Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-19
AMELIA EARHART
ASKS A|RPORTS AS
AID TO NAVIGATION
Noted Woman Flyer Tells of
Conditions Met in Cross
ing Continent.
PLAN ADVANCED TO
LINK LOCAL FIELDS
Washington Chamber of Commerce
Studies ACCESSIBILITY Of Further
Central Market Razing Delay.

Miss Amelia Earhart, the first woman
to fly across the Atlantic, came 10
washington last night to make public
plea for the development OF more ana
better airports as an aid to air trans
portation in this country. She declared
this need was clearly shown IN the
Women's Transcontinental Air Derby
this year.
Miss Earhart and other prominent
figures in aviation spoke at the Novem-
Der meeting of the washington Cham
Der of Commerce at the Mayfiower Ho-
tel Miss Earhart, who is an official OF
the Ludington Lines, operating between
washington and New York, Is therefore
concerned with development of proper
airport facilities here, for which the
chamber and other organizations have
campaigned.
Would Link Fields.
Senator Bingham Of Connecticut,
Chairman of the Congressional Joint
Committee on AirportS for Washington,
Endorsed a suggestion made at the meet
ing by G. Townsend Ludington, presi-
dent of the air line, that Military road,
where it divides Hoover Field and the
washington Airport, be closed and con-
verted into link between the two land
ing fields.
During a business session Of the
meeting members of the chamber en-
gagged in a spirited debate over the
closing of the ole. Center Market, sched-
uled to begin January l, the body finally
directing its executive committee to
study the advisability of seeking fur
ther delay in the razing Of the market.
Safety in flying" Miss Earhart said,
'is naturally an outstanding factor In
the destiny of commercial aviation. Air
hazards must be admitted, just as there
is an added hazard in riding in an
automobile as compared with an OK
cart But preSent-day operators OF air
lines have taken all these hazards into
consideration and everything possible
is done to make flying safe.
Flyers Use Trains.
Gas an evidence of this, came to
washington by train because inclement
weather conditions during the past few
days In the East have made flying Diff
cult and unsafe"
The aviatrix declared that upon the
airmindedness Of this country depends
the success of commercial aviation.
"This country Is provided with more
air rights of way than any other coun-
try in the world" Miss Earhart said
THE people must wake up to the
realization that they are here for their
USE Aviation in this country Is at
favorable stage, as indicated by the fact
that more than 100000 miles of un-
scheduled flying is done in the United
States every "a hours. But 1t is destined
to reach much greater heights Of popu-
larity."
Wants Field Expansion.
Mr. Ludington. described the opera
ton of the New York Washington line,
and declared that without the CO.
operation Of the Post ONCE Department
in the award of mail contracts such
operation would be impracticable. In
discussing the local airport on the south
side of the Potomac River, Mr.. Luding-
ton said IL could be materially improved
by the elimination of Military road He
also urged that telegraph and telephone
wires in the vicinity of the field be re-
moved. The conversion of part of the
agricultural farms into airplane landing
space would also be an asset, he de-
clared.
w. Irving Glover, Second Assistant
Postmaster General in Charge of Air
mails, declared that although the Post
Once utilities air transportation as
much as permissible, the department
could do more for commercial aviation
He declared that the, fact that more
than 206 900 people had travelled by air.
plane during the first six months of
1880 clearly indicated that advance
ment in aviation had been established
Chamber Backs Plans.
A report of Lieut. Walter Hinton,
chairman Of the Aviation Committee of
the chamber, was adopted by the men,
bership. The committee recommended
that the War Department be requested
to close Military road and permit its
dwelling of, so that continuous rum
ways might be provided through both
fields.
The Center Market question was
brought before the chamber by Charles
w Darr, former president of the organ
iZation, in a resolution recommending
that the razing of the market center
be delayed until January, 1892 The
Governments building program calls
for starting demolition Of the market
January / next, and bids for this work
have been opened.
Market Study Asked.
Harry King, first vice president of
the chamber, urged the adviSability of
careful consideration Of the question
prior to nasty action. Inc Darr
motion lost by the close vote of Sc to
SIS. The chamber then adopted a mo-
ton by Mr.. King directing the Execu-
tive Committee to study the matter and
to report to the board of directors
within two weeks.
Rudolph Jose, president Of the cham
Der, who presided over the meeting, read
q report of the Five-Year Expansion
Program Committee of the organization
Dorsey w. Hyde, jr., secretary of the
chamber, read a report of the Buy-Now-
for Better Business Committee, of which
George A. @. Wood is chairman, dis
closing the activity Of this group to
stimulate business conditions.
Alfred L. Stern, managing director
of the Industrial Exposition recently
conducted by the chamber, submitted a
report on that function. He said more
than $4,000 persons visited the EXPOSE
ton.
other guests at the meeting included
Comdr. p. e. d. Maggie of the PAN
American Always, Gene Vidal and Paul
". Collins of the Ludington Lines, AL
bert @. Ober, jr., vice president in charge
of the Washington Airport, and James
l.. Fieser Of the American Red Cross.