Evening star., 1918-06-21
WOULD BUY MINES
AND BIG RAILWAY
Senator Lewis Urges Federal
Ownership Of virginian Line
and West Virginia l Lands.
COST WITHIN $4,000, 900

A proposal that the government
shall purchase $4,000 acres of coal
land in West Virginia, together with
the virgInian railroad, running from
the coal fields to Sewells Point. Va.
| adjacent to the country's greatest ma
val base, was introduced in the Sen
ate yesterday afternoon by Senator
Lewis Of Illinois.
The coal lands are to be mined by
the government for the use of the
Navy, the merchant marine now con-
trolled absolutely by the government,
and for other government purpose
as they may be necessary.
Authority to Vest in President.
The bill provides that the President
be authorized to purchase the coal
lands through the Secretary Of the
Navy, and the railroad through the
director general of the railroads. The
puchase price for the two properties
is in no case to exceed $115,000,oOO.
Provision is made for handling the
purchase through the issue of per
cent twenty-year bonds.
In statement given out by Senator
Lewis explaining the purpose OF the
mea sure, he said to put in the hands
of the government the coal lands of
which the bill authorizes the pur-
chase, together with the Virginian
railroad. to carry it to tidewater,
rto 81 n
to the winning of the war. The great
need Of coal by the government for
the Navy and for the merchant ma
rine, for government navy yards and
arsenals. he believes. would be met
by adopting this plan.
and the possibility OF an even more
stringent coal shortage than last
winter Senator Lewis believes that
steps would be taken wi hout fur
ther delay to assure the government
this supply of coal. Furthermore.
to the allies of the United States.
Would Effect Great Saving.
The DEVELOPMENT and operation Of
the coal lands which it is proposed
to purchase can be accomplished
without delay, he said, ana their op-
Grafton can be effected with great
saving in the governments coal bill.
running into millions OF dollars each
year.
Senator Lewis himself is an advo-
cate of government ownership Of
railroads. This bill. he said. was the
first step toward the government owner
ship of the railroads in the country
which he strongly advocates. and that
he proposes to do all he can to have 1t
enacted into law. He pointed out that
the government will be able in the
handling of its own railroad property
to determine the advisability Of own
ing outright the entire railroad sysT
TENS Of the country. He said. too,
that the government operation OF the
coal mines will make 1t. possible to
establish standards of prices Tor COM
mercially produced coal.
crates Al miles of main line, thirty
five miles Of branch line and 24S miles
of sidings and second track, and also
owns a third interest in the Virgintan
railway terminal property. 1t was
constructed as q vcoal-carfying road
entirely and Is not a part OF any other
system, and therefore can be taken
ership without dislocating business.
It has been estimated that the gov
ernment can haul coal over this road
to tidewater at small cost.
BY the construction Of q short ex-
tension of the virginian railway. 1t
was pointed out, the government
would be able to connect the road up
Charleston. W. Va, thereby making 1t
possible to supply that plant with
government owned and mined coal
and also to ship to tidewater the out
put Of the armor plant on its own
road.