Evening star., 1935-04-26
The Airport-Ad Infnitum.

Not a single year since 1926 has
passed without the introduction in
Congress of an airport bill of some
sort. and there have been few ses-
sions of Congress that did not wit
ness extensive hearings and favorable
reports on one or more airport bills.
This year has been no exception. And
the fact that this year the House
District Committee began considera-
ton of a bill to develop Gravelly Point
as an airport and ended Its consid-
Grafton by reporting out totally diff
ferent measure, leaving to commits
sion the selection of almost any site
but Gravelly Point, is indicative of the
apparently hopeless confusion and in
ability to agree on anything pertain
ing to local airport.
For nine years Congress has been
subjecting the matter to close ex-
animation, to the hearing of witnesses,
expert and otherwise, and to the an
nual visitation of salable real estate.
which, in somebody's opinion. would
make a satisfactory airport. For nine
years the subject of local airport has
been agitated; closed meetings, open
meetings and mass meetings have been
held And for nine years the latest
decision of one group or another has
been heartily condemned by some
other group.
In the meantime, Hoover Field was
placed in operation in 1926 by Henry
Berliner's Potomac Flying Service,
devoted to the business of flying a few
brave souls over the Washington Mon
ument at so much flight. In 1923
the Hoover Field was sold for a re-
ported price of 100000 to Interna-
tional Airways, Inc, and the filling
in of low ground around the Wash
ington Airport was begun with dirt
excavated from the Department Of
Commerce building operations. In
1929 bids were opened and construc-
ton begun on enlargement of WASH
ington Airport, s600,000 having been
reported to have been spent by the
Washington Air Terminals Corpora
ton. In 1880 the Washington Airport
and the Hoover Airport were combined
for operating purposes. and in 1881
the night airmail service was moved
from Boiling Field to washington Air
port. following the placing under
ground of telephone and power lines.
In 1888 the Washington Airport and
Hoover Field were sold to the Ma
tional Aviation Corporation of New
York for about 100000, both sales
being at public auction. In 1884
major advance was recorded by in
stalling traffic lights on Military road
to warn vehicles that some plane was
about to land or take off across the
road, and after short but fervid
row, the Army demanding to know
by what authority the lights had been
placed, it was decided that nobody
had the authority to put up the lights,
but they would be allowed to remain.
Today Washington Airport is one of
the busiest places around Washington.
Four large air lines make it their
terminal or stopping place. Planes
arrive from and depart for every part
of the country In three days last
week some 600 persons were flown on
air tours above washington. And no
famous aviator ever lands at or leaves
Washington Airport without con-
demning it as one of the worst in
the country.
Nobody knows what will have taken
place in local airports and aviation
nine years hence But the prediction,
based on history, is that nine years
hence committee Of Congress will
report out bill which either favors
or condemns Gravelly Point and the
bill will be Immediately criticized by
those who favor or condemn Gravelly
Point. And commercial planes, larger.
speedier and more numerous, will still
be landing and taking off from WASH
ington Airport, on which the Govern
ment has never spent a cent.