PORTLAND AIRPORT

The above name has become the official designation of the airport constructed under W.P.A projects, between 1936 and 1940, under the name “Portland-Columbia Airport.”

This airport became the air line terminal late in 1940, and, early in 1941, became also a base for U.S. Army Air Corps operations. The name “Portland Army Air Base” is used to designate the Army’s operating facilities on the airport and its cantonment and miscellaneous facilities adjoining the airport.

The Army has expended large sums for improvements upon the airport and the incidental facilities. The items of Army expenditure which became inherently a part of the airport include widening of paved runways from 150 feet to 300 feet, construction of additional taxiways and the necessary lighting. Most of the Army cantonment is on lands owned by the Port, but, recently, the Army has acquired title to some 325 acres for expansion, presumably to facilitate “dispersion,” in conformity with current military policy.

Previous to the purchases by the Army being authorized, the Port acquired some 110 acres to provide for future expansion of the airport and to protect its aerial approaches. This was in addition to approximately 105 acres acquired in 1940 and 1941 to accommodate Army barracks. At the close of 1942 the Port holds title to approximately 916 acres, including the original airport field, the expansion areas and the original cantonment sites. The Army’s direct acquisition of about 325 acres makes a total of about 1250 acres, within Multnomah County Drainage District No. 1, now in public ownership for airport and military purposes; this approximates one-seventh of the area of the Drainage District. Funds for the land purchases by the Port came from non-budget income such as dredge plant net earnings and sales of surplus materials.

The Works Progress Administration of the Federal Government terminated its last project for construction at the Portland Airport as of April 29, 1942. During 1941-1942 most of the W.P.A. expenditures were incidental to Army needs. Figures available at termination of W.P.A. construction showed, in even thousands, the following summary of construction costs under the original and all supplemental W.P.A. projects:

Portland Airport Construction Costs

Federal Contribution through W.P.A
Projects………………………………………………………………………………………………. $2,667,000
Port of Portland contribution to Construction to end of 1942……………………………… 285,000

Total $2,952,000

Real Estate Costs, Airport and Expansion Areas 461,000

*50,600 is in “Cantonment” lands.

The above summary does not include expenditures by the airlines. The have provided their own buildings on the airport at an estimated cost of $300,000. The amount of Army expenditures is unknown. It is assumed that the Army expenditures on runways and other items, which become a permanent part of the common user facilities, exceed $500,000.

The Army does not pay rental, therefore its activities do not affect the airport income. Neither is the operating expense increased by Army occupancy; it is in fact lessened to the extent the Army performs maintenance work, but this item is negligible in respect to the field and common user facilities.

As stated elsewhere herein the Swan Island Airport was discontinued March 9, 1942, when the lands were leased to the U.S. Maritime Commission for a shipyard. The payment of $248,000 as lease consideration was placed in a reserve for airport purposes.

The exhibit of airport income and expense which follows covers “Portland Airport” and “Swan Island Airport” for the biennium 1941-1942:

Portland Airport Income Expense

1941 1942

Expense:	Monthly Average	Total	Monthly Average	Total
Labor	$251.22	$3,014.58	$987.86	$11,854.28
Supplies and Expenses	464.72	5,576.67	594.33	7,131.91
	$715.94	$8,591.25	$1,582.19	$18,986.19
Income:
Land Rentals	$90.83	$1,090.00	$53.33	$640.00
Hay Crop	8.33	100.00	. . . . . . .	. . . . . .
Field Fees	488.71	5,864.50	415.84	4,990.07
Landing Lights Fees	33.93	407.11	13.24	158.82
Miscellaneous Income	68.01	816.07	261.18	3,134.14
	$689.81	$8,277.68	$743.59	$8,923.03
	$26.13	$313.57	$836.60	$10,063.16