"There is a separate research laboratory for every activity and in its many ramifications. In these large laboratories our experienced scientists are constantly working on investigations, tests, and researches for the advancement of mechanics, engineering, chemistry, physics, atomics and medicine. Everyone on Mars benefits from their improvements. We fully develop any invention or discovery even though it may minimize or eliminate the usefulness of an already established industry. We harness all our natural forces and elements which are perpetual and useful--sun rays, sea waves, river flows, waterfalls, hot springs, etc.,--for our needs. "We are not concerned about catering to and appeasing any special interests. In discussing this point with one of you, he gave me the following reference:" Natural Gas vs. John L. Lewis It has now been more than a year since this column suggested that the only way to counteract John L. Lewis was to convert our two war-built, government-owned pipelines to natural gas. In the interim not a single move toward conversion has been made. In the interim also millions of cubic feet of Texas and Louisiana natural gas have gone up in smoke and will never be recovered. Most people don't realize that this is one of our most valuable natural resources. Nevertheless, much of it is either burned up in Texas as waste gas, or allowed to escape. At some Texas oil wells, a constant blaze is kept going, night and day, in order to burn off surplus gas. Reason for the government's failure to convert the Big Inch and Little Inch pipelines to gas is not entirely red tape, nor the secret opposition of John L. Lewis. Vigorously pulling wires to keep the pipelines away from natural gas are the railroads and the coal operators. They are Lewis' secret allies. Illustrative of this wire-pulling is a natural gas pipeline only ten miles from Washington, D.C., which brings gas from West Virginia. Originally constructed to feed the nation's capital, the coal industry and the railroads blocked the entrance of natural gas into Washington. They were bringing in coal which the gas company then converted into expensive artificial gas. So for ten years West Virginia natural gas flowed to within sight of the nation's capital but was never permitted to come into the city. Only during the war was this finally changed. Now the West Virginia pipeline has been tapped, and Washington, at long last, is using cheap natural gas.[44]