Evening journal., 1921-08-18
-mouNr WEATHER" A COLD DEAL.


VTow local interests or impractical dealsts sometimes
get the government into expensive undertakings is
illustrated in the testimony taken recently before the
House Committee Agriculture concerning bill 10 au-
horze the Department OF Agriculture 10 to the
Soldiers lnstute' the government property known as
Mount Weather"
This property comprises few acres on top Of noun
tain s. miles from Washington, in the Blue Ridge. The
place is about six miles from a railroad It bought
for Weather Bureau Observatory the government spent
100000 It, and IL has been abandoned for several years
It has been white eephsnt the governments hands
ever since it purchased and the government has no
use for II today
The site is ideal one in some respects and It has
been proposed to make Of II summer White House ="
which would increase its Importance as white ele-
phant"
Recently, however several gentlemen organized the
Soldiers Institute" and asked for possession Of this
property part OF scheme to establish rehabilitation
and educational institution for soldiers.
Proponents OF the scheme admitted that the institute
had funds any definite plans for securing same,
but they proposed to take this small tract with its
expensive buildings, and then buy 1000 acres adjoining
for the purposes Of the institute
They expected the institution to be supported by the
public through voluntary contributions or public appro-
priatons, but wanted under private control
L. w Lamkn, Director OF The Federal Board for Voea-
onal Education when called before the Committee
Agriculture. made it clear that he disapproved the
scheme Although the proponents OF The idea asserted
that the present buildings would accommodate 200 sol
dlers Mr. Lamkn disclosed the fact that after
daons had been assigned for the officers teachers COOKS
etc. there would be for but 50 soldiers placing
n ROOM and that erection OF additional buildings would
involve maximum OF expense because the site is tor
OF mountain long distance from railroad All mate
rias would have to be hauled by truck and purchase
additional land would be necessary
Showing the utter folly OF buying land erect
ing new buildings vocational schools Representative
Tncher OF Kansas said THE War Department has on
in our STATE where we have one Of these schools
the finest buildings in the country and that place is va
cant and have plenty OF there They have room
camp out there that they will have TO abandon.
seems II would foolish 10 go down here and bu
additional land and put up additional buildings"
c. c. Clark assistant chief Of the Weather Bureau tes
tined that when the government operating the Mour
Weather station 1t took 300 tons Of coal to heat tn
buildings and it cost 70 transport the coal from m
railroad station TO the top OF the mountain than from n
mines to the local railroad station II the govepmel
decided to utilize the place for soldier vocational work.
would be necessary TO improve the roads at cost
100000 ..t
' It also was shown that committee composed Of q
Secretaries OF the Treasury War; Navy and Agricultur
Departments had endeavored to lind some department
bureau commission that could make OF the Mour
weather property but all had refused 1t the ground
expense OF operation This committee recommended IN,
be sold TO the highest bidder, II being the committee
opinion that the property is suitable for nothing
a private residence or summer resort