Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-04
PLAN FOR AIRPORT
IS GIVEN APPROVAL
BY BOARD OF TRADE
Federal Government to Give
Half of Land for
Project.
TREASURY WOULD MAKE
LOAN TO MEET EXPENSE
Site Considered for Development
Consists of Approximately
$50 Acres of Land.

Development of a municipal airport
for Washington near the Virginia end
of the Highway Bridge under the plans
decided on by the congressional joint
commission. by which it is proposed
that the Federal Government contrib
ute about one-half of the acreage, was
formally Endorsed yesterday by the d.
rectors of the Board of Trade.
The plans as announced by Senator
Bingham of Connecticut, chairman OF
the congressional commission, is an eX-
peditious and fair solution of the prob
lem, from the points of view of time,
provision for future expansion of air
travel and commerce here, and the
financing of the project. Lawrence E.
Williams, chairman of the Board OF
Trade aviation committee, declared to-
day in commenting on the action Of
the trade body.
The site to be developed under the
decision of the congressional commits
sion consists of a combination of the
property of the Washington Airport,
Hoover Field, q portion of Columbia
Island in the Potomac; part OF the
Department of Agriculture Experimental
Farm and stretch of Military road.
Approves Financing.
This plan, Mr.. Williams explained,
will provide an airport here where inn
mediate airport needs could be pro-
yided for, contains provision for the
gradual development of the Gravelly
Point area, on the Potomac below High
way Bridge, which is covered with a
shallow depth of water, and also for
the acquisition, when needed, OF an
auxiliary landing field on an area of
higher elevation where fog would not
be likely.
The financing of the airport, under
the commissions arrangements, Mr..
williams pointed out, should silence
fears that the Federal Government
would not share in the cost of the de-
velopment, which would be used by both
Federal and local interests.
He pointed out that the long-term
financing, through a loan from the Fed
eral Treasury, without interest, over a
period of 10 years, would enable early
provision, OF the airport without sad
ding on local taxpayers heavy burden,
as would be the case should the whole
amount be appropriated out II local
revenues.
That the Federal Government, under
the commissions plan, would be max
ing an equitable contribution to the
Capitals airport, Mr.. Williams ex-
planned, Is to be seen in the fact that
approximately half of the area in the
would be donated by the National Gov
eminent.
Some Now in Use.
The site of the combined field con-
SistS of about $50 acres, a portion of
which already Is in use as an airport
by the Washington Airport and Hoover
Field concerns. About lao acres OF this
tract, 1t Is revealed, would be donated
by the Federal Government with the
transformation of a part of the Agri-
cultural Experimental Farm, Military
road and Columbia Island into the air.
port use.
Thus the loan Of $500, 900 to be
made to the District without interest
from the Federal Treasury, Mr.. Will
lians points out, could be used both
for the acquisition of the remaining
portions of the tract, now known as
Washington Airport and Hoover Field,
and for the development of the entire
area for its destined airport purposes.
These considerations, MIR. Williams
added, convinced the directors of the
Board of Trade that the most expedi-
tious solution Of the problem had been
found and that the financing OF the
project had been predicated on basis
fair and equitable to local taxpayers,
who would share use and beneht OF the
port with the agencies OF the Federal
Government.
The insertion of an appropriation out
Of District funds of $250,000 annually
over the period of years to amortize the
loan of $2,500,000, he said, should not
create a serious change in the local
budget and tax situation.
CONGRESS TO GET PLAN SOON.