Evening star., 1934-12-11

area of East Potomac Park, with an
administration and passenger terminal
building near the Fourteenth Street
Bridge entrance to the park and
hangers along the railroad embank-
ment, partly on ground occupied by
the Tourist Camp.
In a statement made public today,
Mitchell said:
Providence has provided a site
which could, at small expense, be made
into an almost ideal air terminal.
From every angle, East Potomac Park,
sometimes called Hains Point, which
is owned by the Government, is ideally
located as the site Of an air terminal
which could be used equally well by
airplanes, amphibians and tseaplaneS.
This site needs no filling in and would
save the Government several million
dollars in purchase price and i'm
provements.
Mitchell pointed out that Washing
ton Airport is divided by Military
road, that the purchase price for this
property has been set at ST. 100000,
and that the airport never could be
used by seaplanes.
Park Area Large.
The maximum available area at
Washington Airport, he said, is 1885
acres, while the tract proposed to be
used in Potomac Park is PIT acres.
This would leave 112 acres on
Hains Point, which could be used for
a golf course and other park pur-
poses," he said. THE present drive
ways around the edge Of the park
could remain, so that its use by the
public would be interfered with very
little"
Mitchell gave the following COM
parative lengths Of runways on the
Potomac Park and Washington Air
port sites, all except one of them
showing an advantage in favor Of
the present airport:
No. runway, Potomac Park, 1000
feet; Washington Airport, 4,600 feet.
No. 2, Potomac Park, 1000 feet:
Washington Airport, 400 feet No.
3. Potomac Park, 5000 feet; Wash
ington Airport, 1850 feet. No. 4,
Potomac Park, 2,4O0 feet; Washington
Airport, 1850 feet.
Approach Over Water.
The effective length of runways in
Potomac Park, he contended, would
be increased by the fact that the ap-
proaches are over water from two di-
rections. These water approaches.
however, would bring airplanes across
the Speedway, with its heavy automo-
bile traffic.
Capt. Doe submitted his proposal
Tor development of the park as q re-
suit of controversy between his COM
pany and officials Of Washington Air
port. Doe contended that rates
charged his company by the airport
were excessive and called upon the
Government to establish an airport in
East Potomac Park to prevent dis
ruption Of airline service here.
Doe had detailed plans prepared in
New York for development of the
East Potomac Park site.
Parks Office Opposes.
On the day after Doe submitted his
plan, officials Of the Office of Ma
tional Capital Parks vigorously op-
posed the plan, declaring that it would
mean sacrifice of the golf course,
the tourist camp and the double
blossom japanese cherry trees.
John Nolen, jr.. commission city
planner, declared that an act of Con-
gress would be required to divert the
use of East Potomac Park from park
purposes.
F. w. Hoover, general manager of
the Welfare and Recreational Asso-
citation of Public Buildings and
Grounds, in charge of the tourist
camp, said the camp had been placed
in East Potomac Park by an act of
Congress and at would take an act
of Congress to take it away" He
pointed out that the camp serves more
than $4,000 people annually and rep
resented an investment of more than
100000.
Local civic organizations also ex-
pressed opposition to the plan and
on November 16, just a week after 1t
was first proposed, the proposal was
completely abandoned by Capt. Doe,
who reached an agreement with air.
POlg Do W ldICS W UC Clldl SCo
for use of the facilities there.
Rail Towers Planned.
1t was pointed out that electrifica-
tion of the Pennsylvania Railroad,
which will include the erection of
high electric power-lirie towers along
the already high railroad embank-
ment at the boundary of the pro-
posed East Potomac Park site would
constitute serious hazard in the
case of landings and take-offs in that
direction.
A large-scale program Of improve
ment has been undertaken at Wash
ington Airport during the past few
days. adding to the already large in
vestment at that site. The program
includes completion of hangar for
non-rigid airships, enlargement Of the
terminal building, moving Of the old
brick administration building, WIDEN
ing Of the main runway, burying of
transmission lines and minor i'm
provements.