Evening star., 1938-06-14
AIRPORT OPTIONS
AT S213 AN ACRE
Figure Ranges From $50 to
&,0W-Average of $500
Had Been Assured.

Despite earlier assurances that land
Tor the proposed airport at Camp
Springs, Md, would cost no more
than 5000 per acre, with some parcels
running as low as $35 an acre, it was
revealed last night that options taken
last year call for purchase at prices
ranging from $50 to $4,000 per acre,
with an average of more than $213.
The disclosure came as Representa-
introduced a resolution calling for a
thorough Congressional investigation
Of the situation.
Options on the Camp Springs site,
totaling 2,373.25 acres, will expire July
l, President Roosevelt informed House
leaders in calling for immediate pas
sage of the pending Camp Springs
airport legislation. The total cost was
plAned At s506,870.
Given by Chairman May.
Assurances the Camp Springs prop
erty could be acquired for only $35 to
5000 per acre were given to the House
Rules Committee by Chairman May of
the House Military Affairs Committee
and Representative Nichols of Okla
homa, secretary to the Airport Com
mission, when they appeared recently
to ask special rule to expedite action
on the King Norton bill.
The bill authorizes an appropriation
OF 100000 to establish an airport on
the site at Camp Springs, which had
been recommended by the Airport
Commission.
Mr. May and Mr. Nichols declared
yesterday they had been given the
figure of S35 to 5000 per acre by the
, National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, which had the options
taken for the Airport Commission.
Ohlclals OF the Park and Planning
Commission also confirmed these fig
ures, it was announced yesterday at
the Capitol, in reporting the options
had been submitted to Mr.. May.
Options Tell Different Story.
Careful study of the 21 options left
with Mr.. May disclosed that the con-
gressional leaders had been grossly
mlsinformed regarding the costs. They
had been left with the general impress
sion that the prices given them con-
stituted the whole purchase price of
the Camp Springs site-with another
$15o,000 to be paid to the Bureau of
Standards to abandon its experiment
station in approximately the center of
the area to be acquired The Rules
Committee and the congressional lead
ers were not told that there are resi-
dences and Improvements on some of
ths land, including roadhouse on a
2'4-acre tract. which ran the buyine
price up to $4,000 an acre.
Although these startling costs had
not been disclosed, Representative
Scott late yesterday introduced a reso-
luton calling for a joint congress
slonal commission of five Senator and
flve House members to obtain informa-
ton regarding the acquisition of on
lions on tracts at Camp Springs, and
to make further Investigations as
follows:
l. Lobbying by private interests or
public officials.
2 Extent to which property owners,
real estate agents or others would
profit.
Would Study Land Price.
5. The assessed value of lands in the
vicinity of Camp Springs, including
property owned by the Navy Depart
ment, and the price at which property
mas been sold in the last few years.
4. Ownership of such lands and
Identity of persons representing
owners
5. Extent to which air operations
will interfere with naval radio opera =
tions.
+. The instructions given any Fed
eral agency in connection with pro-
curing options.
7. Views of commercial airlines.
commercial pilots as to the safety.
convenience Of the field and finally
the attitude of the Federal depart
ments.
The commission also would be au-
thorized to take into consideration
testimony at hearings before the House
Public Buildings and Grounds Com
mittee
Chairmen of the committees which
considered the problem would sit on
the commission as ex-officio members.
Would Check Other Sites.
The commission also would be
authorlzed to investigate other airport
sites. The report would have to be
filed with the House by January. 1899.
The resolution also would appro-
PIRATE $4,000 out of the House con-
tingent fund to finance the investiga-
tion.
In spite of renewed pressure from
the White House yesterday, the House
leadership has not allowed the Camp
Springs airport bill to be called up for
action. Chairman May, who has been
on the grill for the past month to get
action on this measure, which passed
the Senate in the first session of the
present Congress, has been sitting ex-
pectantly in the House ready to bring
the measure up for passage Just as
soon as the Speaker gives signal for
recognition. The President has been
assured the bill will pass without seri-
Gus objection, and Representative MAY
has been repeatedly told that he will
be given an opportunity "just as soon
dS pOSSlDle.
Opponents of this legislation made
desperate efforts yesterday to have
action indefinitely delayed.
Copies of the actual contracts with
the landowners which have been fur
nished to Chairman May show that
much higher prices are to be paid on
certain improved parcels included in
the proposed sites, These options call
Tor the purchase of 81 tracts to a
total of 2,373.25 acres which, with the
Bureau of Standards tract in the very
center OF the airport site, will bring
the total acreage up to slightly in ex-
cess OF $500 acres. All of these op-
tions were taken on April l3 and
April IA and are void if the prop
critics are not purchased before July l.
The three agents who ohfoioaa fI,a