Evening star., 1954-11-07

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high-level talks about q second
airport for Washington are ex-
pected to clear up once and for
all two bitterly controversial
proposals-an airport at Burke.
Wa, and civil use Of Andrews
Air Force Base.
Between June, 1851, and May.
1858, the 4,500-acre Burke tract
reigned as the Governments first
choice for a site to take the
pressure on jam-packed Wash
ington National Airport.
Since mid-1953, negotiations
presumably have been under way
between the Commerce Depart
ment and the Air Force to work
out something at Andrews.
Both Proposals Still Open.
According to Federal officials,
both proposals are still open.
And, despite long periods of
inactivity. each certainly has
shown little evidence of being
dead.
AS a result Of the new talks
ordered by the White House
recently, one question more
than any other probably will
decide whether the Burke issue
will be reopened actively:
Does the administration have
any reason to feel it can win
over the organized citizen re-
sistance-with it's block-busting
political backing - that has
already beaten back one attempt?
Harold K. Howe, chairman of
the Burke Airport Relocation
Committee, told The Star his
group of Fairfax County property
owners is more ready than ever"
to fight any new movement in
the Burke direction. And the
group, he said, has new pledges"
of political support from its Vir-
ginia Congressional delegation.
Search Started in 194s.
This is the way the Burke and
Andrews proposals developed,
and the way the situation stands
today:
In 194S, the Civil Aeronautics
Administration. alarmed at the
growing congestion at Washing
ton National, formed a survey
committee to find some way to
ease it. 0
The committee turned first to
Andrews. across the Anacostia
in Prince Georges County. and
concluded that 1t had found
an answer. There was plenty
of room at Andrews. It had
good connections to Washington
via the Suitland parkway. The
military wasn't using all the
space and the cost of providing
lfor civil air traffic wouldn't be
great. but the Defense Depart
nient said it planned maximum
Ense" Of the airport as a military
FfacilityS for "the foreseeable
! future" So Andrews was elirni-
mated.
Baltimore's then brand-neW
Friendship Airport also was
studied. But tt was ruled out
quickly, mainly because it simply
was too far from the Capital
by car.
In 1949. CAA told the White
House u new airport was the
only solution. A bill to authorize
a second airport was introduced
and became law September z,
1850. Meanwhile. in 1949, the
CAA began surveying every part
of the areas suburbs.
Fairfax Site Best of All.
The agency narrowed its
sights to Fairfax County. in an
area far enough away not to
interfere with Washington Ma
tional operations and near
enough by ground to be prac-
tical. Six sites at Annandale,
Burke, Fairfax, Pender, Chan
tilly and Herndon got detailed
study that covered soil condi-
tions. topography, access, costs.
air traffic patterns and impact
on the communities.
After talks with Fairfax Of
ficials, the Commerce Depart
ment in June. 1851, decided
Burke best met all the tests. The
4.500-acre tract is 1712 miles
southeast of Washington. 51a
miles west of Shirley Highway
and about 6 miles southwest of
Annandale.
Immediately, the Justice De-
partment filed a certificate Of
taking against the tracts prop
critics. The Government, post.