30 OCTOBER 1909, Page 13

MR. LLOYD GEORGE ON RAIL WAY CONSTRUCTION AND THE COST

OF LAND.

[To THE EDITOR Or THE " SPECTATOR."] Sm,—With reference to the cost of land as an element of railway construction (see Spectator, October 16th), may I draw the attention of your readers to the new number of the Quarterly Review, p. 355? There is given an estimate that (1) "the abnormally heavy charges which the railways have had to bear for land" would average upwards of £4,000 per mile ; and that (2) "the law costs and Parlia- mentary expenses" would account for another 24,000 per mile. The article continues : "These two exceptional charges, namely for land and law costs, have been imposed under the authority of Parliament ; and for them the State must be held largely responsible."—I am, Sir, Ac.,