Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-26
Definite Action Looms as
Possibility at Session of
Commission.
TRADE BOARD OFFERS
COMPROMISE ON SITE
Acquisition of Temporary Facilities
Is Approved by Aviation Com
mittee Head in Address.

Definite action toward providing for
the airport needs of the District before
the end of the week doomed as a pos
sibility today when Senator Bingham
of Connecticut, chairman of the Joint
Congressional Airport Commission, an
nounced he had called a meeting for
Friday morning.
Commenting on the statement of
Lawrence E. Williams, chairman Of the
aviation committee of the Board of
Trade, that the board does not object
to temporary airport facilities near the
center of the city. keeping Gravelly
Point in mind for future development,
Senator Bingham said:
II am glad to see that, and have
just called a meeting of the commits
sion for Friday"
Hopes for Definite Steps.
Senator Bingham indicated he was
hopeful that some definite steps may
be taken at this meeting, although he
did not undertake to forecast what the
commission would do.
The last time the commission met,
several weeks ago, it considered as one
possibility taking over the two existing
flying fields near the south end of
Highway Bridge-I5oover Field and
Washington Airport-as an airport site
that could be developed quickly. The
commission took no action at that time,
however.
The Board Of Trade steadfastly had
refused to consider any site other than
Gravelly Point, until it's public offer
tn compromise with the Joint congress
sional airport commission, was made
hEf.
Station WMAL.
Opinion Is Unchanged.
For three years the Board of Trade
has worked for the establishment of an
airport at Gravelly Point Mr.. Williams
asserted, and it has not changed its
opinion that Gravelly Point should be
the final site for a permanent field
However" he continued 'it does
not stand in the way of the development
of temporary facilities if the location
be close to the business center. On the
contrary the board will support any
measure that will provide airport facil-
tiles close to the business center, keep
! ing always in mind that Gravelly Point
should be the ultimate goal 1t is our
contention that any expenditure at a
| considerable distance Is unjustified and
would be a poor investment, to say
nothing Of being waste of public
| funds
ut has been suggested that the two
| commercial fields just across the High
way Bridge be acquired, the military
road moved and this land be combined
with that part of the Agricultural De-
partment farm lying between the rail-
road tracks and Hoover Field.
Such a combination would be good
one. It would offer excellent facilities
for handling air traffic. Passengers
could be landed within few minutes
of the business center. The Board of
Trade would favor such a development.
Meantime, Gravelly Point should be
filled and gradually developed into a
model airport.
Sees Growth of Air Traffic.
"By that time traffic will have out
grown the 200 acres made possible by
the Hoover Field, Washington Air Ter
minal and agricultural farm combina-
ton. This land then could be used
either as park or sold to the Govern
ment. The very fact that it lies ada
cent to the Mount Vernon Boulevard
and at the end of both the Highway
and Arlington Memorial Bridges will
guarantee its acquisition being q good
investment"
In response to Senator Bingham's
charges that the Board of Trade is
blocking constructive airport legislation,
i Mr.. Williams explained that the Sen
ator'S remarks were the outcome of a
letter the board sent to each member
of the Airport Commission two weeks
ago. This letter strongly urges an
airport at Gravelly Point and purports
to answer objections to that site. 1t
further demands immediate action.