Evening star., 1938-01-25
M'MULLEN URGES
GRAVELLY POINT
AS D. c. AIRPORT
Erection of Highway Lab
oratory Nearby Would
Be Hazard, He Says.
LONG RUNWAYS SEEN
ADVANTAGE OF SITE
Closeness to Boiling Field and
Anacostia Station Defended by
U. s. Bureau Chief.

Gravelly Point comes closer than
any one of the 48 sites so far con-
sidered as an airport for Washington
to meeting the varied requirements
for modern air terminal, A. B. Nc
Mullen, chief Of the Airport Section
OF the Bureau of Air Commerce,
testified today during the second day
OF hearings on the Smith airport bill
before the House Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds.
Mr.. McMullen warned, however. that
action of the Bureau of Public Roads,
in constructing $l,000,0O0 highway
testing laboratory overlooking the
Gravelly Point site, would create a
hazard to future air transport opera
tions there. Immediate consideration
should be given to this matter before
the site Is jeopardized, he said, point
ing out that the main laboratory
building would stand ITO feet higher
than the level of the runways.
Gravelly Point could be developed
to accommodate all types of air trans
portation which now can be foreseen,
Mr.. McMullen testified. He said run
ways far exceeding the minimum re-
quirements of the Bureau of Air Com
merce for the highest type air terminal
could be constructed there and that
perfect approaches over che Potomac
River from three directions would
further improve the site
The matter of air traffic congestion
due to the proximity of Boiling Field
and the Anacostia Naval Air Station,
previously advanced as one of the
chief arguments against Gravelly
Point. could be worked out safely, the
Federal airport chief testified. Similar
problems have been overcome at San
Diego, Calf, and San Antonio, Tex,
he said
Less Control Troubles.
"As matter of fact, airports which
are very close together offer less con-
troll difficulties than those two or three
miles apart Mr. McMullen explained
They can be handled as single unit
through one control system"
Outstanding advantages of the Gra-
velly Point site, in addition to its size
and good approaches. he testified. are
its closeness to the city and the op-
portunity it affords for both seaplanes
and landplane facilities.
Gravelly Point could be developed
with runways ranging from 4,4oO feet
to 1000 feet long, and it would be
possible to construct at least three
runways OF greater length than 5000
feet, Mr.. McMullen said. With its
water approaches from three sides.
Gravelly Point would have practically
perfect approaches from all points ex-
cept the west, and these probably
would be better than the minimum, he
added.
The flood danger, at Gravelly Point
was minimized by the witness, who
told the committee that during the
last flood the Gravelly Point levies al
ready in place were feet above water.
Because of its greater size and better
approaches, the Gravelly Point airport
could be used on many days when
Washington Airport is closed because
of fog, he said.
Cost Is Estimated.
p. c. Dorr of the District Army En-
gineer office told the committee TO-
100000 cubic yards of hydraulic fill
would be required at cost of ap-
proximately $2,00O,OOO.
Total cost of the Gravelly Point
project was estimated by Mr. Dorr at
$4,746,o00, OF which 100000 would be
required for relocating a portion of the
Mount Vernon Boulevard and con-
structing a new underpass and a cul-
vert at -Four Mile Run
E. w. Robertson of Mount Vernon
Always recommended that the COM
mittee consider a site at Hybla Valley,
near Alexandria, Va, as a site for
either the permanent or auxiliary air
port for Washington. A tract of $500
acres 8 miles from Washington could
be purchased and fully developed at a
cost of $3,3s6,0oo, he testified. He
quoted DR.. Hugo Eckener as saying
that the Hybla Valley site is "the finest
natural location ever have seem"