The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-01
GREAT INJUSTICE
TO LAND OWNERS
Not Trying to Get Exorbitant
Prices for Cape Henry
Holdings.
Special 70 The Timcs- Uispntch.J

icpcSldl 20 he TtfncS- DISPATCH.
Washington, February -29.-Con-
gresham Holland, of Norfolk. explain
ed some of the attacks Just made in
inc House on the propositions of having
the government acquire lands at Cape
Henry for fortiiication purposes:
IN the discussion OF this bill MIR.
HOLLAND said certain statements were
hade which arc calculated, unless cor
recied TO create erroneous Impressions
with reference to the fortiiicatIon of
Cape Henry, and TO these remarks |
feel that IL is my duty 10 make u
brief reply.
1t was then intimated that the
owners of the land ut Cape Henry de-
sire tile government to purchase. and
at an eXorbitant price. more land than
is needed for fertilization purposes a t
this point. This intimation does the
owners OF the laud a very great in
Justice. Unless l have been misin-
formed, government survey has al
ready been made of this land and the
quantity of land desired by the gov
ernment has already been designated. ,
1t is true that no agreement as to
price has becp reached, but ] can say
Tor the owners that, :f satisfactory
price can not be agreed on. they are
perfectly willing that condemnation
proceedings may be instituted for the
purpose of ascertaining Il fair value
for this property. These owners live
i'll my district and I know them we'll,
and 1 know that they have no disposi-
ton whatever to impose on the Ma
tional government. but. on the con-
trary, are willing that the land may he
taken for this purpose at even less
than Its market value. The question:
therefore. of the quantity of land tot
be taken and the price TO be paid
therefor can not be used as n persua-
sive argument against this PROPOSE
ton when the offer Is thus made on
the part OF the owners to convey tol
the government any quantity OF land
determined by the government to bu
necessary for its purposes. and at Al
price to be asccrtaincd by disinterestcd
freeholders In regular condemnation
proceedings
"The mouth OF the Chesapeake Bay. !
once entered, would give an enemy
easy access to the national capital.
No wcll-inform,d naval officer doubts
that, under cover OF darkness or dur
ing ha1y or misty weather. the ships
OF foreign nation can easily pass
Cape Henry. safe from the marksman- !
ship of our splendid sunncrs at
Fortress Monroe, more than twelve
mil, away. And once past Cape Horny
these ships can steam UP Chesa peullc
Bay witohut going within the range
of n single gun. With this entrance
MS it Is now. unrortihed, hostile fleet.
should 1t gain control at sea-, says the
report of the National Coast Defense
Board. can establish, without coming
under the fire OF single gun, a base
OH its shores
The unprotected entrance at the !
mouth of the Chesapeake Eay is now
AN open invitation to an invasion by
any nation with whom We nigh, be
al war and ths time has come when
that invita- tion should be withdrawn
The entrance from the ocean into
Chesapeake Bay and into Hampton
loads lies between Capo Henry and
cape Charles. The main ship channel
lies on tn. Cape Henry aide, and this
channel must be followed by battle
ships coming into the Capcs from the
ocean Cape Henry is therefore so
situated that with our present long
range guns. II can be 50 well fortified
as TO make II impossible and imprcS-
nablc.
This fact was practically admitted
on yesterday by my friend. Mr. Shcr-
Icy. the chairmun Of the subcommittee.
when, after stating that the rccom-
mcndation 10 build an artificial iSJiy,,i
nj tho capes had been abandoned x}no
further said that tho range OF p1ns
mas SO increased and the draft OF YES
se's mas SO increased, which therefore
iiarrows the channel that they could
use, as 10 make il possible, in The
view of army officers. 10 fortifv Tho
TWO shores so as to close that en-
france And until ii is so closed tho
most Important stratcgical base or
operations along the whole Atlantic
ana Gulf COASTS will not be properly
protected.
have. for these reasons offered !
this amendment providing for an an
pfopriation OF a sum nor exceeding
$4,000 for the acquisition OF land /
at Cape Henry on which ia ~
gin the construction OF such do.
lenses y scheme OF fortncatiou
AT Cape Henry has been strongly.
recommended by the National t'o,s, /