Evening star., 1940-12-03
ActiveDutyCa||s
Col. Smith From
Airport Post
Leaves Contracts to
Assure GroveIIy Point
Of $100, 900 Income
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.

BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.
Leaving contracts ready for sigma
ture which assure Washington Ma
tional Airport Of a net income Of at
least 100000 during its first year Of
operation. 1t. Col. Suppter Smith,
chairman Of the Interdepartmental
Engineering Commission in charge
of building the great Gravelly Point
project, has been recalled to Ala
bama for active duty as air officer
of the 31st National Guard Divi-
sion, it was announced today.
Before his unexpected departure
Sunday, Col. Smith also completed
arrangements for the leasing of six
big hangers, the first of which now
Is under construction, and had ia
ken steps to make certain the air
port will be available on Decem-
ber IS for emergency. use as an
alternative to Washington Airport.
After that date air transport op-
erations which now are shifted to
Boiling Field under certain wind
and weather conditions will be
transferred to the new National AIR
port.
Col. Smith is given credit in
local aviation circles for much of
the success of the $13,000,000 local
airport project and had been men
toned for appointment as director
of the world model air terminal
upon its completion in the spring.
Disclosure Follows Departure.
Although Col. Smith received his
active-duty orders about two
weeks ago, no announcement was
made until after he actually had
wound up his affairs here and left
for Birmingham. His resignation
as chairman of the engineering
body in charge of the airport has
been submitted to President Roose-
welt. He also resigned, effective at
midnight Saturday, from his sal
aried position as special airport
adviser to the administrator Of civil
aeronautics, Col. Donald M. Con-
molly.
Fred E. Schnepfe, representative
Of the Public Works Administration
on the Interdepartmental Engineer
ing Commission, has been elected
acting chairman to succeed Col.
Smith, 1t was announced today.
Col. R. S. Thomas, Army Engineer
for the local district; w. E. Rey-
nolds. representative of the Public
Buildings Administration, and 1t.
Col. Edmund H. Leavey, represent
ing the Works Progress Administra-
ton, are continuing to serve on the
Interdepartmental Commission.
1t is understood, however, that
Col. Thomas soon is to be trans
ferred to duty on the staff of the
I'd Army, with headquarters at
Memphis, and that 1t. Col Leavey
also is under orders for field duty
which will take him away from
Washington.
Col. Smith announced that How
ard H. Houk will remain on duty as
resident engineer. Other members
Of Col. Smiths staff also are ex-
pected to continue on duty until the
airport Is competed.
Rapid Progress Being Made.
Col. Smith witnessed pouring Of
the last concrete in the giant air
port terminal building before his de-
parture. This building is longer
than either the Capitol or Union
Station. The first hangar was be-
ing rooted at the time of his last
inspection. Rapid progress also is
being made In grading and paving
the inland side of the airport, in
cluding the access and service roads
and parking spaces.
Before leaving his Office, Col.
Smith went over the final terms of
all contracts with concessionaires,
which now are ready for signature
by Administrator Connolly, 1t was
learned. The contracts are said to
insure not only the payment Of all
operating expenses at the airport,
but to guarantee net income of
at least 500 900 to the Government
during the first year and an in
creasing income with growing use of
the airport in the future.
The plan envisioned by Col. Smith
and provided for in these contracts
contemplates development of
Washington National Airport not
only as an air terminal but, in
keeping with the European pattern,
as a center of civic and social life
of the National Capital. Construc-
ton of one of the most beautiful
restaurants in the local area is
under way in the terminal building
as a part of this plan.
Col. Smith also had completed ar
rangements for leasing of all six of
the hangers for which funds now
are available. Pennsylvania Cen
trail Airlines and Eastern Air Lines
have arranged to occupy two han
gars each and American Airlines
also has asked for two hangers but
probably will have to share one of
the structures with other airport
activities.
May Be No Room for Guard.
It was indicated definitely that
the new District of Columbia Ma
tional Guard Aviation Squadron will
have to look elsewhere for quarters.
The squadron had applied for use
Of one of the hangers at the new
Gravelly Point field.
One of Col. Smiths final tasks was
to insure completion of the east
west runway at the new airport.
This runway is to extend across
the right-of way Of the old Mount
Vernon Highway, which still is be-
ing used as construction road,
almost to the new road where it
crosses the fill in the old Four-Mile
Run marsh.
Drainage pipes and lighting con-
duits now are being laid under this
end Of the future runway and final
grading is to be undertaken at once.
The east-west runway, which will
be used when emergency wind con-
ditions drive traffic from Washing
ton Airport. now is paved for q. dis
tance of $500 feet. This Is longer
than the east-west landing area
available either at Washington Air