Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-03

"The Burke proposal has been
studied to DEATH" said CAA Adj
ministrator James T. Pyle six
months ago. THE thing to do now
is to get on with it,"
And Senator Monroney observed
that sufficient studies have been
made SO that if the paperwork were
laid end-to-end, it would hard
surface the runways."
Controversy Continues
The latest hearings brought out
little that was new. They did bring
out that the Burke Airport is still
subject of hot controversy.
Spokesman for some residents Of
the Burke area again protested that
the airport would be nuisance,
that the land is not suited for such
use.
Chamber of Commerce officials
from the area testified that the air.
port would be a boon. They said it
would mean more jobs. an increase
in land values and a shot in the
arm Tor business in Fairfax County.
Representatives of the Air Trans
port Association. which speaks for
most scheduled airllneS on the mat
ter. again presented their case.
Stuart G. Upton. Alta president,
argued against use of Baltimore's
Friendship Airport to relieve over
crowding at National. The use Of
Friendship has been urged by Sem
ator Butler of Maryland and others.
I'VE are dealing with what the
public wants." said Mr.. Upton.
"Washington's new airport must
provide for easy. rapid surface
transportation to the downtown
area and between airports.
.. Friendship would not per-
nit easy, rapid surface transporta-
ton (. Therefore, designation Of
Friendship would constitute a delib-
crate decision to have an inefficient
arrangement. :"
There were others, including
members of a Georgetown civic as
ISOLATION. who wanted to get low
flying airlinerS from National away
from the skies over their homes.
After the Georgetown civic
leader had testified for some time
on behalf of Burke, Senator Hol-
land, subcommittee chairman. SAID:
"AS l understand it, what you
really want is to get the planes
away from Georgetown. You don't
care whether it's Burke, Friend
snip or somewhere else"
Yes, that's right" said the man.
Cost Is Big Foctor
The important issues in the
controversy are the cost and selec-
ton of the best possible site.
Senator Holland raised the
question of the Government pay
ing $50 million for another Wash
ington airport, while the District
and communities in Maryland and
Virginia, which will be served by
the new facility. contribute nothing.
The Washington Board of Trade.
which has endorsed the Burke site.
contends the District should not
contribute because its residents
already are overtaXed as the result
OF providing a home for the Gov
eminent which pays no property
tax on its buildings
While there was nothing in the
subcommittee hearings to encourage
those favoring a new airport, new
hope was seen outside the sub
committee.
A Virginia State body with a for
midable name, the Airport Facili-
ties Study Commission. is studying
the feasibility of setting up an air.
port authority to take over and
operate both National and the pro-
posed Burke airport.
After inspecting National and
touring the Burke site. the COM
mission announced it would meet
March to discuss whether it
should recommend establishment
of an airport authority.
State Senator Charles R. Fen
wick. chairman OF the commission,
said members were impressed with
the convenience of Burke and the
sparse settlement of the area. The
commission said the idea of turn
ing over the airport facilities to the
Virginia authority originated with
the Department of Commerce, thus
eliminating Government objections
to the plan.
Members of the commission
pointed out that operation Of Burke
would remove one serious objection
of the Fairfax County government.
Under a State authority. the 4.500-
acre site would remain taxable.
while Federal operation would re-
move 1t from the tax rolls.
The proposal for a State author
ity is attractive to the State COM
mission. II is estimated the Sta.e
would realize a profit OF 100000
annually from Burke alone and pay
of the cost of the two airports from
profits by 1877
Meanwhile. the Government has
invested about 81 million in LOO
acres neal Burke Station. the cross
roads village 5 miles south Of FAIR
fax best remembered for its role IN
the Civil War when rebel raiders
captured the telegraph station and
sent an impairment message 20
Washington.