Administration, is worth improving because of their physical characteristics and of their proximity both to the cities and to the military airports. Shortly after the receipt of the Secretary of War's letter, the Civil Aeronautics Administration, both here and in Alaska, urged the cities of Fairbanks and Anchorage to take the necessary steps to authorize local bond issues to raise the 25 percent contribution required under the Federal Airport Act. Both Anchorage and Fairbanks have total populations of less than 12,000 and the number of taxpayers is said to be less than 2,600 in each city. In view of the small populations and the dire needs of both towns for schools, streets, sewage disposal, and other essential utilities, the only action taken has been the authorization by Anchorage of a $250,000 bond issue. Although this sum constitutes a substantial contribution from a city of such small size, it appears that the amount will be no more than 3 to 4 percent of the total sum needed. Unfortunately, the Territory of Alaska is unable to be of assistance in the matter of providing airports for these two cities. Its 1948 budget is reported to be unbalanced to the extent of some $7,000,000 (estimated income, $3,000,000; estimated expenditures, $10,000,000). The inability of the Territory and the towns to contribute any substantial part of the 25 percent which would be required, were the necessary contribution to be performed under the Federal Airport Act, is, we believe, demonstrable. Nevertheless, airports at both Anchorage and Fairbanks are necessary to the further development of the Alaskan Territory and to the continued economic prosperity and development of the existing communities in Alaska. In addition, there is another factor contributing to the importance and urgency of this situation. The development of a significant part of United States international aviation will depend upon the availability of an airport suitable for international operations in the vicinity of Anchorage. It is estimated by the Civil Aeronautics Board that a substantial percentage (possibly as high as 75 percent) of all American-flag through air-line passengers to the Orient will be flown via Alaska, Anchorage being a certificated and essential stop on these operations. For the reasons stated above, the city of Anchorage would not only be unable to provide any considerable portion of the funds necessary for the construction of an international airport but it would also be unable to finance or handle the operation and maintenance of such an airport. Accordingly, it is felt that the plan proposed in H. R. 3510, whereby the Federal Government would assume responsibility for operation and maintenance, as well as construction of the international airport, is the only practicable solution to this difficult problem. With reference to Fairbanks, consideration should be given to the fact that Weeks Field, the civil airport serving Fairbanks, was in operation some years before Ladd Field was built, and the proximity and direction of Ladd's runways are factors which alone will render Weeks Field unsafe for any commercial operations. I have presented here but a brief statement of the considerations involved. The individual agencies of the Air Coordinating Committee most directly concerned, together with the Department of the Interior, are interested in this situation and wish to request the opportunity to present to you and your committee all the facts bearing on this subject. Since the War Department feels compelled for reasons of national security to bar all nonmilitary aircraft from Ladd and Elmendorf Fields, it is the opinion of the Air Coordinating Committee that the Federal Government, with the least possible delay, should provide the separate airports at Anchorage and Fairbanks which are essential to the development of United States international aviation in the Northwest and to the development of these two vital centers of our Alaskan Territory. The Air Coordinating Committee therefore urges favorable consideration by your committee of H. R. 3510 as introduced, and of H. R. 3509. With respect to the latter bill, the committee wishes respectfully to recommend certain revisions thereto as follows: (a) In line 6 of section 1, after the word "airport," insert the following: "including the land and all facilities thereon". This amendment is considered desirable in order to clearly indicate that the airport intended to be transferred under section 1 of the bill is intended to include the land on which the installations are situated, as well as the installations themselves. (b) Insert a new section 2 as follows and renumber the succeeding sections accordingly: "As a condition precedent to the transfer of the airport pursuant to section 1 hereof, the Administrator shall receive from the city of Fairbanks in writing, those assurances required from sponsors of airport projects under section 11 of the Federal Airport Act." (Sec. 11 of the act provides that, as a condition precedent to the approval of a project, the Administrator shall receive assurances that the airport and facilities thereon or connected therewith will be suitably operated and maintained with due regard for climatic and flood conditions, and with free use by the Government within specified limitations.) This addition is considered desirable to bring H. R. 3509 in closer harmony with the Federal Airport Act. The Federal Airport Act provides for contribution, by the sponsor, to the cost of construction as well as assurances outlined in section 11 thereof. Therefore, it would appear more equitable to require the city of Fairbanks to make such assurances as are required by project sponsors under section 11 of the Federal Airport Act. (c) Insert a new section 7 to read as follows: "SEC. 7. The Territory of Alaska and the city of Fairbanks are hereby authorized to contribute funds to defray the cost of carrying out the provisions of this Act and the Administrator is hereby authorized to accept such funds on behalf of the Federal Government". This amendment is desirable in order to provide legislation authority for contribution by the Territory of Alaska and the city of Fairbanks, of funds to defray the cost of building the airport, as well as the authority of the Administrator to receive such funds. Due to the pressure of time, I have not secured the advice of the Bureau of the Budget as to the relation of this report to the program of the President. Sincerely yours, JAMES M. LANDIS, Chairman, Civil Aeronautics Board, Cochairman, Air Coordinating Committee. WAR DEPARTMENT, Hon. WALLACE H. WHITE, Jr., Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, United States Senate. July 29, 1948. DEAR SENATOR WHITE: The War Department strongly favors the enactment of S. 1371, a bill to authorize the construction of a class IV airport for the city of Fairbanks, Alaska, and a public highway or bridge from the city of Fairbanks to the location of the airport. The War Department has found it necessary, in view of increased military activities, to advise the Department of Commerce that civil air carriers will not be permitted the use of the military air base at Ladd Field, Fairbanks, Alaska. The scope of Arctic training and cold-weather tests by tactical units of the Army require full military utilization of all present and contemplated facilities at this air base. In addition, a potential hazard both to military and civil air operations is presented by the continuation of civil air carrier flights. As an additional reason for discontinuing civil air operations at this field, the War Department considers these flights no longer feasible in the interest of national security. The international air transit services agreement, drafted at the Chicago Conference in 1944, permits signatory nations to be granted rights at United States air fields similar to those granted United States civil aircraft. It therefore follows that civil use of Ladd Field by United States civil air carriers would open this air field to foreign civil air carriers on the same basis as domestic operators. Although the War Department is unable to permit the continued use of Ladd Field by civil air carriers, it is the opinion of the War Department that the economic development of Alaska is vitally essential to the defense of this hemisphere, and that such economic development is dependent to a great extent upon air transportation and the existence of adequate civil air facilities to accommodate air transportation. Accordingly, the War Department urgently recommends the enactment of S. 1371. The fiscal effect of the proposed legislation is manifest inasmuch as the bill authorizes the appropriation of the sum of $5,000,000. The War Department has been advised by the Bureau of the Budget that there would be no objection to the enactment of the proposed legislation provided it is amended as follows: Line 6, section 1 after "airport" where it appears the second time, insert the following: "including the land and all facilities thereon." Add the following section and renumber the succeeding sections accordingly: SEC. 2. As a condition precedent to the transfer of the airport pursuant to section 1 hereof, the Administrator shall receive from the city of Fairbanks in writing, these assurances required from sponsors of airport projects under section 11 of the Federal Airport Act." Add the following new section: "SEC. 7. The Territory of Alaska and the city of Fairbanks are hereby authorized to contribute funds to defray the cost of carrying out the provisions of this Act, and the Administrator is hereby authorized to accept such funds on behalf of the Federal Government." Sincerely yours, KENNETH C. ROYALL, Secretary of War. FEDERAL SECURITY AGENCY, Hon. WALLACE H. WHITE, Jr., Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This letter is in response to your request of April 7, 1948, for a report on S. 2451, a bill to encourage the development of an international air-transportation system adapted to the needs of the foreign commerce of the United States, of the postal service, and of the national defense, and for other purposes. Two sections of this bill are of interest to the Office of Education: Section 4 having to do with the training of foreign nationals in aeronautical and related subjects; and section 11 providing for the utilization for such training of facilities and staff of other Government agencies. The Office of Education has in the past worked in cooperation with the Civil Aeronautics Administration in the development of training programs in the aviation field, including training of aircraft mechanics, maintenance and ground-crew men. These training programs have been conducted in and through the vocational and trade schools of the several States; and, upon request from the Administrator of the Civil Aeronautics Administration, the Office would be prepared under section 11, to make available the services of its staff to assist in the further development of such training programs to include foreign nationals, as authorized under section 4 of the bill. In the fields of aeronautical engineering and of meteorology, it is presumed that such training for foreign nationals would necessarily be provided in higher educational institutions in the United States. The staff of the Division of Higher Education of the Office of Education would be prepared under section 11 upon request of the Administrator of the Civil Aeronautics Administration or the Chief of the Weather Bureau, respectively, to provide assistance in the selection of training institutions, placement of foreign nationals in appropriate training courses, and in the supervision of training programs in the fields of aeronautical engineering and of meteorology for such nationals. The Bureau of the Budget advises that there is no objection to the submission of this report to your Committee. DEAR SENATOR WHITE: Receipt is acknowledged of letter of June 3 from the clerk of your committee to the Commissioner of Public Roads transmitting a copy of S. 1371, with request for an expression of views with respect to the proposed legislation. The bill would authorize and direct the Administrator of Civil Aeronautics to construct and turn over without charge to the city of Fairbanks, Alaska, a class IV airport, together with a public highway and bridge from said city, to whatever location may be selected for such airport. After completion of the airport, the city of Fairbanks would be solely responsible for its care, main tenance, and operation. Upon completion of the highway and bridge to the airport, the same would be transferred to the Territory of Alaska and thereafter would be maintained by the Territory. The Administrator of Civil Aeronautics would be authorized to acquire necessary lands, easements, and rights-ofway for the construction of said airport, highway, and bridge. The construction work could be performed directly by the Administrator of Civil Aeronautics or by contract or through the use of the facilities and services of any other agency of the Federal Government or the Territory of Alaska on a reimbursable basis. An appropriation of $5,000,000 would be authorized for carrying out the purposes of the bill. It is suggested that section 1 of the bill should be revised by inserting, after the word "airport", where it appears the second time in line 6, the following: "including the land and all facilities thereon". It is believed also that a new section should be inserted, to be numbered section 2 and that existing section 2 and succeeding sections of the bill should be renumbered accordingly. The new section 2 which it is suggested should be inserted is as follows: "SEC. 2. As a condition precedent to the transfer of the airport pursuant to section 1 hereof, the Administrator shall receive from the city of Fairbanks, in writing, those assurances required from sponsors of airport projects under section 11 of the Federal Airport Act." It also is suggested that one other new section should be added at the end of the bill, to be numbered section 7 and to read as follows: "SEC. 7. The Territory of Alaska and the city of Fairbanks are hereby authorized to contribute funds to defray the cost of carrying out the provisions of this act, and the Administrator is hereby authorized to accept such funds on behalf of the Federal Government." If the bill is amended as suggested above, it then will be without objection so far as this Agency is concerned. This report has been referred to the Bureau of the Budget. That Bureau has advised that there would be no objection to its submission to the committee. Sincerely yours, Hon. WALLACE H. WHITE, JR., PHILIP B. FLEMING, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE, Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: In further response to your letter to the Secretary dated June 6, 1947, and to your separate letter of the same date requesting the views of the Administrator of Civil Aeronautics concerning S. 1396, a bill to authorize the construction, protection, operation, and maintenance of a public airport in the Territory of Alaska, I am transmitting a copy of a memorandum, dated June 20, 1947, from the Administrator to the Solicitor of this Department, making reference to his memorandum dated June 16, 1947, also attached, commenting on H. R. 3510, the companion bill to S. 1396. The occasion for this legislation is set forth in greater detail in the attached letter which Mr. James M. Landis, as Cochairman of the Air Coordinating Committee, addressed to the chairman of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce on June 17, 1947, in regard to this matter. The Bureau of the Budget has advised us that the enactment of S. 1396 in its present form would not be in accord with the program of the President, but that it would not be in conflict therewith if it is amended along the lines of S. 1371, including the amendments set forth in our separate letter to you, of this date, concerning S. 1371. It is our understanding that the Bureau of the Budget does not consider Civil Aeronautics Administration operation of this airport to be appropriate but regards such operation by the city or territory to be a preferable solution to the problem. Sincerely yours, WILLIAM C. FOSTER, Acting Secretary of Commerce. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, To: The Solicitor. From: Administrator of Civil Aeronautics. Subject: S. 1396, a bill to authorize the construction, protection, operation, and maintenance of a public airport in the Territory of Alaska. Reference is made to the attached copy of my letter of June 11 to Mr. Edward Jarrett, clerk, Senate Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, replying to his letter of June 6, 1947, requesting comments on the subject bill. The bill S. 1396 is identical with, and a companion to, H. R. 3510. Our comments on H. R. 3510, as set forth in my memorandum to you June 16, 1947, apply equally with respect to S. 1396. F. B. LEE, Deputy Administrator. T. P. WRIGHT, A-1. CIVIL AERONAUTICS ADMINISTRATION, To: The Solicitor. June 16, 1947. From: Administrator, Civil Aeronautics. Subject: H. R. 3510, a bill to authorize the construction, protection, operation, and maintenance of a public airport in the Territory of Alaska. Reference is made to the attached copy of letter from Congressman C. A. Wolverton, chairman, House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, dated May 21, 1947, requesting our comments on the subject bill. There is also attached copy of my letter dated June 5, 1947, advising Congressman Wolverton that our comments will be furnished to the committee through the Department of Commerce. In view of the economic stress and other pertinent factors now existing with regard to the Territory of Alaska and cities in the Territory, in our opinion, the only solution to the problem of developing an airport in Alaska of sufficient size to accommodate international traffic lies in appropriation of funds therefor by the Congress and specific authorization to the Administrator of Civil Aeronautics to develop, operate, and maintain such an installation as a facility of the United States. It is the opinion of the CAA that the bill H. R. 3510 is well designed to accomplish this purpose; and it is, therefore, our recommendation that the Congress give favorable consideration to the enactment of legislation as contemplated by H. R. 3510. In this connection, it is to be noted that the only landing facilities in Alaska now capable of accommodating international traffic are under the jurisdiction of the War Department. Elmendorf Field, located at Anchorage, Alaska, is now being used to accommodate such traffic, and the Secretary of War has advised the Secretary of Commerce that the War Department will be unable to permit the continued use of that facility for civil aircraft after November 1, 1947. It is, therefore, urgent that some provision be made for the development of an international airport in Alaska as early as possible. The Honorable CHARLES A. WOLVERTON, T. P. WRIGHT, A-1. AIR COORDINATING COMMITTEE, Washington, D. C., June 17, 1947. Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. WOLVERTON: With reference to your letters of June 6, 1947, concerning H. R. 3510 and H. R. 3509, the Air Coordinating Committee wishes to present for your consideration, and that of your committee, certain factors which are adversely affecting commercial air transportation in Alaska and which are giving rise to an urgent need for such legislation. These bills provide, respectively, for the construction, maintenance, and operation of an international airport in Alaska and for the construction of a class IV airport at Fairbanks, Alaska. Last November the Secretary of War wrote to the Secretary of Commerce stating that in view of increased military activity at Ladd Field, Fairbanks, and |