Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-06-15
A Hard Decision to Make

Resentment OF residents Of Burke, Virginia,
over the sudden disclosure that they are slated
for displacement by Washington's new national
airport is understandable Somebody was bound
to be hurt by this necessary project, OF course,
whatever the site selected. It was q hard de-
cision to make. Unfortunately most Of the
property owners learned the bad news from
reporters, a circumstance which probably ag-
gravated public indignation and which might
have been avoided by better scheduling of legal
action, posted notices and public statements
Certainly the victims Of the proposed mass
eviction were entitled to learn their fate from
an official source, rather than from the press.
The reason for secrecy in advance Of the
final decision was a good one. To have an
nounced in advance where the new airport was
to be put would have been to invite stampede
Of land spectators to the area. Speculation of
this sort would have seriously complicated the
problem Of acquiring the site at reasonable
price. The law authorizing the airport project
specified that local governmental authorities
must be consulted. There was minimum Of
consultation, however, although the law probably
was complied with when representatives Of the
Civil Aeronautics Administration conferred
secretly Monday and Tuesday nights with the
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Also, the
approval Of the National Capital Park and Plan
Hins COMMISSION on the burke lOcaC1On is yet
to be obtained ssA
The site picked can be defended on number
OF grounds 1t is one of the least-populated
areas suitable for airport purposes in the Wash
ington area. It's 400-foot elevation makes 1t less
subject to fogs than the present airport which
Is close to the, water. It is at relatively safe
distance from the National Airport and military
airfieds, In SO far as airtrafc patterns are con-
cerned-an important consideration In view Of
accident hazards resulting from the proximity
OF Boiling Air Force Base to the National Airport
at Gravelly Point. It will be within Is minutes
driving distance of Washington by way of the
new Shirley highway, after an access road is
built It will have plenty of acreage for long
runways
There can be no doubt as to the necessity for
new airport to serve the washington Metropol-
ttan Area. It Is estimated that air traffic viii
rise 40 per cent here by 1856 The present air
terminal already is dangerously congested. Acct
dent risks would be vastly increased If the con-
gestion becomes much greater. That Is why
Congress authorized new airport, after a sug-
gestion that Andrews Field be converted to
civilian airport had been vigorously opposed by
the Air Force on national security grounds. II
the military field could have been used. the
whole problem would have been greatly simpli-
fed
1t is too bad that no alternative to displace-
ment OF private citizens from their homes and
farms remains But every possible effort should
be made to ease the impact on the victims of the
site decision-the victims whose land and build
ings will be taken and those who will find them
selves on the edge Of noisy busy and perhaps
dangerous aviation terminal