Evening star., 1932-10-09

Though the field. as is the case with
the present Boiling Field. will be rel
atiYely narrow with relation to its
greatest length. it will possess a maxi
mum width of $500 feet. What is
more to the point. the full $500 fest
will be available for landings and take
offs, since the approaches from the
west are over the river and from the
east down the slopes Of the hills at al
most normal gliding angle. This VII
provide ample room for all but the most
unusual flights even in the shortest di-
rection of the field.
Though the field area was fairly level
to start with. the grading. because OF
the size. rccessitates the moving Of a
great amount of earth. Much Of the
leveling hes been completed. 1t will be
at least a year. however, before this
phase Of the construction can be COM
p!eted
The building area. on the slopes Of
the hills rising to the east of the field.
is beginning to take shape. with "a
buildings now under construction. The
first structure, beautiful block-long
barracks building in the Colonial style,
probably will be occupied early in Janu-
airy, much to the satisfaction of the
enlisted men who now are housed in
wartime wooden Shacks at the old field.
The new site. both in the building and
field areas, has the great advantage OF
almost perfect natural drainage-a
blessed boon to all those who have had
to put up with the difficulties and dan
gers of the present field in wet weather
The average height of the new landing
field above the level OF the river is ap-
proximately 25 feet The building area
rises above the 40-foot contour line. The
present field, landing area and building
section alike, IS so low that water stands
in the drains few inches below the
surface Of the ground at all times.
In wet weather the old field cannot
be kept dry Airplanes and personnel
wallow in the ooze and pilots who do
not land true and use most judiciouS
foot on the brakes and nice touch on
throttle and stick are apt to stand an
airplane on its nose. In the Winter
ducks frequently have settled down in
high contentment in the ponds which
cot the landing area. Boots and sea-
going temperaments are desirable equip
ment for personnel. Boiling Field. in
short has acquired national reputa-
ton in Army circles as the worst Army
flying field in the United States. That
the new field not only will remedy this
condition. but will go to the other ex-
treme and give the Capital military
asset of which it can be proud should
be source of satisfaction to all VINO
watch the progress of construction at
the foot of the Anacostia hills.
Passenger Traffic Increase.
The growth of air passenger traffic,
made the more noticeable by contrast
with passenger losses suffered by all
other forms of transportation, con-
tinued during August when new
monthly record was achieved for the
fourth consecutive month by the Ma
tion's scheduled air transport lines, ac-
cording to reports submitted to the
Aeronautics Branch of the Department
of Commerce during the past week.
The scheduled lines in the United
States carried 57,995 passengers in Au-
gust. The previous record for month
was made in July, when SO, ,759 passen-
gers travelled the air lines.
Even more remarkable than the pas
senger growth was the increase in air
express business This was due largely
to the inter-airline express convention
which went into effect on August 8, re-
sulting in the application of railroad
express methods to the handling Of air
shipments. The express flown on the
domestic airlineS in August totaled ILL.,
279 pounds, as compared with the July
total of 1881 pounds.
The. mileage flown by the Nations afr
transport planes in rolling up the Au-
gust passenger and express records to-
tailed 4,283,071 miles, a comparatively
slight increase above the July total Of
1896, 282 miles.
Air Safety Discussed.
Delegates to the conference Of the
aeronautical section of the National
Safety Congress. who during the week
heard reports that the safety of air