Evening star., 1937-07-13
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Is This the Solution?

Inc congressional Airport Commission
very properly laid emphasis on the tech
nical considerations that enter into
selection OF an airport site, such as the
nature of the terrain, the soil, the
natural and man-made hazards to flying
and the rapid development in speed and
size of air liners, demanding more space
FOR landing and take-offs than is found
IN older airports. The result is a tech
nical report which seems reasoned and
logical, with which there can be little
disagreement except from those whose
studies have convinced them of the
advantages of another site-such as
Gravelly Point
But the logical reasoning and the
possibly sound conclusions of the report
somehow seem beside the main point,
which is: Where is the money coming
from?
The cost of acquisition and develop
ment of the selected site near Camp
Springs, Md. is estimated at 50 286. $50
including the construction of d new
express highway to the airport as a
necessary part of the development.
Where is the money coming from? From
the people of the District? They are
already faced with a greatly increased
burden OF local taxation which will do
little but provide for normal mainte-
oF tl,o ~
existing division of cost between the
District and the Federal Government.
Are they to be asked, in addition, to
shoulder large proportion of the cost
OF an airport more than ten miles from
the center of town, in Maryland? If
such demand is made noW-and the re-
port stresses the need for immediate
action-the people of the District should
be foreWarned that still higher taxes
will be necessary, and that projects of
more immediate interest to the WASH
ington community, If not the Capital
City, will go unmet
The community effort to interest Con-
gress in construction of suitable air.
port was begun more than ten years
ago. The Star at that time assisted In
creating public interest in the matter
through series of articles setting forth
the need then and what the need would
be in future years. The first airport bill
was introduced in 1926. Had Congress
acted then, Gravelly Point might now
be an operating airport instead of a
vatery waste. But the airport matter
has been showed around, with the ex-
clusively responsible Congress exhibiting
an amazing lack Of leadership and fore
sight.
The people of the District may feel
that the airport commission has done
Its work carefully and conscientiously,
subject, as always, to the interminable
delays which beset the activities of such
agencies But under the Districts exist
Ing financial condition, can any hope be
entertained for immediate action In
keeping with the reports recommended
tions? 1t Is hard to believe So
The commission has presented a con-
vinclng case in favor of an airport some
distance from the heart of the city. Per-
haps the development of highspeed air.
liners and of highspeed highways will
make more logical the location of air.
ports some distance from the city. But
experiences in New York, Los Angeles
and Detroit have demonstrated the fact
that If airports are too far from town,
the patronage falls off. Location of an
airport ten miles from the center of town
would seem to be hazardous under
taking-as far as immediate success of
the venture is concerned.