Evening star., 1938-04-15
AIRPORT PLANNING
QUICK ELIMINATION
|0F MILITARY ROAD
Air Transport Hazard May
Disappear in 80 Days in
Expanding Field.
NEARBY INSTRUCTIONS
ALSO MAY BE RAzED
Solomon Abandons Opposition to
Landscaping Along River
Front.

Landscaping Along River
Front.
Military road, repeatedly denounced
as one OF the greatest air transport
hazards in the country, probably will
disappear within 80 days in a con-
struction program which will ma
terially change the present Washing
ton Airport.
Despite rumors that he would reject
terms Of the Military road closing
bill, signed Wednesday night by Presi-
dent Roosevelt, which calls for pay
ment by the airport OF $4,000 to
Arlington County, Va. in return for
closing of the road, Samuel J. Solo,
mon, manager Of the airport, said
today that the bill "is entirely salts
factory to US"
The airport will not balk at pay
ment of the $4,000, despite the
threat Of the Federal Government to
establish a competitive air terminal
for Washington which may eventually
destroy Washington Airport. Mr..
Solomon indicated.
To Confer With Woodring.
He said that he will confer with
Secretary Of War Woodring at the
earliest possible moment to arrange
for the closing Of the road. Under
terms Of the bill, the War Depart
ment is required to convey title by
quitclaim deed to the National Air
port Corp. for a portion of the right
Of way of Military road upon pay
ment to Arlington County and to lease
the remaining portion of the road to
the airport for so years or for such
time as the property shall be used
for airport purposes. for 81 year.
The $4,000 is to be paid to the
county government to finance the
construction of substitute for Mill
| tary road. There is nothing in the
/ bill, however, which makes construc-
ton OF such substitute mandatory
and no route is designated for a new
road
The deed transferring Military road
right of way to the airport probably
will be executed within 80 days and
the airport will undertake a new con-
struction program at once, Mr.. Solo,
mon said.
| The first phase Of the new con-
struction. he said, will be the filing
Of the Military road right OF way.
now below grade up to the level OF
the remainder of the airport
I'VE now are giving consideration
to the removal of distractions on
Hoover Field" Mr.. Solomon said
"Should We decide to take them down.
We will lay out at once a new runway
across what is now Military road from
the vicinity of the Eastern Air Lines
hangar across the site of the present
Hoover Field buildings"
The buildings now being considered
for removal include the Goodyear air
ship dock, two large sheet metal
hangers and brick administration
building. together with several small
concession buildings near the road
A petition calling for removal Of
the airship dock now is pending be-
fore the Virginia State Corporation
Commission at Richmond Action on
the petition has been postponed tenn
porarily pending settlement of the
( involved local airport problem.
No Paving Planned.
Although the proposed new runway
would be graded and laid out at once
if it is decided to remove the build
: ings. Mr.. Solomon said 1t is not
5 planned for the present to pave this
| he ~,
runways. 1t would be available fol-
2 use by the airlines most of the time
but might be closed temporarily dur
ing wet weather. Paving of any
additional runway area will be post
poned until the airport problem i,
solved, it was indicated although
plans have already been drafted by
] airport officials for an all-way fielc
with minimum runway length o
4,535 feet. Such field would necessi.
a tate removal of the present Pennsyl
vania Railroad branch line skirtins
the field and extension OF the fielc
into the area between the railroad
and Columbia pike.
e Mr.. Solomon also disclosed that h,
j lids UCell III COIllcIeIlCe WIFI feOeTd
= officials on the proposed landscapini
: Of the river frontage of the airpor
and the improvement and beautifica
d ton of the Boundary Channel Lagoon
y area.
o Since all previous discussions To-
= improvement of the airport have con
a templated ultimate filling of tn,
IS lagoon to provide greater area TO
u the airport, the proposal came as 1
T. distinct surprise. He said that h,
o had discussed with officials of tn,
e National Capital Park and Planning
Commission the advisability Of dredg
e ing out the lagoon to provide bette
yachting basin.
!, This change of plans, believed u
IL be result of the proposal to extent
: the airport in the opposite direction
across the railroad right of way, i
expected to overcome much OF tn
~ objection Of park officials, who hav,
. consistently opposed filling of tn
'' lagoon or the extension of the airpor
any farther toward the Mount Vernon