Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-31
ECKENER PLEASED
WITH NEARBY SITE
FOR AIRSH|P LINE
Prospects of Capital Being
DirigibIe Terminus Believed
Helped by inspection.
PARTY SPENDS HOUR
AT HYBLA VALLEY, VA.
Richmond Visit Will Be Followed
by Return Here and Radio
Talk Wednesday.

Prospects that the National Capital
viii be selected as the American termi-
nus of the proposed transatlantic
dirigible line now being planned by Dr.
Hugo Eckener and the Goodyear Zep-
pelin Corporation appeared brighter
than ever today following an inspection
by DR.. Eckener and Goodyear officials
Of a 1,300-acre tract at Hybla Valley,
near Alexandria, Va.
DR.. Eckener apparently was greatly
pleased with the site and was heard to
remark to Comdr. Jerome Hunsaeker,
in charge of the American arrange
ments for the proposed international
line, that the field was the best for
the purpose he has seen anywhere in
America.
The inspection trip, arranged by
Lawrence j. Williams, chairman OF the
aviation committee of the Washington
Board OF Trade; Robert j. Cottrell,
secretary of the board. and Howard
Ober, vice president of Washington Air
Terminals Corporation, owner OF TIRE
site, was made by DR.. Eckener Wnne
en- route by automobile TO Richmond,
va, where he is 10 inspect other sites.
Hour Spent on Grounds.
Although his schedule called for a
stop of only a few minutes at Hy0la
Valley, DR.. Eckener insisted upon De-
ing taken over the area and spent more
than an hour there. After looking over
the field from the runway OF small
a. N
student training purposes, DR.. Eckener
asked to be driven to a hill near the
edge of the field, so that he might have
q general view of the site, which is
nearly 2 miles long and a mile wide, al
most surrounded by low hills. but nearly
as fiat as a table.
He was driven to hill on the north
Of the field, on which stands the an
Gent Huntley manor house said TO nave
been built by George Mason before the
Revolutionary War. Not content with
the view from this point, DR.. Eckener
personally led the way through
barbed-wire fence to q higher knoll
used as a COW pasture.
Here he stood for IS minutes, making
copious notes In q small pocket note
book, examining map, and talking In
German to his son, Knut Eckener. He
expressed the opinion that the hills
around the uelQ WOutQ SEINE dS q NA4tA
break, leaving calm air on the held.
Many In Party.
DR.. Eckener was accompanied by his
son, Comdr. Hunsacker, Fred NJ. Harp
ham, vice president of the Goodyear
Tire g. Rubber Co.; Comdr. John Tow
ers, acting chief of the Navy Bureau of
Aeronautics; former Senator Howard
Sutherland of West Virginia, president
of the washington Air Terminals Cor
poration; John o. Watson, director
of the corporation, and delegation of
civic and business officials Of Rich
mond.
After inspecting the field DR.. Eckener
and his party we're driven to Richmond.
They will return to the National Capt.
tai probably Wednesday afternoon.
Wednesday evening from 7:45 to 8
O'Clock DR.. Eckener is TO be heard over
the National BroadcaSting Co. network
from Station WRC. His address is to
take the form of radio interview.
DR.. Eckener will be honored at testi-
monial luncheon by the Aero Club of
Washington Chapter of the National
Aeronautic Association at 1890 pm.
Thursday In the New Willard Hotel.
He will be presented an honorary life
membership in the National Aeronautic
Association by Senator Hiram Bingham
of Connecticut, president.