Evening star., 1937-09-17
GRAVELLY POINT
AIR SITE MENACED
New Highway Research
Project Threatens to Block
Consideration.
BACKGROUND

nal jor Washington frst became
apparent in 1926 phen the Aero
CLUB OF Washington recommended
Development OF the Grauelly Point
stte. For a decade Grapelly Point
has figured in every discussion of
local airport plans. Stymied time
ana again, Grapellv Point came
strongly to the fore September 2,
when President Roosevelt, petoinq
a OH to enlarge Washington Air
port, recommended DEVELOPMENT of
GrdpeHy Point and another out
lying site.
Amperlling OF the proposed Gravelly
Point Airport project, recently recon-
mended by President Roosevelt. was
foreseen today In the construction by
the Bureau of Public Roads, Agricul-
ture Department, of a highway re-
search laboratory on a part of the
airport site.
Control Of the area on which the
laboratory now Is being built is held
essential to the construction of the
airport. 1t was feared that presence
OF the research laboratory there may
prove as serious an obstacle to the
development Of an airport at Gravelly
Point as the Arlington experimental
farms have been to Washington Air
port and the new naval radio station
at Cheltenham, Md, has been to the
proposed Camp Springs airport.
Special Study Slated.
The whole local airport situation
Is to be made the subject of a special
study by the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, it was an
nounced following a meeting of the
commission late yesterday.
This study. undertaken as a result
Of the recommendation Of the Presi-
dent that the Federal Government
should construct two airports for
Warrington, one at Gravelly Point
and one at Camp Springs or some
other outlying site, will be made by
the commission staff.
Previous studies of the Gravelly
Point project have been made by the
office OF the Army engineer for the
local district. These studies included
the laying out Of detailed airport plans
and the preparation Of tentative esti-
mates OF cost.
Army Studies TO Be Basis.
The Army studies, which have been
Incorporated In congressional hearings
on the local airport problem by COM
mittees Of both the Senate and House,
are expected to be the basis for any
development of the Gravelly Point
area. They provide for inclusion in
the airport development of the Abing-
don area on which the Bureau of
Public Roads now is constructing its
The research laboratory is being
built on a knoll about so feet above
the mean level of the Potomac, on the |
landward side OF the Mount Vernon
boulevard. It Is on the site of the old
Abingdon estate.
The Gravelly Point plan calls for re-
Of the Mount Vernon boule-
ward At = distance OF between 500 and
800 feet to the west along the airport |
area. This would put the boulevard to
the west Of the highway research
laboratory, which would remain within
the airport area.
Plains Would Remove Knoll.
Although the site OF the laboratory |
would not become part of the land
ing area proper of the proposed air
port, 1t is essential to the airport as . |
site for buildings and automobile park
ing space. What is described as Of |
even greater Importance, however, is
the fact that the knoll on which the
laboratory is being built is destined to
be dug away both to remove it as an
and to provide earth for fll-
Ing and grading Of the airport.