Evening star., 1935-12-11
LEGAL BARRIERS
BLOCK PROGRESS
Of D. c. A|RPORTS
ICkeS' View Held Same as
Before on Development
as Twin Projects.
WASHINGTON FIELD TITLE
STILL TROUBLE SOURCE
Clause in Deed Allows for Three
Railroad Spurs Across
Site.
LEGAL barriers appeared likely today

Legal barriers appeared likely today
to block development of Washington
Airport and Gravelly Point as twin
governmental airports for Washing
ton.
p. w. A. officials unofficially said
they have no reason to believe Public
Works Administrator Ickes will change
his opinion, given more than year
ago, that purchase of the Washington
Airport site is outside the scope OF
the Administrations powers.
1t was pointed out that in the de-
velopment of airportS in all parts OF
the United States, expenditure oi
funds for land has been limited to 10
per cent of the amount of the grant
for development, and 1t is the opinion
of Ickes that the expenditure Of
81 100000 for purchase of the local
site is excessive.
It also was pointed out by p. W. A
officials that the question of title at
Washington Airport still is unsatistac-
tory and that the Justice Department
probably will oppose the decision OF
the Virginia Boundary Com
mission, vitally affecting the airport
status.
Rail Spurs in Deed.
It also was developed that there is
clause in the existing airport deed re-
serving the right to construct three
railroad spurs across the Military road
right-o from the Pennsylvania
Railroad line adjoining the flying field
The presence of this clause, it is
feared, will further complicate the
problem of developing the field.
In the face of the legal problems
raised today following the proposal OF
Assistant Secretary Of Commerce
johnson, 1t was feared that the whole
airport problem might have to go
back once more to Congress, where
local legislation has been a bone OF
contention for 10 years.
Representative Randolph, Democrat
of West Virginia, chairman Of the
Airport Subcommittee, heads the
House District Committee, and Com
merce Department officials are hope
full that in the face of the growing
need for improved airport facilities
here, some way may be found to
overcome the obstacles in the way OF
the development of both Washington
Airport and Gravelly Point.
They believe P. w. A. funds can be
used legally for the purchase OF the
privately owned land at Washington
Airport and the small portion OF land
still in private hands at Gravelly
Point and that W. P. A. funds then
can be used for development.
Federal Ownership Preferred.
Randolph expressed the opinion to-
day that Federal ownership OF ootn
airports is to be preferred to District
ownership. He holds that the purchase
of land with remaining P. w. A. funds
is legal and that Works Progress Ad-
ministration funds then can be used
for development and construction
work
officials Of the Commerce Depart
ment also expressed the hope that the
problem of acquiring the two sites
with emergency funds can be solved.
They believe that in view Of the emer-
gency situation present at the local
airport that the President would be
justified in closing by executive order
the portion of Military road across
Washington Airport, which the War
DEPARTMENT has said no longer is
needed for military purposes.
Opposition to the johnson plan was
brewing today in Arlington County.
County officials are opposed both to
the closing of Military road and to
the Federal acquisition of Washington
Airport and the consequent loss of
taxes. The airport now is the largest
single taxpayer in the county, it was
pointed out.