Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-23

Col. Charles A. Lindbergh de-
clared that $40 acres should be
the minimum for the National
Capital airport site; that the field
should be at least a mile square.
Porter F. Adams, governor at
large of the National Aeronautic
Association, of which Senator
Bingham is president, and chair
man of the Municipal Airport
Board of Boston, declared that it
would be a foolish waste of
money" to build an airport here
with runways less than 5000 feet
in all directions, with an oppor-
tunity to extend them to at least
5000 feet, probably in the next
five years" Others who should
know have testified to the same
effect.
If the National Capital is to
keep pace with other American
cities, even today, it must have
an airport considerably more than
500 acres in size. Cleveland has
more than 1000 acres of airport
space. Oakland, Calf, with 825
acres, is finding the area none too
large. Pittsburgh, at the expense
of a great deal of grading in the
mountainous country there, made
available 600 acres. San Antonio,
Tex, turned over a tract of 5000
acres to the Army Air Corps for
Randolph Field. Buffalo, N. Y,
has an airport of SIS acres. There
are a number of other cities with
airports in excess of 500 acres in
size.
No better plea for worthy treat
ment of the aeronautical needs of
the National Capital ever has
been made than that of Mr.. Mac
Cracker to the congressional
commission during its hearings.
IF Washington is to have
place in the far-flung network of
air lines that is rapidly spreading
out to encompass the four corners
of the globe" said Mr.. Mac
Cracker, cit must be provided
with adequate airport facilities.
These facilities should be such as
to be worthy of the National Cap
ital. They should be the best in
the United States and should
serve as an example and inSpira-
ton to the cities of the world.
Position Is Strategic.
Washington is located in a
strategic position to take full adj
vantage of all classes of air trans
port operations by providing suit
able terminal facilities for the
aircraft that will fly the great
national and international air
routes. To this end provision
should be made for the develop
ment of adequate accommoda-
tions for landplanes, Seaplanes
and airships. At present, how
ever, Washington has practically
nothing in the way of airport ia
cilities."
What is the solution? Where
can a site be found which will
meet the requirements? It must
be close to the heart of the city,
yet must not be in built-up sec
ton. It must combine landplane
and Seaplane facilities. It must
be accessible. It must be capable
Of expansion. The approaches
must be good and it should be
easy for the pilot to find by day
or night.
There is a site which meets all
these requirements. 1t has been
Endorsed by officials of the Army,
Navy and Department of Com
merce. It has been studied and
praised by pilots. It has been ap-
proved by the Washington Cham
Der of Commerce, the Washington
Board of Trade, the National
Aeronautic Association and many
other civic and aeronautic or
CARNATIONS. It is owned by the
Government today. It is the
Gravelly Point site.
I'm connection with the extern
Sive studies that have been made
of available SITES" Mr.. Mac
Cracker told members of Senator
Bingham'S commission, many
flights have been made over the
country surrounding Washington
in order that no site be missed,
and those sites offering promise
have received careful study, both
on the ground and in the air. AS
result of these studies, we feel
that Gravelly Point is the NbeSt
site for the Washington airport"
Land Must Be Reclaimed.
Gravelly Point must be re-
claimed by filling in of the fats
of the Potomac River from GRAY
ely Point, just south of the Rail-
road Bridge, to Hunters Point,
nearly two miles downstream, and
from the river channel to the
Virginia shore. The area must
be filled in eventually. These
noiSome, weedgrown moraSses
border the Mount Vernon Boule-
ward and the proposed Potomac
River parkway; their reclamation
by filling is part Of the engi-
neering plan of the district en-
gineer's Office. This must be done
Since it must be filled, why not
fill it for airport purposes?
The Gravelly Point site is with
in three miles Of the business cen
ter of the city and may be reached
within 10 to IL minutes through
series of park districts where
there is comparatively little cross
traffic.
ut Offers" said Mr.. Mac
Cracker, opportunity for the
development of an airport with
facilities for the operation OF
landplaneS, seaplanes and air
ships, and with a fiat, level, ef-
fective landing area 5000 feet in
width by 5000 feet or more ir
length in the direction of the pre-
vailing wind, and with excellent
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