Evening star., 1933-01-16
SENATORS HEAR
PLEAS FOR AIRPORT
Amelia Earhart Putnam Says
Contrast Here and In Eu-
rope Is Shocking.

Westinghouse Hoover Airport to meet the
safety requirements Of modern air
transportation were made to the Senate
District Committee ut hearing today
on the two Bingham bills providing for
development Of the field as an air ter
minal for the National Capital.
Though the hearing was based only
on balls dealing with Washington
Hoover Airport, nearly all the wit
ernment, Federal Government and Dis
trict civic organizations, came out in
favor or Gravelly Point as the site for
the permanent District airport. Among
witnesses appearing was Amelia Ear
hart Putnam.
In opening the hearing, Senator
Bingham, president OF the National
Aeronautic Association and chairman of
the Joint Congressional Committee on
local airport matters, said the Congress
sional Committee had held thorough
hearings, and had recommended devel-
opment of the Washington Hoover site,
but that the matter had failed Of action
In the House.
Financial Difficulties.
1.-THE owners of Washington Hoover
Airport are now in financial difficult
ties" Senator Bingham said Their
revenues are not sufficient to meet in
terest charges and running expenses.
There is grave danger that they will
have to give up their operations. 1t
would be most unfortunate II the site
were TO be sold for industrial purposes
and the Capital were to lose the advan-
tages OF an airport more favorably situ-
ated than that of any other large city.
If these were normal times, should
suggest the purchase and development
by the Government of the Washington
Hoover site. These are not normal
times, however, and I suggest instead
the leasing of the land by the director
of Public Buildings and Public Parks
and its enlargement by closing up Mill
tary Road and utilization of part of
the Arlington Experimental Farm"
Senator Bingham said the Govern
ment expenses, by leasing Of conces-
sions could be reduced eventually to
not more than $4,000 annually, and
that they would not exceed $40 900 to
$4,000 year even at the beginning.
He advocated that the cost be paid by
the District
Mrs. Putnam appeared at the re-
Cuect CT Senator Bingham to advocate
e elopment of the Washington Hoover
lc. She said that after her trans
-Entic hight she visited many of the
European capitals and found the con-
.raSt between the airport conditions
mere and in Washington shocking. 4"
regular airline operations at the local
field are heavier than those at the
world famous Berlin airport, but the
airport itself Is entirely inadequate.
she said. Only the skill of the trans
port pilots makes possible any sort of
safe operation. she declared.
Grant Urges Changes
! Lieut. Col. u S. Grant. Sd. director
of Public Buildings and Public Parks.
recommended changes in the bill deal
ing with methods of purchase, leasing
Of concessions, repairs and policing.
Col Grant said that while Washington
Hoover Airport is the only suitable
tract Immediately available Gravelly
Point should be developed for future
use. ~,
Edwin A. Schmidt, senior engineer of
the United States Engineer Once, sub
mitted estimates showing DEVELOPMENT
or equal fields at Washington Hoover
and Gravelly Point sites would result
In greater costs at the Washington
Hoover area because of more expensive
type of fill required.
A. Pendleton Taliaferro of the air
port section, Department of Commerce,
declared Washington Hoover Airport Is
unsafe for present operations, but could
be made safe under the terms of the
Bingham bill.
Opposition to the shouldering of any
OF the expense of developing the air.
port on District taxpayers was voiced
by Maj. Paul A. Hodgson, acting Dis
trict Engineer Commissioner. He said
she District Commissioners were in favor
OF an adequate airport, but that the
revenues OF the District are seriously
depleted and the Commissioners did not
feel that the District should be called
on to bear any share of the expenses.
Edwin S. Hege of the Federation of
citizens Associations declared the fed
Grafton is firmly on record in favor Of
Gravelly Point and would oppose any
payment by the District of Columbia
for development OF Washington Hoover
Airport.
The Washington Chamber Of Com
merce also expressed approval of the
Gravelly Point site for permanent de-
velopment, through the chairman of its
Aviation Committee. John s. wynne
Wynne. however, strongly urged the
passage of either of the pending bills
for immediate development of WASH
ington Hoover Airport
O.