Evening star., 1938-01-27
GRAVELLY POINT
AIRPORT IS URGED
House Committee Asked to
Build Model Plant Here
Immediately.

Immediate construction Of . model
airport At Gravelly Point and i'm
provement Of Washington Airport to
serve until the new terminal Is COM
pleted were advocated before the
House Committee on Public Buildings
and Grounds today by Clarence A.
Miller, chairman of the Aviation Com
mittee Of the Washington Board Of
Trade.
David L. Behncke, president Of the
National Airline Pilots Association
urged that the Government construct
an airport at least mile square and
purchase at least another square mile
of land surrounding the field to pre-
vent construction OF possible obstacles
and provide for future expansion. The
only site in the vicinity Of washington
meeting the requirements of size, he
said, is the one at Camp Springs, Md,
recommended last year by the District
Airport Commission. Mr.. Behncke
voiced the opinion that Washington
should have two airports and approved
Gravelly Point for the "close-in" ter
minal.
Mr.. Miller, who said he represented
the unanimous opinion Of more than
1000 members of the Board Of Trade.
as expressed in repeated votes. told the
committee the Gravelly Point site is
the only one available that meets all
requirements for local airport.
Lists Arguments.
He listed as principal arguments in
favor of the site the facts that 1t is
within 10 minutes by taxicab from the
business section Of Washington. that 1t
permits construction of runways q
mile long in all directions, that it has
ideal approaches and that 1t offers
seaplane as we'll as land plane facilities.
The objection that Gravelly Point is
too close to Boiling Field can be over
come by unified traffic control, he said.
Questioned by Chairman Lanham as
to the wisdom of the Federal Govern
ment bearing all the expenses of con-
structing the airport, as provided in
the pending Smith bill, Mr.. Miller
pointed out that more than IS per
cent of air travellers to and from
Washington are on Federal business.
that the bulk of airmail is of Federal
character and that the airport should
be not only adequate for q city the
size Of Washington, but should be
national in character, serving as q
model for all others. Mr.. Lanham ex-
pressed the opinion that 'it Is clear
that Federal participation should be
greater than for airports at other
cities, but I am not clear that the
Federal Government should bear the
entire expense"
Washington Airport Urged.
Mr.. Miller recommended that Mill
tary road be closed and Washington
Airport be made as safe as possible,
declaring that every day it is used "is
hazard to life and that eventually
responsibility for loss of life will be
laid at the door of Congress"
Mr.. Behncke pointed out that Euro
pean airports now are being built
with runways up to 5000 feet in
length and that provision should be
made for such expansion here to meet
all possible future requirements. He
pointed out that even the new Boiling
Field is "a one-way field" for the
four-engine bombing planes now being
built and that from q national de-
tense standpoint larger field should
be constructed.
The committee will resume hearings
at 1918 am. tomorrow, with Samuel
J. Solomon, manager Of Warrington
Airport, as the drst witness.