Evening star., 1938-02-02
OPPOSITION VOICED
TO CAMP SPRINGS
Airport Would Interfere With
Radio Station, Says
Naval Officer.

Location Of any airport within 10
niles OF the new Navy radio station
at Cheltenham, Nd, would jeopardize
communication between the Navy De-
partment and units Of the fleet within
a radium of 5000 miles and would
seriously interfere with national de-
fense plans, Comdr. w. j. Ruble,
Naval Communications, told the House
Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds today.
Comdr. Ruble said operation of air
planes within S miles of the new sta
ton would cause serious radio inter-
ference. Construction of an airport
at Camp Springs. about a mile and a
half away, would destroy the useful
ness OF the station, he said.
The Navy has purchased $50 acres
OF land, completed construction of
most Of the permanent buildings and
moved in part of its personnel at
Cheltenham, 1t was testified. By the
middle OF the summer the Navy in
vestment will total $1,000,0OO and the
station will be practically ready for
operation, Comdr. Ruble told the COM
mittee.
Have Waited Years.
I'VE have waited years to put into
operation the world wide receiving
facilities now being completed at
Cheltenham," Comdr. Ruble said.
Now that We have the station Just
about at the point of completion it is
just 1nconceivable to me that an
airport should be permitted to come
in and destroy all this work and wipe
out an investment Of S1,0O0,OOO,
especially in view of the urgent need
Of the station as a matter of national
defense"
The 600-foot radio towers at Arling-
ton, Va, probably will removed as
soon as additional facilities have been
completed at the Navy transmitting
station at Annapolis, Md, Comdr.
Ruble testified. Congress has been
asked for funds for installation of the
substitute transmitting equipment at
the Annapolis station.
Unified Traffic System.
1t. Comdr. w. D. Sample, Navy
Bureau Of Aeronautics, told the COM
mittee that, if a commercial airport
is established at Gravelly Point, it
undoubtedly will be possible to estab-
lish system of unified traffic control
covering operations from the COM
mercial field, the Naval Air Station
and Boiling Field. There now is an
average of from 80 to 40 airplane
operations a day from the Naval Air
Station, he said.
Comdr. Sample took issue with tes-
timony from the commission that sea-
planes cannot be operated from the
Gravelly Point area, pointing out that
the largest Navy airplane, a 50,0OO-
pound flying boat, visited Anacostia
without difficulty two weeks ago.
This airplane was able to take off
loaded in space of less than a mile.
The Navy now is planning construc-
ton OF a ,000-pound flying boat
which also is expected to be able to
operate from Anacostia, he said.
Assured of No Interference.
Frederic A. Delano, chairman of
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission, told the committee
he had approved construction by the
Bureau Of Public Roads Of a highway
testing laboratory overlooking the
Gravelly Point site after he had been
assured the construction would not
interfere with establishment of an air
port there. The buildings would in
no way interfere with construction of
what he termed the critical run
way, in the east-west direction. Such
a runway could be constructed only
in line with the valley of Roachs Run
to the north of the laboratory or Four
Mile Run to the south.
The committee was told by Edward
w. Stitt that an airport site of more
than square mile is available in the
vicinity of Capitol Airport, between
Kenilworth, D. c., and Bladensburg,
Md.
The committee will resume hearings
at 1918 am. tomorrow with Army
engineers and proponents Of other
>sr,oor% s}fos as v,}fnoxsae