Evening star., 1939-09-12
Earth Fill Due
ToEndAiirport
Menace
Shift in Operations
Because of WeutheI
To Be Unnecessary
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.

BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.
A 100000 cubic yard earth fill
which is expected to end forever
the flood menace at the airport
and along United States No. high
way, and which will end the neces-
sity for transferring airline opera
tions to Boiling Field under ad-
verse weather conditions, now is in
progress at Washington Airport.
The fill, being made with earth
excavated for the foundations of the
Social Security Board Building, al
ready has raised the airport level
at the north end along Boundary
Channel to 16 feet above water
level - approximately three feet
above the level of the highest flood
in Potomac River history.
In addition to raising the field
level, the fill has been carried sew
eral hundred feet to the north be-
tween Boundary Channel and the
Arlington Experimental Farm to
provide a right-of-way for a new
runway extending from this point
to the vicinity of the Eastern Ar
Lines hangar on No. l highway,
crossing the present long runway.
New Landing Facilities.
Completion of this new landing
strip, according to Samuel j. Solo
mon, airport manager, will provide
necessary new "cross-wind" landing
facilities which will prevent the
necessity Of transferring operations
to Boiling Field under certain
cross-wind conditions as now is re-
quired under regulations of the
Civil Aeronautics Authority.
The fill is approximately third
completed, Mr.. Solomon announced,
and is expected to be finished about
October Is. A fleet of go large trucks
is being used to move the earth from
the Sucial Security Board job and
the fill is arriving at the airport as
rapidly as it can be spread and
leveled by "bulldozers" and scrapers.
Asked about the effect of the con-
struction of Washington National
Airport at Gravelly Point on his
project, Mr.. Solomon explained that
the National Airport Corp, which
owns Washington Airport, as yet
has no plans other than to continue
operating" the local air terminal as
an airport. He said there is no as
surance that Washington Airport
will continue in operation after the
giant Federal airport is completed.
but that no decision on this ques-
ton has yet been reached.
Important Improvement.
Regardless of the fate of Wash
ington Airport, it was pointed out,
the fill now in progress is an impor-
tant permanent improvement for an
area which always has been sub
jected to flooding. The airport fill,
Mr.. Solomon pointed out, will per-
manently safeguard No. highway
and buildings in the commercial
and industrial zone from Highway
Bridge to Columbia pike from dan
ger of high water.
The highest flood in Potomac his
tory, in March. 1888 rose to level
of 1873 feet at Key Bridge, tapering
down to level of 12.5 feet at High
way Bridge, Mr.. Solomon said. The
level at Washington Airport was be-
tween these two figures. The fill to
is feet is being made along the
entire length of Boundary Channel
from the Arlington Farm to the Air
port Pool, a distance of about 5000
feet.
The level at the pool end will be
that of the concrete platform around
the swimming pool, which was high
above the 1898 flood level. The fill
there will make possible the con-
struction Of large new beach and
recreational area adjoining the
swimming pool along Boundary
Channel, to be ready before next
spring.
Six Feet Above Runway.
The fill along the channel already
is up to level of about 6 feet above
the main runway and the plan Of
his company is to raise the level Of
the entire field ultimately to this
grade. Mr.. Solomon said. Because
of the necessity of keeping the run
ways open constantly for air traffic,
however, no effort Is being made
now to build up the runway area.
Should, however, the airport be
abandoned as an air terminal fol-
lowing the completion Of Gravelly
Point, now scheduled for next July.
efforts will be made to complete the
fill over the present runways in
preparation for subdividing the air.
port property for general real estate
purposes, it is understood.
Construction of a levee along
Boundary Channel long has been
under consideration by the local
Army engineer Office as part Of
the permanent Potomac River flood
control program. No funds have
been provided for the purpose. how
ever, and the present fill will make
it unnecessary for the Federal Gov
ernment to undertake this project.
The traffic control system formerly
in operation on Military road where
it crossed the main airport runway
has been put back into operation
temporarily to keep the dump truck
traffic from interfering with airline
operations.
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