Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-02
HIGHWAY BRIDGE
AIRPORT OPPOSED
DYD|STR|CT c. OF C.
Strong Report Of Lieut..
Hinton Against Proposed
Site Is Adopted.
GRAVELLY POINT HELD
ONLY WORTHY LOCATION
Warning Is Sounded That Delay
Will Hurt Future of
Aviation Here.


tomorrow, a warning that the plan of
the Congressional Joint Airport Com
mission to delay the Gravelly Point air
port development in favor Of establish
ment of an airport at the South end OF
Highway Bridge would do great harm
to the aviation future of the National
Capital was voiced by the board of
directors of the Washington Chamber
OF Commerce at meeting last night.
The committee approved the bill as
soon as 1t received the recommendation
OF the subcommittee headed by Senator
Vandenberg. Republican of Michigan,
which held hearings on the question last
week. AS reported, the bill includes the
amendment suggested by Lieut.. Col. U.
S. Grant, Sd, giving the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission more
leeway in carrying on negotiations for
the private lands needed.
The Chamber of Commerce directors
voted unanimously to adopt a strong
report presented by Lieut.. Walter Hin
ton, chairman of the aviation commit
tee, in which the Joint Congressional
airports commission was criticized for
shelving, for the time being at least,
the proposed development of Gravelly
Point long ehampioned by the chamber
as the ideal location for a model air
port.
Might Defeat Gravelly Point.
Lieut.. Hinton reported the commits
sion's plan would, if carried out, delay,
If not defeat" the establishment of an
airport at Gravelly Point. He added
that Gravelly Point offers the only
opportunity for a model airport worthy
Of the National Capital"
The committee report, in part, fol-
lows:
1.-THE proposal, when first advanced
by the commission, came as a shock to
District citizens because it was in direct
conflict with the testimony already pre-
scented by aviation experts, Federal ofd-
Gals concerned with aviation, and in
the united recommendations of Wash
ington's leading civic and trade bodies.
s11oweNef, sin its earnest desire to do
nothing thai might tend to retard local
rport prog .ess, your committee did not
entirely repudiate the new proposal, but
insisted that its adoption should in no
way postpone the Gravelly Point de-
velopment, and strongly opposed the
proposed total cost of such consolidated
airport, as well as the proposed method
Of dividing such cost between the Fed
ersl and District Governments.
Your committee now is forced to the
conclusion that the enactment of the
proposed legislation will do great harm
to the aviation future of the National
Capital, for the following reasons:
Ultimate Size Restricted.
''The ultimate size OF the proposed
consolidated airport is rigidly restricted
by typographical barrier and by high
way ana bridge requirements Its recla-
nation for temporary airport use could
be justified only If secured at reasonable
cost from its actual owners. The pres
ent owners have not been able to estab-
lish their title in such fashion as to pre-
clude governmental interference with
their use Of the property and conSid-
cradle acreage is claimed by the Fed
eral Government If this calm is up
held by the courts the Government
would secure considerable part of the
land In question at little or no cost.
THE actual cost Of the proposed con-
golidated airport, with improvements, is
estimated at So, 500 900, or an average
cost Of about $1,000 per acre, as COM
pared with q maximum per acre cost Of
$4,000, unimproved, for Gravelly Point.
Even If the improvements to Graveliy
Point, hangers, ETC., should cost as high
as half a million dollars, the total sum
involved would be less than the cost Of
the proposed consolidated airport.
Furthermore, the Federal Government
is already spending money at the rate
Of $40 900 year for the reclamation Of
Gravelly Point and 1t is probable that
million and a half dollars will be spent
in this way without any District con-
tribution.
Erroneous information has been cir
culated regarding the time and cost of
retaining Grayefly Point. 1t Is au-
thoritatively stated that The cost of
making land at Gravelly Point airport
site will be from $1,000 to $500 per
acre. Grading, turfing. draining. fenc-
ing, etc. this land will run approx
mately $500 per acre in addition. The
cost is based on producing the land in
two years. 1t can be made in enc rear,
but at some additional cost per acre.
Hangers and other buildings can be
erected on the edge of the proposed
airport almost Immediately"
The proposed consolidated airport
would involve a large amount of river
fill, Just as is necessary for Gravelly
Point. The only immediate advantage
would be the throwing together of the
two present existing private fields. This
advantage could be secured by the leas-
ing Of the fields or by removing the
present bisecting road.
New Theory Not Warranted Here.
eff we examine carefully the report
of the Joint Congressional Airports
Commission 1t is apparent that its find
lI1RS are DdSeQ upon new I1leOEy u
community airport development which
has not been generally accepted by
other American cities. This theory, IN
brief, provides for a series rather than
for a central or union municipal airport
your committee does not feel that
this new theory .lus as yet received SUI
flciently wide acceptance to warrant its
adoption here, more particularly in view
of the immense burden which 1t would
impose upon the taxpayers Of the Dis
trict.
"It is apparent from current news
paper comment that the details of the
consolidated airport proposal, as par
TALLY set forth herewith, have not been
made completely clear to District citi-
zens and that erroneous impressions
have been received as to the position OF
the aviation committee. In order to
clear up any uncertainty on this head
the following statement is offered for
your approval or disapproval:
"l. That the washington Chamber o1
Commerce is unalterably opposed to the
proposal to establish a temporary OF
compromise airport on Virginia territory
at the south end of the Highway Bridge
on the ground that 1t will delay. II not
defeat, the securing Of Gravelly Point
Airport, and that 1t respectfully urges
that the Congress withhold its approval
of Senate bill 1901 as recommended by
the Joint Congressional Airports Com.
mission.
a. That the washington Chamber
Of Commerce strongly advocates thai