Evening star., 1937-06-25
AIRPORT SUSPENDS
CHANNEL FILLING
Will Await Decision of Con.
greSS on Permanent
Terminal,

Although Washington Airport off,
cials contend they have legal right
to fill Boundary Channel and restore
land dredged out more than seven
years ago, they announced today that
no further action will be taken pend
ing decision by the District Airport
Commission on a site for a perma-
nent airport for Washington.
The airport corporation recently be-
gan filling operations along the shore
Of Boundary Channel but suspended
work as result of a cease and desist"
order issued by the Army engineer Of.
flee for the local district.
Although the Airport Commission,
headed by Senator King Of Utah, has
surrounded its actions with the great
est possible secrecy, it is understood
in aviation circles that the group is
considering the recommendation to
Congress Of site near Camp Springs,
Md, for permanent local air
terminal, but also will recommed that
"close-in" site also be maintained.
The commission Is not expected to
designate this "close-in" site, leaving
the way open for the subsequent desig-
nation Of either Washington Airport
or Gravelly Point.
Frankly in the nature OF COM
promise, this action is expected to
hold off the bitter Washington Airport
Gravelly Point battle, which has
ragged for years, long enough for Con-
gress to agree upon an alternative
site out in the country, according to
rumors circulated among aviation
people.
Notified Permit Necessary.
Samuel J. Solomon, manager OF
Washington Airport, was notified for
mally yesterday by the War Depart
ment that further filling OF Boundary
Channel is prohibited unless a per-
nit Is obtained from the engineer
ofnce. An application for such a
permit would result in public hear
ings under normal procedure OF the
Corps Of Engineers
No application will be made for a
permit, however, and no further at
tempt will be made to fill the chan
mel until after the Airport Commits
sion has made its report to Congress,
Solomon said At Senator Kings Of
flee it was staid that efforts were
being made to arrange a meeting Of
the commission early next week
I'VE maintain that we have the
right to restore the airport to its
original condition prior to the dredg-
ing operations Of seven or eight years
ago." Solomon said "At that time
the Boundary Channel shore line was
dredged back distance Of as much as
ITO feet In places and the material
was dumped on old Hoover field.
Where land is removed by natural
erosion from the shore line OF naviga-
bic waters We admit the War Depart
ment has jurisdiction and the right
to control filling Of water areas 50
formed. But we maintain that we
have the right to restore land which
was removed by private dredging Of
privately owned property"
10000 Cubic Yards Placed.
1t Is understood the airport man
agement placed approximately 10000
cubic yards OF f1ll along the shore Of
Boundary Channel before the work
was halted by Army engineers.
Filling OF Boundary Channel as a
means Of increasing the usable area
at Washington Airport was recon-
mended several years ago by the Joint
Congressional Airport Commission
headed by former Senator Hiram
Bingham Of Connecticut. This would
provide greater length for the short
cross-field runway at Washington
Airport.
Because OF this short cross.f,eld
distance Washington Airport prob
ably will fall short Of requirements
now being considered by the Bureau
OF Air Commerce for air transport
terminals. Bureau officials have in
dlcated that a minimum of 1000 feet
IN all directions will be a requirement
Tor future "super-terminas" New
regulations esta blishing minimum run
way lengths for air terminals of vari-
Gus classif1cations probably will be
put into effect next Fall.
washington Airport has one run-
way 1900 feet long and another 5000
1eet long. A third Is REGARDED AZ
necessary. but 1t has not been pro-
vided because the field at present Il
held too narrow for effective use bv
large transport airplanes.