Evening star., 1932-09-21
ARMY CARVING OUT.
MODEL AIR FIELD.
New Boiling Field Begins to
Assume Shape South of
Present Area.

Out Of dusty, desolate waste along
the Potomac River south of Boiling
Field and the Anacostia Naval Air Sta
tion the Army is hard at work carving
out what will eventually be one Of the
finest military flying fields in the East.
Clouds of dun-colored dust, rising
above what used to be small farm fields,
shack buildings and the widely-spread
plant Of the steel works at Giesboro
Point, hide tractors, scrapers and
trucks busily leveling off the 300-acre
landing area.
On the foot of the hills which rise
above the landing area to AnacoStia the
steel, concrete and brick skeletons of a
large and impressive group of hangers
and buildings are rising.
Farthest advanced of the buildings
on the post is block-long barracks
building in the prevailing Colonial arch
itectural motif This building, four
stories high, is partially rooted and soon
will be ready for interior work. 1t rises
four stories above ground level, the
lower story walls of field stone and the
remainder of the building of brick and
limestone. The main entrance is
through a white-pillared portico.
Retarded by Economy Act.
The steel frames for two of four large
steel, brick and stone hangers are near
ing completion on the edge of the field
several hundred yards below the bar
racks building, and the foundations are
being completed for the administrative
and operations building at the edge of
the field.
Time of completion of the field grad
Ing and construction has become rather
indefinite owing to the congressional
economy program, but funds for a num-
Der of new buildings have been included
In the proposed general relief bill.
The first actual step toward realiza-
ton of the long cherished dream of
model military flying field for the de-
fense of the National Capital was taken
two years ago when Congress provided
an appropriation of S666,00O for the
purchase of land for the new field.
Purchase and condemnation of the
ground proceeded gradually, though it
was not until early this year that the
field site finally was completely cleared
for grading and construction work.
The major item of clearing the site
involved the destruction Of the steel
plant which during the World War pro-
duced great quantities of steel products
for the Government. That work was
completed early this year and grading
operations have been extended over a
large portion of the landing area.
The new field is to be approximately
Is feet higher than the present Boiling
Field landing area and will provide an
all-direction landing field of adequate
size for all military operations now con-
templated here. The present field, really
safe for only two-way operations, IS so
low as to be subject to flooding at times
Of high water in the Potomac and has
the reputation of being one of the wet
test and muddiest fields used by the
Army.
Fires Destroy Equipment.
The present field, established during
the World War period, on what then
was intended only for temporary basis.
never has been developed for permanent
occupancy, all of the barracks and other
structures being of ninsy construction.
Several serious fires have occurred at
the field, resulting in loss of consider
able equipment.
An important step toward prepara-
moval Of railroad spur which extended
formerly to the steel plant and beyond
to the Naval Research Laboratory. This
spur line now has been relocated at the
foot Of the hill back Of the new landing
area, passing below the new barracks
building and directly by the new hangar
line.
Technical construction planned for
the new field includes four hangers,
costing approximately $50, 900; field
shop, S60000; central heating plant,
$4,000; parachute and armament
building, $4,000; Photographic building,
$4,000; radio building, $4,000, and
concrete runways and aprons, $50, 100.