Evening star., 1938-02-01
WEST0VERFAVORS
CAMP SPRINGS
Army Air Corps Head Dis
agrees With President on
GraveIIy Point as Airport.

DiSagreeing with President Roose-
welt, Maj. Gen. Oscar Westover. chief
Of the Army Air Corps, told the House
Committee on Buildings and Grounds
today that the Federal Government
should establish an airport for Wash
ington at Camp Springs. Md, rather
than at Gravelly Point.
Gravelly Point never could be de-
veloped as first-class airport and
never would be really safe. Gen. West
over said. He added that Camp
Springs lis by far the best site" con-
sidered by the District Airport Com
mission, OF which he was a member.
The Army now is averaging 10 air
operations day at Boiling Field,
Gen. Westover said. and in the sum-
mer probably will have three times the
amount Of traffic handled at Wash
ington Airport. Location Of an air
PORT at Gravelly Point undoubtedly
would slow up Army operations, he
said, adding that Gravelly Point could
not be developed in less than four or
five years.
Camp Springs Superior.
OF all the airport sites considered
in the vicinity of Washington, the Air
Corp head said, only nine were serious
contenders and of those, Camp Springs
was by far superior, considering all
points of merit.
On the basis of technical qualifica-
tons alone, the second best of the
local sites is one near Fort Hunt. Va,
Gen. Westover told the committee.
Asked pointblank by Representa-
tive Smith, Democrat. of Virginia
whether he agreed with the stand
taken by President Roosevelt in his
veto message last September, in which
he recommended the Gravelly Point
site, Gen. Westover replied:
If you ask my personal opinion
I disagree with the President"
Dr. Willis R. Gregg, chief of the
Weather Bureau, told the committee
special studies have been made a,
five suggested airport sites-Washing-
ton Airport, Boiling Field, College
Park. Congressional Airport near
Halpine, Md and Hybla Valley. Va
OF the five, Hybla Valley is the
least affected by fog. averaging only
"a days a year in which there is visi-
bility Of mile or less at any time
during the day. Congressional Air
port and College Park averaged IS to
40 days during which fog occurs. and
Boiling Field and Washington Airport,
55 to 80 days
Although no observations have been
made at the Camp Springs and
Gravelly Point sites. Dr. Gregg ex-
pressed the opinion that Camp Springs
would show fog conditions about the
same as College Park. and Gravelly
Point the same as Washington Air
port.
Solomon Submits Chart.
Samuel J. Solomon, manager of
Washington Airport, submitted chart
of the Potomac River. which he says
shows it is impossible to operate
ocean-going sea planes from Wash
ington regularly. He also exhibited
a large, Photographic map showing
proposed enlargement of Washington
Airport by acquisition of land to the
south and west. This would increase
the airport from 173 to 400 acres in
size, he told the committee.
Mr.. Solomon said he was not op-
posed to the Camp Springs site, nor
was any member of his company, but
that they believed Washington Airport,
because of its proximity to the city,
provided the best possible air transport
terminal.
The committee will continue hear
ings tomorrow at 1915 am. to hear
representatives Of the Navy Bureau Of
Aeronautics and Naval Communica-
tions Service and to receive further
testimony from Frederic A. Delano,
chairman Of the National Park and
Planning Commission.