Evening star., 1938-01-23
GIBSON T0F|CHT
AIRPORT HAZARD
Will Ask Wallace, to Delay
Work on Road Testing
Laboratory.

immediate suspension of conStruc-
ton of the proposed Bureau of Public
Roads road-testing laboratory adjoin-
ing the Mount Vernon boulevard at
Abingdon will be demanded tomor-
row by Senator Gibson, Republican, of
Vermont. author of bill now pend
ing in the Senate to authorize con-
struction of an airport on the GRAY
ely Point site.
1t is contended construction of the
laboratory would jeopardize the
Gravelly Point plan by preventing a
necessary relocation of short stretch
Of the boulevard and by creating a
serious obstacle to airplanes operat-
ing in the vicinity.
|. Il sincerely hope nothing will be
done to jeopardize this airport plan
while it is in process of considerat ton
BY Congress" Senator Gibson said.
To Protest to Wallace.
The Vermont Senator. long an ad-
vocate of the Gravelly Point site. said
he will protest to Secretary Wallace
tomorrow and request that orders be
issued to the Bureau of Public Roads
to hold up construction until Congress
has had an opportunity to act on
pending airport legislation.
Pouring of concrete for the founda-
tions of the main s957,5OO laboratory
building is scheduled to begin TO-
morrow.
An inquiry into construction of the
laboratory and the extent of the hazard
1t would offer to airplanes operating
from the proposed Gravelly Point air.
port was scheduled when the House
Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds resumes hearings at 1915
am. Tuesday on the Smith bill pro-
viding for construction Of an airport
at Gravelly Point.
John F. Victory, president of the
Aero Club of Washington, is slated to
be one Of the first witnesses called at
Tuesdays hearing.
Would Make Area Dangerous,
Information in the hands of Aero
Club officials was that the new labora-
tory building, standing on hill so feet
hlgh, would have roof line ITO feet
above the level of the proposed airport,
ASIDE from presenting a dangerous
obstacle, especially in bad weather, it
was pointed out, the buildings probably
would cause eddies making the tmme-
date area dangerous under certain
wind conditions.
This condition would be aggravated
Wnen the laboratory boiler plant is In
1ull operation, it was contended. It
was pointed out that the GOODYEAR
alrship hangar at WASHINGTON Air
port creates such serious eddies that
alrilnes have requested the Virginia
State Corporation Commission to or
DER removal of the structure.
NO pilot wants to glide into a
$S5O,OO0 pile of brick on a foopv
night" commented Edward G. Ham
llton. local representative of the Ma
tional Airline Pilots Association. last
night. David Behncke, president os
the association, is expected here from
Chicago Tuesday to testify before the
House committee.
Mr.. Hamilton said that his associ.
alton is not recommending any specific
site, but will be glad to pass expert
opinion on any site which, may be
selected. He said he thought con-
structlon OF the laboratory might be
neld up until the question is settled.
clarence A. Miller, chairman of the
AVIATION Committee Of the Washing
ION Board Of Trade, who also pro-
tested construction of the laboratory.
y expected to testify Tuesday or Wed.
nesday. ~