Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-05
Plans for the Airport.

AS proposed by the Congressional
Joint Commission on Airports and am
plified in private conversation by its
chairman, Senator Bingham, the plan
for financing acquisition and develop
ment of WaShington's much-needed
and long-sought municipal airport seems
both practical and equitable from the
viewpoints of the Federal Government
and its ward, the District of Columbia.
1t is to be hoped that this sensible COM
promise between what threatened to
be the irreconcilable views of enthusi-
astic airport proponents-united from
the first on principle but divided as to
detail-will be crowned with the sue
cess it deserves and the solution of a
difficult problem will be followed by
the legislation necessary to make it
effective.
An unfortunate misunderstanding as
to the nature of the airport plan and
the arrangement for dividing the cost
between the Federal Government and
the District of Columbia has been clari-
fed by the printed report of the joint
commission, appearing in full else
where in todays Star, and by valuable
elucidation offered by Senator Bing-
ham.
These make it plain, in the first
place, that the municipal airport plan
ned for development on the sites of
the present Washington Airport, Hoover
Field, Arlington Experimental Farm
and parts of the reclaimed Columbia
Island is not to be construed in any
sense as temporary" field. This
land, on the other hand, is to be the
nucleus of a great future aeronautic de-
velopment on the other side of the
river, to which the projected Gravelly
Point area will in time be added as
the necessarily tedious work Of recla-
nation proceeds and as the growth Of
commercial air transportation demands
larger terminal facilities. AS the joint
commissions report points out, the nor
NAL rate of filling in this underwater
area would consume some forty years.
Even il the work were fastened and
Gravelly Point were made dry land
tomorrow, there would have to be a
delay of five years until "the fill would
settle sufficiently to warrant the con-
struction of concrete runways or war
rant a proper development Of grass"
If. however, the areas under discus
sion are acquired and developed in the
immediate future, the National Cap
ital's municipal airport should be ready
by 1882, when arrangements doubtless
could be made to signalize its dedica-
ton by some national air meet as one
of the major features of the great pro-
gram for the bicentennial year.
Objections to the plan of financing
the airport may have been registered
under a misconception of the details.
The Cramton Park bills Treasury
advance plan applied to purchase OF the
airport land, with the Federal Govern
ment's share represented merely by the
interest-free loan, plus the fraction OF
the lump sum contributions that would
go toward its amortization, would OF
course place an unwarranted burden
upon the District and would be obvi-
ously unfair. But, under the joint COM
missions scheme, features of govern
mental cost-sharing participation as in
cluded in the "Cramton plan" woulc
be augmented by "the passage Of legis-
lation permitting the Government Of
the District of Columbia to use such
portion of the so-called Arlington Ex-
perimental Farm lands lying east of the
railroad tracks and adjacent to Hoover
Field as may be required for municipal
airport purposes" In addition, Senator
Bingham's plan is further to include
as part of the airport, a large portion
of Columbia Island now being filled In
and to change the location of the Mill
tary road at present separating Hoover
Field from Washington Airport. After
contributing its share in land, the joint
commission would have the Federal
Government agree that the full con-
troll and management of the airport
proposed to be thus established be vested
in the government of the District Of
Columbia" This would assure to the
District, which is to become the CHIEF
investor, revenue to be received through
operation of the commercial features OF
the airport. At the same time the Fed
eral Government would receive its re.
turn through use of the airport by those
agencies catering exclusively to the Fed
eral establishment.
In line with the proper conception Of
all major undertakings assumed in be.
half of the Federal City, the United
States Government and the taxed, but
unrepresented, members of the Capita
community will (as they should, ir
building the airport, equitably share the
burden of expense and together reap the
rewards.
The work accomplished under Difficult
ties by the Congressional Joint Commits.
sion is to be commended and its fail
and just suggestions as outlined in tn,
report and explained by its member.
are to be praised.
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Annuity Amendment Assured.
Passage by the House yesterday o.
the modified Lehlbach retirement an.
unity bill In the form of an amend,