Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-15
AIRPORT PROJECT
HELD EXPED|ENT
Merchants IndorSe Proposal,
Provided Government Pays
Equitable" Share.

Early development Of an airport for
the National Capital by combination OF
Hoover Field, the Washington Airport
and portions Of the Department of
Agriculture experimental farm and Co
lumbia Island, on the Virginia side Of
the Potomac River near the end of
Highway Bridge, Is Endorsed as an ex-
pedient project by the board of govern
ors of the Merchants and Manufac-
turers' Association, provided the Federal
Government bears its equitable" share
of the cost.
This action was taken by the aSso-
citation yesterday afternoon after lengthy
consideration of the matter and the
plan outlined recently by the Congress
sional Joint Airport Commission, of
which Senator Bingham Of Connecticut
is chairman.
The board appended to this indorse-
ment its reiterated recommendation for
the preparation Of the Gravelly Point
site, on the Potomac River below High
way Bridge, as the site OF the perma-
nent and major airport development for
Washington.
Regarded as Temporary Now.
The consensus was that the combina-
ton of the areas as proposed by the
congressional commission would provide
an airport of sufficient size to care for
immediate needs, but that this should
be regarded as but a step to eventual
development of the larger area at
Gravelly Point.
The Federal Government, since it will
reap largely of the benefits from the
Capitals airport, through use made OF
1t by the many large Federal agencies
here, should bear fair part Of the
cost. Since the cost Of the develop
ment of the combined site proposed by
the commission has been but roughly
estimated, the burden placed on loca
| taxpayers may be considerably more
than the $4,000, 900 estimated, members
of the board declared.
It was brought out that no exact
studies had been made. so far as known
showing just what the cost would be Of
| filling and developing the considerable
swamp areas and water-covered por-
lions Of the proposed site, adjoining
Hoover Field and Washington Airport.
One objection voiced against this
combined site was that Highway Bridge
and the Lincoln Memorial Bridge, neal
opposite ends Of the field, would limit
and make dangerous the landing of sea-
planes at this field, which otherwise
was limited in area.
Donations of portions OF the site
owned Dy the r6uetdl GONSTIuIeIIL dIlC
the tender of a loan Of $2,500,000 from
the United States Treasury without in
| terest, it was declared, was not an en-.
tirely equitable contribution from the
National Government, because OF the
uncertainty as to how much actual de-
velopment Of the area would cost loca
taxpayers.
June 1923 Set for Outing.
The board of governors also decided
| that the association would hold its an
rual boosters outing June 1928 this
wear. James E. Colliflower was named
chairman of a committee to map out q
program for the event and to select the
place of the outing.
A trip to Cascade, Md, the location
| of the Summer camp of the local Ma
tional Guard. was proposed by Maj
Gen. Anton Stephan. head Of the mill
tia and past president of the assoc1a-
| ton. A three-day cruise on the Poto-
mac and Chesapeake Bay also was sug'
gested.
A resolution voicing sorrow over this
recent death of Sigmund Kann, heac
| of the department store firm OF S. Kanr
Sons Co., was adopted.
| Action on the proposed new smoke
| nuisance law and the three proposed
| laws regulating real estate business
here was postponed. Mark Lansburgh
president, presided.