Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-31
Burke Study Heads
For Senate Group
Bottle Expected
AS Holland Unit
Ends Hearings

The fight for Burke airport
moved toward the Senate APP
preparations Committee today.
Newest chapter in the seven-
year-old controversy over a
second Washington airport was
concluded yesterday with the
end of hearings before a special
subcommittee headed by Sem
ator Holland, Democrat Of
Florida.
The conclusions and the rec
ord will be submitted to the APP
preparations Committee within
a matter of days." Senator Hol-
land said
AS the hearings got under way,
Senator Holland said an entire
ly new study of the much
studied Burke issue may be
needed because he does not be-
lieve there is any real UNDER
standing of the impact of COM
mercial jet airplane travel. He
also cited a lack of understand
ing Of the growth of residential
areas in the Burke section since
the project was authorized
more than six years ago.
Heavy Daily Traffic
In the last "a hours of the
subcommittee existence, Ma
tional Airport handled 938 air.
craft movements.
There was no indication that
the Appropriations Committee
will get report favorable to
Burke. Senator Holland said
several days ago he was not sat-
lsfied to recommend a large ex-
penditure for Burke construc-
ton without a trial use of Bal
timore's Friendship Airport as a
Washington co-terminal.
That a rousing battle is in the
oftlng seems clear.
For one thing, Senator Magnu-
son. Democrat of Washington,
chairman of the Commerce
Committee and a member of the
special Senate Appropriations
Subcommittee. has failed to at
tend the Holland hearings. He
is an ardent advocate of the
Burke project.
Cost Set at S48.7 Million
The problem facing the APP
preparations Committee will be
: whether to appropriate SS5 mil
/ hon TO move the airport toward
completion.
The Holland subcommittee YES
terday was notified that the cost
OF completing the Burke project
is now estimated at .772.l32
Earlier estimates had placed the
cost between $50 million and $40
million.
Last witness before the Hol-
land inquiry was District Transit
President o. Roy Chalk, who SUBJ
mltted figures on test runs be-
tween the Statler Hotel and
Friendship Airport to determine
elapsed auto time. The average:
so minutes.
He said the transit company.
as public service, made AZ test
runs between the two points at
varying times of day and under
all weather conditions. The long
est was SO minutes in snow on
January IA. The shortest was A
minutes.
He said he is planning similar
tests between Washington and
the Burke site. Burke would be
connected with Shirley highway
by high-speed access road.
See Benefits TO State
Among the last witnesses ct
the Holland hearings were
Charles R. Fenwick. Virginia
State Senator who is chairman
OF the Virginia State Commits
sion on Airport Facilities and J.
Maynard Magruder. of Arling-
ton, a member of the study COM
mission.
I They told the Senate subcom-
mittee they could see increased
land values. commercial devel-
opments and tax benefits to Vir-
ginla from the State operation
OF airport facilities.
They spoke we'll of the idea Of
the creation of a Virginia au-
thority to take over operation
If the Washington National Air.
port and the proposed second
washington airport. if it is To-
Gated IN Virginia. But they sue-
gested that there would be con-
siderable difficulty as to such
operation by a Virginia author
ity. leading to eventual Virginia
ownership, if Washington's Sec
ono airport should be located
elsewhere than in Virginia. They
stopped short, however, of recon-
mending that the second WASH
ington port be built at Burke,
Va.
Silas A. Morehouse, Alexan-
dria, Va. recommended that
Congress provide for a second
Washington airport in the Lou
doun County. Va, area, about 25
miles west Of Washington, which
ne saiu wouio be more desirable
as 70 safety and economy.