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With a flying club now in existence in Fort Frances, this community is commencing
at long last to become somewhat air-minded.
First group outside the flying club itself to become infused with the realization
of the need for an airport here was the town council in session. Tuesday
evening, when council was interviewed by members of the Fort Frances Flying
club, with Rusty Myers and Wellington Smith doing the speaking and showing
the maps and photographs of a proposed suitable area.
Upshot of the interview is that the council is going to start the ball rolling
in the direction of securing a landing field by starting out to get necessary
information concerning as to whether the desired site can be leased or bought,
what the cost will be, what government assistance may be available, whether
the government will recognize it as a customs and immigration port for aeroplanes,
and other relevant information.
When asked point blank by a spokeman of the flying club as to what the council
was prepared to do the above is substantially the answer given.
The site proposed by the club is on Stanjacoming Bay at the end of Gravel
Pit Road (which turns south of the mill road) on the east side of the bridge.
It is directly north of Victoria Avenue projected. This is Indian reserve
territory, and negotiations for the site will have to be carried on with
the Indians of the reserve and the Indian department at Ottawa.
Myers advises the council that several Indians have been approached on the
matter and signified their willingness to co-operate in making it possible
for having a suitable landing field site provided.
That particular site has been selected because it provides such an ideal
site for a combination land and seaplane air base. It is extremely level
with only a minimum of underbrush to be cut out and could be quite inexpensively
graded into a flat flying field. The rise out of the lake is very gradual
on a sand beach and the seaplanes could be brought out of the water with
their own power Smith explained.
Should this site be secured the Forestry plane or planes would undoubtedly
be moved there at once because of the sheltered condition of the lake there,
it was explained.
First steps in the negotiations will be to approach the Indians to get their
approval for the site and to ask the Dominion government to send an engineer
here to approve, or condemn, the site.
Next move will be to find out who will build the airport the municipality
of the federal government, and what the cost will be.
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