Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-01
HybIa Valley and Richmond
Sites Only Ones Now
Studied.
AREA NEAR WASHINGTON
BELIEVED PREFERRED
Work to Be Started on Great Mod
ern Dirigible Terminal Within
Next Twelve Months.

The search Of DR.. Hugo Eckener and
the international Zeppelin Transport
Corporation for an American terminal
for international dirigible service, TO
be fnaugIrated in 1893. has been mar
rowed down to two sites, one at Hybla
Valley, near Alexandria, Va. and the
other between Richmond and Peters
burg, Va, it was learned today.
Though no formal announcement has
been made, it was learned that the
taking of daily weather observations
to determine the best location for the
terminal from a meteorological stand
point has been stopped at all but these
two points.
Bay Region Favored.
Previously the selection had been
narrowed down to four sites, the other
two being at Baltimore and Philadel-
phia. Weather readings at both these
points have been ordered discontinued
by the Zeppelin officials. indicating
that they have been eliminated from
further consideration. Philadelphia
was believed to have been eliminated
several days ago when DIR. Eckener, In
an announcement made in New York,
indicated that the terminal would be
lin the Chesapeake Bay region"
weather observations were ordered to
be taken daily for a period of eight
months at the four sites then under
consideration. These observations, 1t
Is said, revealed beyond any question
superiority of weather conditions for
airship operation at the Hybla Valley
and Richmond sites over the other two
locations.
Capital Chances Better.
With Baltimore and Philadelphia
| eliminated from consideration, the
chances of the Capital for obtaining the
dlrlgiole terminal are tremendously inn
proved, In the opinion of local aviation
authorities DR.. Eckener and other
zeppelin officials have indicated that,
With all other conditions being equal.
they would much prefer to locate In the
vicinity Of Washington.
During his visit to the Capital last
month DR.. Eckener, it is understood.
made secret trip to Hybla Valley alone
TO look over the site 1t was his second
visit to the field, which, he has said. is
one of the finest natural areas for an
airship terminal he has seen in the
United States.
Should the Hybla Valley site be
| selected it will be developed as one of
! the finest airship bases in the world,
with complete facilities for storing,
| servicing, repairing and overhaultng
SACoS OF the LyOS
proposed for service on the Atlantic line,
Ship Under Construction.
In an announcement from New York,
DR.. Eckener said that the first airship
Tor this service now Is under construc-
ton in Germany and that others will
follow at the plant of the Goodyear
Zeppelin Corporation, in Akron, Ohio,
where twin dirigibleS now are being
constructed for the United States Navy,
Construction of the American termis
nal probably will be started within the
next IL months, 1t has been indicated.
The construction work now planned In
cludes an immense airship dock, or
hangar; helium storage and publication
plant, servicing and repair plants,
power and lighting equipment, pasSen-
ger accommodations and customs Office,
railroad siding, high and low mooring
masts and other necessary equipment
complete weather record is being
made at Hybia Valley, automatic record
ing apparatus having been installed on
a 50-foot steel tower in the center of the
tract. Daily readings of the instru-
mentS are taken by Don Hollenga, busi-
ness manager of the Alexandria Cham
Der OF Commerce, and sent to the
Zeppelin Transport Offices in New York.
Daily reports for the Richmond area
are made by the United States Weather
Bureau Office there.