Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-02
S2,5(Q,OlD IS COST
OF AIRPORT UNDER
PLAN OF j. S. LOAN
Joint Commission Indicates
Sum D. C. Would Borrow
on Non-Interest Terms.
REPORT MAY BE
READY TOMORROW
Outlines Taking Over of Two
Fields-C of c. Opposed to
City Paying ALL

QeVelOpmenL near the SOuIn emu OF
Highway Bridge is to be financed by a
loan from the Federal Treasury that
would be paid back in full by the Dis
trict without interest, it was indicated
last night that this cost would be in
the neighborhood of $2,500,000.
Pending completion of the recon-
mendations to be submitted to Congress
at an early date, the joint congress
sional airport commission has not dis
closed the cost figures, but it was re-
ported last night as likely that they
would be near the foregoing amount.
chairman. said the commissions de-
tailed report might be completed by
tomorrow. outlining in detail the plan
agreed upon by the commission to OBJ
tain an airport without delay by TAX
ing the two existing flying fields at
the Virginia end of the bridge, and
adding to them portion of the Agri-
cultural Experimental Farm and part
of Columbia Island. Gravelly Point
velopment, when filled in by the Gov
eminent.
Origin of Loan Plan.
The plan the commission has de-
cided to recommend for financing the
airport development by advancing the
funds from the Federal Treasury and
having the District pay it back in an
maui instruments over period OF years,
is copied from the Cramton bill for
the proposed development of the park
system. The airport commission report
is expected. to disclose the period Of
time within which the District would
have to reimburse the Treasury.
This plan of financing is far
reaching change from the proposal that
was before Congress last year. At that
time the commission recommended a
resolution under which the Federal
Government would have appropriated
$500, 900 for the purchase OF options on
airport SITES The understanding at
that time was that whatever additional
amount was required to develop and
complete the airport would be met by
the District In its annual appropriation
bills. Senator Bingham indicated yes
terday that it was felt by the commits
sion that action could not be obtained
at this time on that method of meeting
the cost.
Policy of Congress.
The present policy Of Congress in
handling the District appropriation bill
is to appropriate lump sum of So, 000,-
600 year as the Federal share in MAIN
tanning the city, the remainder of the
annual appropriation bill being met by
the District. If the lump sum remains
the same, the annual installments to-
ward the cost of the airport would
widen still further the ratio of expense
between the Federal and District Gov
ernments.
Interviews with representatives of
Washington's three leading trade bodies
yesterday revealed that while none of
the organizations is enthusiastic con-
corning the plan to place the entire cost
Of the airport on the District, only the
Chamber of Commerce expressed itself
as unwilling to bear the burden in or
der to obtain the flying field.
Lieut.. Walter Hinton, chairman Of
the Chamber of Commerce aviation
committee, pointed out that the Federal
Government would be benefited by the
airport and should pay a portion of
the cost. The amount required for the
development. Appropriated at not less
than $4,000, 900, was said by the trans
atlantic flyer to be an exorbitant price
to pay for a temporary field.
"0nIy Feasible Site"
Both the Chamber Of Commerce and
the Board Of Trade have urged that
even though a temporary airport be
developed, Gravelly Point should be
looked upon as the only feasible site for
a permanent flying field.
In a prepared statement, Lieut..
Hinton declared:
The proposal to incur a $500 900
Indebtedness to be repaid from District
funds for an airport for temporary use
only is one which will astonish every
washington business man. Every
OflAltHGA A. fAI he
problem admits that the Washington
Airport, even with the addition of
adjacent areas, cannot be adequate for
the. ultimate airport requirements of
the National Capital. To saddle all of
this huge expense upon the District
taxpayers Is not only unfair to them
because the Federal Government would
share in the beneflts-but would post
pone Indefinitely the securing of the
Gravelly Point airport, which admitted
~ Is the only final solution of Wash
1ngtons airport problem.
1T is my firm belief that no legisla-
ton to secure a temporary airport
should be introduced at this time I'M
less II includes provision for the COM
mencement at once of the necessary
work to construct the Gravelly Point
Airport. 1t is my further belief that
s2,500,000 would be an excessive in
4OA CCIHPOldAy anu
that any recommendation to this effect
should be opposed unitedly by all Dis
trtct citizens. A fairer proposal would
be TO lease for a term of years at a
reasonable rental such land as may be
required for temporary airport use and
TO save our money for the big expense
which the Gravelly Point project will
entail"
Opposition TO Be Asked.
Lieut.. Hinton said he would call for
immediate action by the chamber op-
posing the recommendation. This may
take place at a special meeting Of the
aviation committee tomorrow, or dis
cussion of the matter may be delayed
until the regular meeting Of the board
Of directors Tuesday night.
The proposed site, including the
Washington Airport, Hoover Field, a
portion of the Department of Agri-
cultures experimental farm and CO.
lumbia Island, was first advanced pub
licly by Lawrence z. Williams, chair
man of the Board of Trades aviation
committee. in the course of a radio ad.
dress about the middle of last week Al
the time he made no reference to a plar
for financing the project.
The board may be in favor of thc
plan as outlined by Senator Hiram
terday, provided the District Is to b,
given reasonable time to repay thu
Treasury loan.
The cost would be less than IS cent.
per square foot" he declared, "anC