Evening star., 1937-08-04
HOUSE BILL URGES
GRAVELLY POINT
AS AIRPORT SITE
Smith Measure Authorizes
Commission Creation and
S2,5OO,0OO Fund.
USE OF BOILING FIELD
WOULD BE PERMITTED
Military Affairs Committee Re-
ports Amended May Plan for
Washington Field.

" aoAALS eoA = ASAN'
With the House Military Affairs
Committee committed to a bill for
the enlargement of Washington Air
port, which its chairman and airport
officials characterize as unavoidable, >"
and with Camp Springs, Md, airport
legislation apparently blocked, Rep
resentativfle Smith. Democrat, OF Vlr-
einia late yesterday introduced in the
House a bill authorizing development
OF tie Gravelly Point airport site.
The Smith bill, somewhat similar
to the Gibson bill in the Senate, au-
tllorizes the creation Of a National
Capital Airport Commission, which is
directed to acquire and fill in the
Gravelly Point site at cost of not
to exceed s2,500000, entirely at the
cost of the Federal Government.
The commission would be composed
Of the Assistant Secretary of Com
merce, Col j. Monroe Johnson; the
director of National Capital Parks, C.
Marshall Finnan, and the Army engl-
neer for the local district, Maj Wal
ter D. Luplov
Boiling Field Use Provided.
Pending the development of the
Grayelly Point site it would be the
duty of this commission under the
terms of the bill to arrange for the
temporary landing of commercial air
planes at Boiling Field.
The measure was referred to the
House Public Buildings and Grounds
Committee, which will be urged to
take immediate action.
In the meantime the Gravelly Point
site is being filled gradually as re-
suit of the channel-deepening work
now being carried on in the George
town and Anacostia Channels under
the direction of Army engineers. 1t
Is anticipated that before Winter ap-
proXimately 100 acres of filled land
will be, above water at Gravelly Point
rs result of dredging operations
begun during the last fiscal year.
Gravelly Point long has been rec
commended by local aviation, civic and
business organizations as the site for
. combined local terminal for land
planes and seaplanes, The Aviation
Committee of the Washington Board
OF Trade last week reiterated its stand
In support Of the Gravelly Point site.
Virginia Body Acts.
The National Airport Corp, operator
Of washington Airport, has been sum-
moned to appear before the Virginia
State Corporation Commission a,
Richmond on September IS to explain
why the commission should not adopt
rules prohibiting alrplanes not
equipped with radio receiving sets
from landing at the airport, accord
ing to an Associated Press dispatch
from Richmond.
Samuel ]. Solomon, manager of the
airport, Explained today that regula-
tions now forbid the use of the airport
by planes not equipped with radio re-
ceivers, and that in bad weather ali
operations from the airport are con-
troued by radio. The airport radio
regulation has been in effect since last
year and was adopted voluntarily as a
GoASeJ AiASooulC dAbCI ~ Add UCCOlllt
apparent traffic at the airport was ap-
preaching the point of dangerous con-
gestion. A record of more than $40
landings and take-offs within 16 hours
has been established at the local field
Solomon said
The amended May bill, reported to
the House yesterday by the Military
Affairs Committee over the protest of
Washington Airport officials, who
characterized it as meaningless, to-
day was to be placed on the Union
calendar of the House.
Unanimous Consent Sought.
Representative Mark Wilcox OF
Florida, designated to make the re-
port to the House, said that efforts
would be made to have the bill con-
sldered under unanimous consent
agreement possibly next Monday,
which now is scheduled for considera-
ton OF measures on the Union cal
endar.
The amended bill would require
payment by Washington Airport O!
s25,000 in advance for 25-year lease
on part Of the Military road right Of
way, The money would be used te
construct substitute road arounc
the airport The bill also would au.
thorize the leasing of SO acres of the
Arlington Experimental Farm site tx
the airport at an annual rental te
be fixed by the Secretary Of Agri.
culture.
These terms probably will be re.
jected by officials of National Avia.
tion Corp, it has been stated
Solomon said the proposal woult
be submitted to the Board of Direc
tors OF the corporation, but expressed
the view privately that the plan wa
unworkable and would b. rejected
Without the use OF the farm tract an,
the Boundary Channel lagoon area
eliminated from the amended May bill
the closing of Military road alon,
would not solve the difficulties a