Evening star., 1938-07-16
KING SEES BEST -.
AIRPORT CHANCE
Al CAMP SPRINGS
Wish of President and D. c.
Commissioners May Guide
Legislation Course.
GRAyELLY POINT COST
IN TIME AND CASH HIT
Chairman of Senate District
Committee Seeks First-Rank
Field for Capital.
By WILL P. KENNEDY.

1ndlcatlng his BELIEF that Congress
was unwise in not going through will
the proposal to build an airport a
Camp Springs, in nearby Maryland
Senator King, Democrat, of Utah
chairman of the Senate District Com
mittee, said today that "the Nationa
Capital should have an airport sec
ond to none, and hope to see !
established"
Senator King sponsored the Cam
Springs airport bill 1t passed the Sen
ate unanimously but was defeated il
the closin ghours of the 18th Congress
by charges of "a scandal in option
secured on the site. The Senator de
clined to say he would make a driv
for the Camp Springs site in the mex
session, but indicated strongly he be
lieves serious mistake was made II
not completing legislative action OF
the measure, which had the unani
nous support of the special join
committee which made an exhaustive
study Of As proposed sites and whicl
the President in the closing week en-
deavcred to force through the House
Senator King said he would "wai
and see what recommendations ar,
made in the next Congress-what &C
ton the District Commissioners vii
take" He gave the impression tina
he also is waiting to see what Presi.
dent Roosevelt will recommend. H,
still adheres to the opinion that the
Gravelly Point location, which he, tn,
President and Chairman Delano of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission favored originally is toe
small, absolutely inadequate" anc
does not meet the essential require.
ments as laid down by the flying au.
thorities.
Sees Cost too Great.
1T would take TOO much time ano
cost too much to develop the Gravelly
Point Site" Senator King said. He
also stated that the Camp Springs site
is the only available area within rea.
sonable distance Of Washington which
meets all requirements-"and the cost
is far less than for most Of the othel
proposed Sites" he added.
Complaining that he and the Air.
port Commission didn't get much
support after two years of hart
work." Senator King at first sale
he was through" with the airport
effort, but later admitted his willing.
ness to work to get proper airport
He emphasized that where it was al
first planned to have the District
residents pay the entire cost of de.
veloping a proper airport for the
National Capital, he had driven aheac
with the legislation to have the Fed
eral Government pay the entire cost
He said that his judgment and activity
had been guided largely by the posi-
tive stand Of Maj. Gen. Oscar West
over, chief Of the Army Air Corps,
whom he characterized as "the great
est aviation authority in the world, u
and who had been especially helpful
to the National Capital Airport Com
mission. He pointed out that the
Airport Commission, having made its
report and seen its recommendations
is now dead and there is nothing
further to do but wait for the District
Commissioners recommendations"
Cites Careful Surveys.
"All of the As sites proposed were
carefully examined by the Airport
Commission and by the National Capi.
tai Park and Planning Commission
with aerial and Typographical surveys
and photographs" he said. THE
commission unanimously recommended
the Camp Springs site. It was the
only place with adequate acreage
200 acres-and the price was cheaper
he said. The options were taken, al
Chairman Delano's suggestion, by the
Treasury's specialist, who has done
this sort Of work for the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion.- I never saw the options" said
Senator King, land I do not know
now where they are, but I was told
that not an acre would cost over
5000, which is an extremely low
price"
Senator King paid tribute to the
earnest work on the special commits
sion of nine members done by Col
Daniel I. Sultan, District Engineer
Commissioner, and by Representative
Jack Nichols of Oklahoma, secretary
OF the commission.
"The Washington airport must be
adequate and safe, and be ample for
commercial developments and for
military requirements In national
emergencies" he said. "It must have
a runway of at least 5000 feet, with q
getaway that is at least two miles
from high buildings or railroads, as
free as possible from fog, and good for
blind flying. For such an airport at
least 1000 acres is required, we were
told by the best authorities on COM
mercial and military aviation.
Cites Expense of Delay.
Paris. Berlin and other large cities
have been forced at great expense to
enlarge their airports. Washington
must profit by their example in max
ing adequate provision now. We must
plan for the future. Well soon have
aeroplanes carrying scores of people
and we must look forward to give
them a port that will provide not
only the flying safety area but ade-
quate housing and shops.
Camp Springs was a magnificent
location. We were assured that 1t
met all requirements. Many persons
have come to see me recommending
that we Immediately start on the de-
velopment of an airport at Gravelly
Point. 1t would take years to develop
that site, and it would never be ade-
quate, and 1t fails to meet some OF
the most essential requirements for
safety"