Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-23
STATE DEFENSE COUNCIL
FAV0Rs NEW RAILROAD
Points to Military Advantages Of
Observation-Disclosures News
Short Line.
NAVY NEEDS PROVING GROUND
Railroad Would Also Reach Dyna-
mite Factories AMI Oil Piers on
York River, and BE of Great As
sistanCc to Busy Shipyards.


Tho Virginia Council OF Defense
adopted resolution yesterday putting
that body on record as faYorine the
immediate construction OF the WASH
in-ton- Newport News short Line Rail-
way ms a military necessity. and call
ing on officers Of the state and o:
other departments OF tho government
that viii bc affected to unite in pro-
gram OF action to produce tho desired
results. The council resolved that It
would use every effort TO accomplish
the construction OF the road. \ copy
o. the resolutions was sent 20 Judge
Robert :. Lovctt, director OF division
Of capital expenditures; ono 10 John
shelton Williams, director OF division
MARYLAND Council OF Defense aud
copies to the representatives of Nir-
cinia in both houses OF Congress.
II was stated in tho preamble OF tho
resolutions that q bill has been in
,roduccd In tho House OF Representa-
Secretary OF the Navy TO enter into
contract with some railroad COM
pary proposing 10 build line o: rail
way from the District OF Columbia 10
Indian Head. Md. and 20 advance 10
;hc contracting company s56G.olo uDon
thc terms OF the bill. II was also
stated that the purpose o, tho hill has
nenn approved by admiral ". :. Zen
son. in charge OF the naval operations
or account OF the pressing needs Of
tho government IN connection with the
proving ground and powder factory At
Indian Head.
MAY ESTABLISH
ANOTHER PROVING. GROUND
II was further stated that Rear
Admiral Earle. chief Of the bureau OF
ordnance OF tho Navy Department, has
ADVISED the authorities Of tho pro-
posed road that the bureau OF tho navy
is now contemplating the establishment
Of an auxiliary proving ground nca-
Potomac View, Va. and that rail
road from Potomac View 10 Mctomp-
kin Point is absolutely essential TO
carry out the purposes OF tho gov
crnncnt on account OF the total IN
adequacy Of tho transportation tacil:-
ties. Further argument is made OF the
fac, that the government has let a
contrac; for tho construction for ita
purposes or an OF! pier 200 feet long
ri Yorktown. Va
Tho T. /. du ront dc Nemours Co.
has established At rcmnimhn Point.
near Yorktown, on the York River a
dynamite factory. where thousands OF
where thousands more arc expected TO
DO 2; work on government work, say
the resolutions. Also. EriGadior-Gcn-
eral Grotc Hutchinson. commander OF
cmbarkation Il, Newport News, has
taken the position, after careful CON
the need OF tho government for add
;ioiIal railroad facilities at Newport
News arc or great Importance. and that
one line IS not sufficient to handle the
great increase Of business there, due
to military and civilian development
Incidental to activities at Newport
News, and that tho Wash inEton- New
port News short Line. If built, would
lie Of great benefit to tho military arm
OF tho government in connection with
rccri wing. handling and shipping over
sea cargo.
WOULD FACILITATE
WORK. At SHiPNhEDS
That the Washington Newport News
railroad. II built, would be OF great
benefit 10 the community is stated 20
be the opinion OF Homer L. Ferguson.
president OF the Newport News ship
buil,inG and Dry Dock Company. on
account Of the business thrust upon the
community which cannot he handled by
the present facilities.
The Council OF Defense made tho
pom tina, the territory through which
ihc road would pass has been greatly
retarded by absence of such road
and thai from the standpoint of trans
rortaiion of tgod rf,odne,s ne road ,a
ceuntics beiHs aif3rded transportation
facilities now denied. and a, Il time
when tho demands upon agriculture!
communities are greatly augmented.
The Council Of Defense also passed
resolution asking the corporation OF
Henry Ford 20 furnish Immediately
Es many farm tractors as possible for
use IN Virginia 10 be distributed un-
der the supervision OF Commissioner
ot Agriculture q. W. ko;ner The
council also certified That the Universal
Motor Company is n relia bic insti,u-
ton for the distribution OF the trac-
,ora.
y resolution was passed requesting
N. House Committee on Post Offices
and Post Roads OF Congress 10 favor
the bill proposing free transportation