Evening star., 1937-12-06
DELAN0 STRESSES
FACTOR OF SAFETY
IN AIRPORT PLANS
. All Other Considerations
Must Be Made Secondary,
Conference Told.
j. AlR-MINDED PUBLIC
DECLARED NECESSARY
Less Than l Per Cent of People in
U. S. Will Use Planes, Roper
Aide Says.

Safety is paramount factor in air.
port construction, Frederick A. Delano,
chairman of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission and
member of the Washington Airport
Commission, today told a national
conference called by the Department
of Commerce to plan an airport pro-
gram for the country as whole.
The commission Of which Mr..
Delano was a member recommended
Camp Springs, 10 miles out in Mary
land, for a local air center, and the
speaker said it was better that city
should have an airport farther re-
moved from its center that offered
safety 100 per cent of the time than
one located nearer in which the safety
factor was only 95 per cent
He expressed the opinion that
aviation would have to develop a
safety program, just as have the rail-
roads, in which safety of operation is
provided irrespective of weather con-
ditions.
Gen. Westover Speaks.
The Importance of figuring in the
safety factor in port construction also
was emphasized by Maj. Gen. Oscar
Westover, chief of the Army Air Corps,
who also was a member of the WASH
ington Airport Commission.
Air Minded Public Need.
The big problem facing aviation is
that of making the public minded,
Assistant Secretary of Commerce j.
Monroe johnson told the conference
earlier in the day.
The muddled local airport situation
was expected to come up for discus
sion in the two-day session.
Less than l per cent of the people
Of the United States today will put
foot in a plane" Mr. johnson told his
audience, which included representa-
tives of various aviation agencies and
of Federal, State and municipal gov
ernments.
Recalls Railroads Case.
This, however, is not an insur-
mountable task, Mr.. Johnson added,
recalling the time in his own native
State of South Carolina where the
same attitude was maintained toward
railroads.
Mr.. johnson said he hoped this
conference will set up a permanent
council to meet periodically for a dis
cussion of air issues. He pointed out
one of the principal problems is that
of keeping airport construction in step
with the development or aircraft,
which constantly is being built larger.
The question of who is to pay for these
airports also is important. he said,
adding that the Department of Com
merce would look with favor on the
United States Government properly
participating in the construction and
maintenance of the ports.
Clifford w. Ham, executive director
of the American Municipal Associa-
ton, cited the problem offered in air.
port construction under present condi-
tions, emphasizing that there is an
immediate necessity for a uniform
planning and development of airports
and the aviation industry as a whole
Ever larger and heavier planes are
being designed. Longer runways are
being demanded and airmail and
transport landings are Cancelled as
former first-class ports become obso-
lete"
Cites Northwest City's Plight.
A large city in the Northwest is
case in point, Mr.. Ham continued,
having spent s1,5O5,OO0 for an airport
between 1927 and 1887 and now being
forced to raise an additional S435, 900
as its share of W. P. A. project for
further improvements totaling ST.
$4,000.
Mayor Harold Burton of Cleveland,
representing the United States Con-
ference OF Mayors, said that munich
palities all over the country were
stirred by this problem and that the
conference of ITO Mayors will Join in
any movement which appears to offer
solution.