The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-17
ipsal to Ii. wasbiRgsaa Head.

tle1a % he Washington Head
Newport News, Va. Feb. 16.-George
Nelms Wise. recent Republican candidate
for Congress in the First district, has
issued a statement in which he declares
that It is not necessary for the Navy De-
partment 10 buy the Jamestows exposi-
ton site in order TO procure a naval base
on Hampton Roads, and that Craney
Island. now owned by the government
can be utilized for that purpose.
Mr. Wise, in his statement, says:
Two bills are pending in Congress;
one 10 sell 10 the government go acres
Of land on Hampton Roads. formerly
used by the jamestown Exposition Com
pany. and the other for the government
10 sell an island peninsula capable Of
being developed 10 so acresl. located be
tween the exposition grounds and the
United states navy yard at Portsmouth.
and OF the Portsmouth side Of the Eliz-
abeth River.
PrOpOunds Questions.
The exposition company owes the
government about ss06000 L has not YET
been decided whether the government
has a lien for the claim, OF whether Ii
viii be q total loss. For. II not q lien.
it Is worthless, prior Heuors aggregating
$1,000. sse. The following questions seem
pertinent:
First-Should the government buy
land. or sell its claim before 1t knows
whether the claim IS good. and what
It really Is paying for the property?
-Second-ShouId the government pay
thousands Of dollars Per acre, and bad
debt. when it can buy better land for
as many hundred dollars an acre, which
IS better situated
Third-Should the government buy
property. when It already has more suit
able property for the same use2
Ascertain Value OF Debt
--First-As 10 the first question. Il
would seem good business for Congress
or the. committee 10 be advised by Us
counsel as 10 the real value OF the $780,
90 claim against the exposition com
pany. before Il deals with the company
Tor It's property
-SecOnd-It IS well known that beauti-
fuI piece Of property OF SO acres Of high
land on Hampton Roads, al the mouth OF
the Nansemond River. can be bought FOR
zga per acre. or ss0.00G against S2,50o.o
Cor the exposition grounds, Or about
one-twentv-ffth OF the price. The United
states Typographical map shows this land
al twenty TO twenty-five feet nigh, against
ten 10 fifteen for the exposition grounds
7 IS needless TO say this makes the
drainage far less expensive. and. IN fact
tnls land requires no drainage beyond
what = already has
says Buildings Are DiIaDidated.
AS 70 the buildings at the exposition
grounds. il IS only necessary 10 say that
III a recent meeting in Norfolk thess
grounds we're mentioned as the proper
place TO welcome the feet. but i va.
decided that the buildings were To-
dnapidated 10 be OF se-vice-just fine fOi
IRE government % buy
''Third-As 20 the thlrd proposition, 8
the governments claim is good. In,
original bill provides for Congress 10 pas
$4,000 for go acres OF land, or ovei
$3.50 per acre. If the governments claim
Is worthless $500 per acre. or at SEQ
orc over and above the government
claim. about $3.50 per acre. In q state
nent fled with the committee the water
sewers. and drains are put down al So
90 OF less than S245 Per acre, leaving th'
price Of the land al Si,255 per acre.
Island II Near Channel
But the government already owns prop
erty far more suitable and batter 10
Gated Contrast FOR a moment the expo
sitiou grounds and Craney Island PENN
suIa- now owned by the government
From the shore % the exposition ground
out 10 q channel OF s feet OF water L
two and one-aaarter miles. fsee govern