Evening star., 1938-01-22
NEW LABORATORY
PER|[SFUTURE Of
AIRPORT PROJECT
100000 Building, Al.
ready Started, Is Located
Next GraveIIy Point Site.
CLUB AIDE BRANDS IT
AFFRONT TO PRESIDENT
John F. Victory Says Erection
of New Structure Conflicts
With Policy.

Future Of the Gravelly Point airport
project, advocated by President Roose-
velt and now the subject of studies by
Congress, now is imperiled by con-
struction Of a 81 100000 laboratory for
the Bureau of Public Roads adjoining
the site, it developed today.
Excavations for the foundations Of
the main laboratory building are being
completed, and pouring of concrete
foundations is expected to start Mon.
day.
News of the construction brought an
immediate protest from advocates Of
the Gravelly Point site. John F. Vic
tory, president of the Aero Club Of
Washington, asked that construction
be stopped Immediately, because it
conflicts with the policy of the Presi-
dent and the welfare of the National
Capital"
Allan Smythe, secretary of the club,
characterized the construction as "a
direct affront to the President and all
those who are seeking a solution Of
the local airport problem"
Hazard Feared.
Chester H. Warrington, former pres.
ident of the Aero Club and the WASH
ington Air Derby Association, said the
laboratory buildings would create a
dangerous hazard for airplanes oper-
ating in the Gravelly Point vicinity
and would make it much more diff
cult to bring about a solution of the
airport problem"
Officials of the Bureau of Public
Roads said the present construction is
being carried on under the provisions
OF contract totaling s957,5O for a
laboratory, shops and boiler house.
The building is being constructed on
the site of the historical Abingdon
estate, just west of the Mount Vernon
boulevard.
Within few hours after the OPEN
ing OF hearings yesterday on the
Smith bill to authorize construction
OF an airport at Gravelly Point, Rep
resentative May. Democrat, of Ken.
lucky, reintroduced his bill, vetoed last
summer by President Roosevelt, to
close Military road and permit ex-
pansion of Washington Airport.
Although the May bill is in accord
with provisions of the Smith bill pro-
vlding for emergency improvement
OF Washington Airport, it was feared
that the new bill would serve to com.
plicate the airport situation.
The Smith bill is pending before the
House Committee on Public Buildings
and Grounds. The May bill was expect
ed to 60 to the House Military Affairs
Committee, of which its author is
chairman. The danger, according to
supporters of the Smith bill, is that
there will be conflicting hearings and
the possible reporting to the House
of separate airport bills, leading to
possible conflict on the floor.
Provides Expansion by Lease.
The May bill authorizes closing of
Military road and leasing to Washing.
ton Airport of adjoining portions of
the Arlington Experimental Farm and
the Boundary Channel Lagoon, with
right to fill the water area.
President Roosevelt. in vetoing the
May bill last September, declared "ths
principal aviation field of the Ma.
tional Capital should not be owned
or controlled by any private corpora
ton" He objected to the closing of
an important highway and to the
leasing of Government land to a
private corporation. He also pointed
out that, even with these additions
to its area, Washington Airport would
still be one of the poorest fields in
the entire Nation for large planes car
rying passengers and mail"
Last week the President summoned
Representatives Smith and Nichols,
Democrat, of Oklahoma, chief sup
porter of the washington Airport site,
to the White House. AS result of the
conference Mr.. Smith introduced his
bill authorizing construction Of the
Gravelly Point airport The bill also
provided for construction of an aux
iliary airport on an undesignated site
and for the closing of Military road
as means of improving safety at
Washington Airport until the Gravelly
Point project can be completed.
Hearings on the Smith bill are
to be continued before the Public
/ Buildings and Grounds Committee in
the caucus room of the old House
Office Building at 1915 am. Tuesday.