The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-08
Lime BILL FOUGHT
| BY PRODUCERS
Farmers Ask State to Establish
Plants to Grind Limestone
With Convicts.
CALLED ROBBERY BY LAW
Opposition Says Proposal Is I'm
practical and Unjust
to Citizens.

Robbery by law" was the verdict
placed on the lime grinding bill at the
hearing yesterday morning before the
House Committee ON Finance by w. II.
Carson, of Riverton, lime manufac-
turcr. He said that putting coifvicts
In competition with free labor would
be conhscatlon OF property without
compensation
Further, he said that when States or
individuals get misty and hazy re-
gardinG one clause o! the decalogue
they are likely To do SO with other
clauses, his meaning being tina, IL the
State steals the property of lime grind
ers. ii might well deprive men of
their lives.
Representatives of the state Farm
crs Institute and other agricultural
interests appeared for the bills. which
contemplate the establishment by the
state OF one plant for the grinding OF
agricultural lime. and another for the
grinding OF oyster shells. Convict
labor Is to be used, and the product
sold to Virginia farmers at cost and
slight profit. only one carload going
TO an individual as long rs there are
any other orders ahead.
Workings in Illinois.
w. a. Land, patron of one OF the
oils. first introduced r. o. Sandy, chief
demonstration agent In Virginia for
the national Department OF Agricul-
ture. He told how the proposed sys-
tenn is working IN Illinois, where
farmers get ground limestone at 60
cents . ton. E. o. b. cars lie hoped
that in Virginia II could be delivered
at an average of from $3.50 to 81 per
ton
Replying to questions asked by Judge
Martin Williams. It was stated that
the capacity of the proposed plants
should be ten tons an hour, 100 tons
n day. using from one and one-half TO
Two tons per acre
j. +. jackson .; the southern
Planter, told OF prices OF 81 per ton
for burnt lime delivered in Richmond.
The grinding OF lime by the state OF
Illinois. he said, had no, hurt the busi-
ness since twenty-three private plants
have bean established In competition
and are nourishins.
Dear ChnrIic- Letter.
According to Wcstmoreland Davis.
president OF tho State Farmers In
st!tute, 1t was not hoped to supply all
the need for limestone In these plants
but that it was intended TO regulate
the iniIuitous prices charged by manu-.
facturers and to educate the peopl. 10
use the product. He read a letter
from the. opposition TO c. Z. Jones, q.
Carysbrook. Dear Charlie" asking
him TO get his delegate 10 add an
amendment 10 tho bill requiring con-
Vlcts TO make fertilizer also, 10 that
the bill might be fought by fertilizer
manufacturers and SO killed Mr.
Davis was emphatic In his plea for the
pi!i' SAYING that 1t must be passed at
some time. and. II not now, no would
stump the State for It, He called upoa
the Legislature TO save the agricul-
rural interests OF virginia
Mr. Carson read q carefully written
address. He said he would fin orders
Tor ground limestone at sl25 per ton
UP to the total OF 10000 tons a wear
and would furnish II OF tho same quail
itE as that made by the State OF mi
nois ct 80 cents ton. lie called at
tention 10 the pressure brought Nv
the State on railroads to get reduced
rates on ground limestone. when the
!ime manufacturers had been unable
TO get the Same concessions Conyict.
ne said. would be placed In CONNIE
tition with $500 Virginia laborers
thts Industry. whereas, making shoe
they are in competition with Mnss,,
chuset;s free labor.
Use Few Convict..
But 1t was evident according 10 Mr.
carson. that the convict part or Tho
proposition would be very small Not
more than ten men In stripes could
because the work requires expert men
be used In $4,000 plant. he asserted
I, 20 handle weli-horing machines. drills,
I crushers. generators and motors 1.hn
ON only proposes 10 spend $4,000 for
two plants.
VT. Carson said that it would take
Sl5,Oo0 for sacks alone in which 20
Keep the ground limestone between
seasons ready for orders. Therefnra
| me appropriation would be totaIlv In.
adequate as the sacks constitute ,ho
smallest expense. '"e
experiments on which the demand
/, Is based. he argued are worth littin
INC committee VIII give an nou,.
more tnts morning to the discussion
and will then decide. u