Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-13
UNITED PLEA ASKED
FOR AIRPORT HERE
GravelIy Point Site Urged by
Representative Hall of
District Committee.

An appeal for all District civic and
business organizations to present to
Congress united plea for the estab-
liShment Of an airport for the National
Capital was made by Representative
Albert r. Hall of Indiana, member of
the House District committee. at a
luncheon meeting Of the Rotary Club
Mr.. Hall strongly supported the crea-
ton here of q model airport on the
Gravelly Point site, to be financed in
large part by the Federal Government
The field should be the best which ex-
perience and location permit he said,
declaring that neither Washington nor
the country as a whole will be satisfied
with anything less than the best.
In q way the existence here Of Boiling
Field and the smaller privately owned
nelds has been a fortunate thing for
the District of Columbia, even though
they have removed the necessity for
earlier action looking toward a govern
mental airport" Mr. Hall said.
Their existence has taken care of
the more pressing emergency needs and
has permitted the exercising of delib-
GRAFTON in the selection and develop
ment Of a field, eliminating earlier
mistakes which have been made by
other cities due to lack of experience.
The Capital benefits by the pioneering
airport work which has been done else
where"
No Room for Dispute.
There is no room for dispute over the
necessity Of an airport here, the Dis
trict committee member said. Cities
which are looking into the future, even
the smallest cities. must provide for air
transportation, he said. This need is
going to continue TO increase as time
goes on.
LAS to the question Of location" he
said, experience dictates that the field |
must be as close as possible to the bust
ness center OF the city It serves. At |
Cleveland, for example. the field, though |
one Of the largest and finest in the |
country, was located approximately IL |
miles away from the business district |
Now Cleveland is facing the necessity |
OF establishing smaller field closer in, |
with shuttle service to connect the |
two.
1.-The city which puts its airport too
lar out loses all the advantages of air
transportation through the loss of time |
In travelling between the airport and the
city.
washington is fortunate in being
able TO obtain site within five minutes
travel OF the business center. especially
travel between the field ana the city will
be possible without going through any
congested areas"
With relation to the financing of the
project. Mr.. Hall said, there are two dis
tlnct schools Of thought, one that the
District Of Columbia should pay the
cost, the other that the Federal Govern
pense.
my own personal conviction" he
said, sis that. looking at the question
from the standpoint that the field will
be used largely by the Federal Govern
ment and the airn1ail lines, large part
OF the financing should be done by the
Federal Government"
ShouId Consider Control.
On the subject of whether the field
should be operated by the District gov
eminent rs a municipal project or
whether the operating concession should
be turned over to private individuals,
under Government regulation, Mr.. Hall
said, he has reached no personal de-
cision. This subject should be most
carefully considered, he said.
have been struck by the unanimity
Of opinion on the part Of aviators and
engineers In support of the Gravelly
Point SITE" Mr.. Hall said cit seems,
from all the material gathered, that
there Is decided possibility for worth
while development there. It may take
two or three years to complete the ,
project. but the expense, extended over
q period OF time, will not be out of reach
Of our resources. The expense should
not go beyond $4,000, 600 or $4,000, 900
for an ALA airport, which is the
best type possible
An area of $50 acres may be made
available for use at Gravelly Point with
In very short time, he said, and from
800 to 1000 acres may be added later.
The Capital must look forward to estab-
1ishnent Of field of that size, he said,
in light Of the experiences of other
cities.
Development Of the Gravelly Point