Evening star., 1934-01-16
GRAVELLY POINT
AIRPORT FAVORED
BY yDELANOC GROUP
Planning Commission Chair
man Backed by Smith at
House Hearing.

The hearings on the McSwain bill
to establish an airport on the site OF
Washington Airport we're turned at the
last moment today into a hearing in
support of a model municipal airport
at Gravelly Point.
Frederic A. Delano, chairman of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, led the appeal for Gravel
ly Point and was strongly supported by
Representative Howard Smith of Ar
lington County, Va, who asked for a
whole day to present testimony in sup
port of the project.
Maj P A. Hodgson. assistant District
Engineer Commissioner. testified the
District Commissioners are opposed to
the expenditure of money at Washing
ton Airport until more urgent needs o1
the District are cared for.
Sees Need of S20.000,00O.
He said S20O0O,0O will be required
to take care of the plans which the
Commissioners consider more important
than the airport. Among these needs
he listed the first unit of the municipal
center, a tuberculosis Sanitarium fol
adults. numerous school projects ano
new morgue and Jail buildings.
Meanwhile. Public Works Admins
traitor Ickes expressed the opinion, at
a press conference, that proposal for
development of the Washington Hoover
Airport with P W. A. funds docs not
come within the scope of the P W. A
An application for allotment of pub
lie works funds for purchase of the
airport by the Government was pre-
sented to the P. w. A. Board today
the administrator said.
Opposes Development.
They ask for 81 500, ,ooO-for what?"
Ickes said ITO put men to work
No-to buy some real estate.
Personally don't think this comes
within the scope of the Public Works
Administration.
Ickes said however. the application
would receive due consideration by the
board and explained the opinion he
had of the project was just "a per-
sonal one
The airport proposal was presented
to the board by Assistant Secretary
of Labor Turner Battle, chairman Of
a subcommittee on airport projects. tc
whom the project was referred re-
Gently for study.
The plan called for consolidation OF
the Washington Airport and Hoove,
Field. rerouting of Military road.
which now divides the two fields, ane
development of the new airport with
public funds
In opening the hearing on his bill
before the House Military Affairs Com.
mittee. Chairman McSWain declared thu
promotion of aviation through construc'
tion of airports lis a public function,
which should be paid for from public
funds
Maj J. D. Arthur jr, Army engineer
for the Washington district, the first
witness. testified that, in his opinion
the United States has a good claim tc
at least 46 acres of the present Wash
ington airport area, based on the dis
puted shore line of old Reaches Run
He testified an airport is urgently need
ed and estimated the cost of develop
ing the proposed Washington Airpor,
site, including purchase of land, rails
ing the grade, constructing buildings
and paving runways, at approximately
100000.
The second witness. j. Edward Cas-
sidy, who testified his wife's people
had owned the Washington Airpor
site for 200 years, from 1869 on, de.
MED any part of the present airport
site was Federal property" He filed g
copy of survey sheet upon which the
original Berkley grant of the land was
made in support of his argument The
,Coptipuod an pooo Q rol,r,r :