The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-06-21
PROPOSES FEDERAL
PURCHASE OF LINE
Of v|RG|N|AN ROAD
Opening Volley Of Gov
eminent Ownership Of
Railways Fired.
LEWIS IS LEADER
LEWIS Is LEADER
illinois Senator Intro
duces Bill That Will
Take Over $4,000
Acres of Land.

Washington. June eo--The openin <
Eun OF actual government ownership
of railroads was sounded today when
Eenstor Lewis. of Illinois. introdu ced
bill in the senate proposing TO pur-
chase the Virginian railway as well
as $4,000 acres Of coal lands for
slisn0o. 600.
Senator Lewis is the democratic
whip OF the senate. consults OF ten
with president is conceded TO reflect
administration views.
He said of his bill to-day:
TT will not only insure trsnsports-
ton of coal for the navy and merchant
marine. but will nrovide a thorough
test Of government ownership of rail-
roads.
The virEinlan railroad runs from the
West Virginia coal fields practically 10
The naval base on Hampton Roads and
was the pc, and pride of it's builder.
the late II. II, Rogers.
In a statement Senator Lewis de-
ciared the provisions and purposeS Of
his bill thus.
First. for the purchase and develop
Tnateiy iea, 600 acres of coal land in
Mercer. Raleigh and Fayette counties
In West Virginia The coal in this ter
ritory In navy specification coal" and
IL lies nearer TO the great Hampton
Reads naval base than any other fnei
~ this standard. Ownership ana ops-
ration Of these roal fields by the gov
eminent would mean abundant and
never falling fuel supply for our
greatly expanded navy and merchant
marine and would be insurance against
such a situation that OF last win
ter. when supply ships and troopships
were held idle In American uorts until
GRAFTON OF weather allowed fuel to be
transported TO them.
To supply Coal.
Second. ger the purchase ana opera
ton by the government. of the Vir-
Einian railroad. a line stretching from
Central West Virginia through the coal
fields mentioned to Sewall'r Point, on
Hampton Roads This road would not
opiy assure transportation OF navy
specification coal for the navy and rer-
chant marine, hut. what must appeal
t. every person interested I'M Ameri-
car AFFAIRS. II will provide, at the time
when II is most needed thorough
fast Of the efficiency and desirahility
OF permanent policy OF government
ownership or operation of railroads"
In discussing the bill. later on, the
senator said
The shortage Of coal for manufac-
turing and domestic use and for ex-
port even now is hampering many es-
Ssntial lines Of work at home and
abroad. and is likely to cause in ad-
dition to suffering and Inconvenience
among the people OF America and the
allied countries. serious interruption to
our military and naval operations un-
less an adequate supply is hmm ediatelv
assured.
Purchase. development and opera
ton OF the coal mines contemplated
can be accomplished without great de-
lay In time to meet next winters
stringency, and the operation viii re-
suit In great saving TO the nation in
the cost Of fuel. rs we'll as providing
sure fuel supply for government ships
and providing genuine relative stand
ards as. to fuel prices.
Coal Of a quality of that in the
Pocahontas and New River veins IL
found only within a limited area. but
fortunately near our greatest naval
base, and therefore. readily available
for shipment abroad. To buy these
coal lands now will place the govern
ment beyond the necessity of consult
Ing with private operators"
The virginian Railroad In Az miles
long. and runs from Deerwater, Va.
whore it connects with the Chesapeak "a
d Ohio, to Sewells Point on Hampton
Roads, and adjacent to the naval base
In addition to its main trackage. II
owns and operates 2@s miles OF second
trackf and an interest In the water
terminal indicted. When II was buf1t
comparatively short time ago. II
was regarded as the last word in
frsigt lines. Its grade Is but 1 per
cent, and three times as many coal
cars can be handled to the sea "A on
many other roads
The president through the director
general Of railroads Ia given the au-
thority TO make the purchase with the
assistance OF the bureau of mines. The
present owners have evidently been
consulted. for statement says that
zone form OF payment known to be ac-
ceptable to the present controllers 10
twenty-year per cent bonds---an In
tcrest rate lower than that on liberty
bonds"
The bill was referred to the COM
n,ittee on interstate commerce.