concrete runway. is