Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-07-19
30 Sites Studied,
Burke Airport
Hearing Is Told
Legislative Council
Group Holds First
Session of Probe

SSSSlOtI vi IODC
Thirty detailed studies of posi-
BILE airport sites in Fairfax County
were made by the Government be-
fore selection of the controversial
location at Burke for the new air.
port for Washington, it was dis
closed today. (
Herbert H. Howell, director of
the Burke project, told a meeting
of Fairfax leaders that the Burke
site was selected after these stu
dies as the best of six alternate
areas in the county.
More than so citizens-many re-
siding In the Burke area-met in
Fairfax Courthouse in the first
session of hearings by a commit
tee Of the Virginia Advisory Leg
islative Council. The committee
is investigating the airport ques-
ton under authority of the Gener-
al Assembly.
William Bird to Testify.
Mr.. Howell and Frederick B.
Lee. deputy administrator of the
Civil Aeronautics Administration,
led the list of witnesses. They were
to be followed by William Bird,
chairman of the committee
formed by residents of the area
who are opposing the project.
DR.. j. D. Hagood, State Senator
From Clover, is chairman of the
investigating group.
Mr.. Lee cited a report issued by
the State two years ago support
ing the selection of the Burke site.
This report, he said, recommended
the construction of a new airport
in Northern Virginia.
Mr.. Howell amplified this ref
erence. declaring that the report
specified the upland area of Fair
fax County for the airports loca-
ton.
Burden at National Cited.
Mr.. Lee emphasized that the
CAA felt it was carrying out the
will Of Congress and the admins
tration in selecting the site. He
added that the mobilization effort
in recent months has added to the
traffic burden at National Airport
and made it seem already made
quate for the Capitals needs.
The CAA official was asked by
Fairfax Delegate E. w. Lynch
whether the CAA had been aware
of plans for the study being mi
tiated today. which was authorized
last year. The General Assembly
Mt that time called for an inves-
tigation Of the airport problem.
Mr.. Lee replied:
II believe this was not called
10 our attention"
Only one prepayment of the air.
port project spoke this morning.
Lehman H. Young of Fairfax, de-
clared:
II think land values will in
crease around the airport and the
approaches to it,"
But he added that he "sympa-
thized deeply" with Burke resi-
dents.
Property Evaluation Protested.
Mrs. Sally Green, Burke resi-
dent who said she is past 70, en-
livened the meeting with a pro-
test against the Governments
evaluation of the soil on her prop
erty. She won applause when she
declared:
There will be an investigation
OF the soil before there1l be any
sale Of our land"
About noon, Delegate Lynch, in
some agitation, informed the CAA
officials his wife had just sent
word that appraisers were run
ming bulldozers over his property.
do you think it's fair" he
asked, "for appraisers to deface
my property while I'm on State
duty up here?"
Mr.. Howell replied that he was
sure the Justice Department
appraisers would Consult" prop
erty owners before completing
their task, but he admitted that
reports Of bulldozers in action had
taken him by surprise.
Bulldozers Removing Brush.
The Coast and Geodetic Survey
asked to use the bllldozers to re-
move brush so surveyors could see
to run their lines. the official ex-
planned.
Government appraisers already
are at work in the 4,500-acre area
designated for the new airport
which includes some 80 homes and
lao property owners. The Fair
lax Board of Supervisors. the
County Planning Commission. the
County Federation of Citizens
Associations and the Burke Civic
Association all are on record
against the project.
The site is 171a miles south of
the White House and near the
Shirley highway, to which it is to
be connected by new access road
Mr.. Lee said today the location
OF this road probably will be
changed from the original plan
after consultation with the Ma
ti0no1 pork and nIsx: