Evening star., 1938-10-30

1929 majority OF the local aviation,
civic and business organizations went
on record in favor of the Gravelly
Point site.
Washington Airport and Hoover
Field were combined under a virtual
merger in September. 1890. although
they remained physically divided by
Military road, destined for the next
seven years to become a growing men,
ace to air transportation Under the
merger agreement, Washington Air
port was to serve as an air transport
terminal exclusively. while Hoover
Field was to handle sightseeing and
aerial taxi work. student training and
the servicing and storage of visiting
airplanes.
The New York, Philadelphia &
Washington Airways Corp. Eastern
Air Transport and New York Always
then were operating out of Washing
ton Airport. The pioneer of all local
lines, Pennsylvania Airlines, was fly
ing from Hoover Field, and under the
agreement was transferred later to
Washington Airport.
Albert G. Ober. jr., continued as
operating head of Washington Air
port, with Jack Rabbit as manager
in charge of traffic maintenance and
construction. John S. Wynne. son of
the late Postmaster General, then
manager of Hoover Field. assumed
charge of all flying operations on the
two fields. Mr.. Wynne subsequently
became manager of the airports leav-
ing to become chief of Public Works
Administration airport work in the
Commerce Departments Bureau of
Air Commerce. He now is engaged
in the practice of aeronautical law
here.
Mr.. Wynne had as his assistants J.
Earl Steinhauer, who assumed charge
of all aircraft maintenance and re-
pair work, and NJ. A. Crowder, who
was placed in charge of office and
personnel administration. Mr.. Crow
der, now station manager for Penn
sylvania Central Airlines, is the only
one of the pioneer group remaining
on duty at Washington Airport.
The agreement resulted in combin-
ing aerial passenger hopping activi.
ties WHICH had set world records, av-
eraging more than $4,000 passengers
a year for two years.
During the summer of 1881 the Fed.
eral Government gave official recog.
milton to the status of Washington.
Hoover Airport as the center of civil
aviation in the National Capital BY
moving there from Boiling Field it,
airways weather station and announc.
ing that night airmail service would
follow. This served to consolidate al
local air transport operations, ther
totaling some 10 scheduled arrivals
and departures daily.
The Public Utilities Commission
recognizing the need for additiona
safeguards to the growing local ali
transport business, in July 1882. or.
dered the Potomac Electric Power Co
to remove all poles and wires along the
Washington Airport boundary for 9
distance of 2,140 feet.
On July 81, 1888. Hoover Field wa.
sold at public auction and. was &C.
quired by the National Aviation Corp
of New York, owners of Washington
Airport. from the Ludington brothers
of Philadelphia, who bid in the field
for $174,500 to protect their mortgage
holdings.
With both fields in common own.
ership and the demands Of air trans
portation for larger landing area in.
creasing the fight for closing of Mill
tary road really began. The late Rep.
resentative John j. McSwain of South
Carolina, then chairman of the House
Military Affairs Committee, in Jan.
uary, 1894, introduced . bill author.
izing closing Of Military road and de.