Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-23
AVIATION
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.


4 = to remain nothing more
than dreams? If the plans of the
joint congressional airport com
mission, as outlined by its chair
man, Senator Hiram Bingham Of
Connecticut, are realized, this city
may find itself spending money
for the development of an airport
which, because of the limitations
of size, never can be anything bet
ter than second rate.
Size being one of the prime con-
siderationS in airport rating, such
a field never could be a model, no
matter how much equipment was
provided or how deliberately it was
finished.
The plan Senator Bingham has
In mind, it has been indicated this
week, is to combine Washington
Airport and Hoover Field, together
with the portion of the Arlington
Experimental Farms lying be-
tween the railroad embankment
and the Potomac River. This pro-
posal was brought forward by
Senator Bingham last year.
AS a temporary expedient the
Bingham airport plan would be
satisfactory, pending the con-
struction of real airport. AS a
permanent project it would be
fatal to the Districts hopes for
anything better than mediocrity
Ignores Use of SeapIanes.
In outlining this plan, the COM
mission ignores entirely the grow
ing use of SeaplaneS and flying
boats. The Washington Airport
Hoover Field site is cut off from
the river by Columbia Island and
by the I'LL now being made for the
Mount Vernon Memorial Boule-
ward. If this location is deter
mined upon and seaplane facili-
ties are provided in the future 1t
will mean that the District must
have two. separate airport estab-
lishmentS, with waSteful and un-
necessary duplication Of many OF
the items of equipment.
To close the District to COM
mercial seaplane development
would be as great piece of folly
in the light of modern aviation
trends, as to close highways tt
trucks or railway terminals tt
re;ght trains.
From the standpoint of acces-
Sibility the proposed Bingham air.
port site is as near the ideal a.
can be found. There is no avail
able site closer to the bushes;
heart of the city, and it has direct
communication by road and rail
through park areas, with the
downtown section. This one great
advantage, however, is overShad-
owed by the natural drawbacks OF
the site.
From virtually every viewpoint
except its proximity to the city
and the transportation facilities
which already exist, the Bingham
site is unworthy Of permanent
development as the official airport
for the National Capital. 1t il
small, in the light of modern ex.
perience. It is irregular in shape
and cannot be utilized as EN-.
GENTLY as should the model air.
port for which this city hac
hoped. It has distractions to the
west and south which present ar
element of hazard If heavily
loaded multi-motored transport
planes are to be operated. It il
adjacent to Arlington Nationa
Cemetery and would bring the
noise and confusion of airport
activities to that sacred area.
Thu rOyqa 6iRNnd rifoc aonnr1ivae
to Senator Bingham's estimate
would make available tract Of
$50 acres. This undoubtedly i.
generous. The officials of Wash.
ington Airport say that after al
filling of the marsh ADJOINING
their field is completed they viii
have a trif1e less than 100 acres
Hoover Field covers 81 acres. DR.
w. A. Taylor, chief of the Bureau
of Plant Industry of the Depart
ment of Agriculture. told tn,
commission last year that only 81
acres of the experimental fam
land is contained in the uSabl,
parcel. This tract is east of tn,
Rosslyn branch of the Pennsyl
vania Railroad, back of Columbi;
Island.
Testifies Field Is Dangerous.
Even if we assume $50 acres II
be available for airport develop
ment, the situation is not i'm
proved materially. In teStifyini
before the commission last Spring
Henry J. Berliner, former operate
of Hoover Field, declared that tn
obstacles surrounding the sit
"are pretty difficult, and it make
the field dangerous to get int
and out Of" Consolidation of tn
two fields, he said, would not Civ
enough land for the safe opera
ton Of larger planes.
Moreover, Senator Bingham
himself realizes the inadequac
of the site-or did last year wheI
his committee held it's hearing.
He showed this when, followin
the statement of Mr.. Berliner, h
said:
"As I understand it, the Ma
tional Capital Park and Plannin
Commission shows that if 20
take out the road leading t
Arlington and make it go aroun
the field instead of right acros
the middle area, that field, to
gether with the land belonging
the Department of Agricultur
would give you about 100 acre
The runways in the enlarged are
would be about 1900 to 1920 fee
in the direction of the prevailin
winds. But it lies close to tn
railroad and there isn't ROOF
enough for a runway which coul
receive a rating from the Depart