Evening star., 1951-06-21
Use
OF Baltimore
Airport Pushed
Butler Planning for
Early Meeting of
Congress Groups
By chorIes J. Yorbrouoh

DoAOAAOiC CI4CA1NoAlIp 4lUcItld-
tional went forward today despite
Air Force plans for a transport
terminal there.
, The Commerce Department has
selected 4,500-acre location IN
Fairfax County, Va, for the sup
Washington field over
protest of Fairfax residents and
the county board of supervisors.
In pace with those developments
were:
l. Launching of a study by the
Fairfax County (Va) Planning
Commission to determine effect of
the Burke site on county tax reve-
nueS.
Board to Get Proposal.
2. Granting of authority by the
Fairfax Board of Supervisors to
obtain estimates on a professional
study Of similar nature.
3. Presentation of the airport
proposal to the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission
tomorrow.
Senator Butler, Republican. of
Maryland, said today he is plan
ming an early meeting of the Vir-
ginia and Maryland delegations
in Congress to discuss Washing
tons use Of the new SIS million
airfield between here and Balti-
more.
The Maryland delegation, since
even before Friendship was COM
pleted, has made no secret of its
desire to funnel most of Washing
ton commercial air traffic there.
Transport Terminal Planned.
Rather than dull his fervor, the
Air Force plans to install a mill
tary air transport terminal there
served to sharpen Senator But
ler's proposal.
He said today that there is
plenty of property around Friend
ship-all zoned for airport USE"
This comment came in answer to
a question as to long-distance
prospects that air traffic move
ments are expected to increase
from $4,000 to $4,000 here by
1855.
According to yesterdays an
nouncement. the Air Force pro-
posal would put 4,500 airmen, 800
officers and 1000 civilian en-
ployeS on the Friendship reserva-
ton. Installation would cost an
estimated $43.4 million.
The Civil Aeronautics Admin
istration's primary objection to
the use of Friendship always has
been the distance to Washington-
81 miles. Maryland hackers say
this would mean 40 minutes driv-
ing time to downtown Washington.
but CAA and many others dispute
the figure.
Didn't Encourage Baltimore.
When D. w. Rented was CAA
administrator, he told a House
subcommittee the CAA did not
encourage Baltimore to build such
a large airport. Baltimore officials
testified, however, that they had
been advised Friendship was to
serve both cities and that Balti-
more may lose substantial part
of the investment unless it can
count on traffic from the Wash
ington area.
The CAA comparative figures on
monthly air traffic at Friendship
and National, show that in Janu-
airy Friendship had 4,458 to Ma
tional's 1879. In February, Ma
tional handled over 5000 more:
March, almost 10000 more; April
about 10000 more, and May, all
most II 900 more.
The figures at both airports in
clude commercial, military and
civilian.
In announcing his plans for the
Capitol Hill conference, Senator
Butler said he was seeking a "co-
ordinated effort" He added that
since the military had announced
its plans to use the Baltimore
field, II have been told there
would be no congestion and no in
reference with commercial air
travel"
Any Site in County Opposed.
The Fairfax revenue study was
requested by Circuit Court Judge
Paul E. Brown, who is leading op-
position to the Burke site and
whose historic home. Birthstone
Hill, would be taken in by airport
construction.
Opponents in Fairfax County
protest not only the Burke site,
but any other location in the
county. Many of the protests were
based on possibility of lowered tax
revenue should the Government
take over the $500 acres on a tax
free basis.
The Board of Supervisors has
unanimously opposed location of
the airport in the county.
AS to the appearance of the air.
port question on the Park and
Planning Commission agenda.
Commerce Secretary Sawyer is
not bound by any decision of the
commission. But he can make no
final commitment until he has
received report from the plan
nerS.
More than a year ago, the PLAN
ming agency. working with the
Civil Aeronautics Administration,
recommended a location in the
Annandale-S Springfield or Chan
tilly areas of Fairfax County.
In making the final selection
from recommendation from the
CAA, Secretary Sawyer said tia
location had been dis
carded because of the rapid
buildup of the area.
The Chantilly site was dropped
because of the distance and lack
Of fast access to downtown WASH
ington.
The Burke location, 171a miles
nf WASHINGTON jS 5lL