The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-11-26
A. TIMELY PRECAUTION
The Board Of Harhor Commissioners
Issues An Important Order.
TO PREVENT FIRES ON LOADING SHIPS
All vesscis Taking on Cotton Must
Have Spark Arrestcrs and FulHIi
All Other Commit co
on wharves ana Docits Reports
Regulations OF other Ports.

At 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon n
special meeting of the Board of Harbor
commissioners was held. With the presi-
dent, Captain w. r. Mayo in the chair,
and present in addition were Messrs.
Henry kim, Nv. a. Graves, X. "A. Dobie,
John IT,. King and John l.. Thomas
The report of the Committee on
Wharves and Docks was read, In which
1t was stated that the piles driven in
front OF the property of the Portsmouth
Lumber Company were In accordance
with the specifications of the law, and
furthermore, that the S. a. L. had agreed
to have their property at the foot of
Columbia street. in Portsmouth, put in
proper condition as soon as practicable
The application of MIR. Thomas w.
Shelton, attorney for T.. W. Face & Son.
for permit to construct sheet pilng
along the port warden's line in front of
their property, and to dredge out Tar
rants or Edmond'S Creek between the
port warden's lines, was granted the
work to be done in accordance with Ger
tain plans submitted.
The communication of the president of
the board to the Chief of Engineers Of
the United States army, in reference to
the widening of the harbor ut Hospital
Point, anu at the point up the Eastern
Branch known as the old drnwbridge
abutment, was endorsed by the board
and ordered forwarded
me following resolutions were adopt
ed relative to the matter of the necessity
or protecting vessels loading at this port
from fire:
! Resolved, That oil vessels loading
cotton Mt any dock in this harbor he
required TO have their smokestacks COW
cred with spark arreSterS, and the Ven
tiiators leading into the hold covered
with canvas and plugged: also to have
one barrel and two buckets at each
hatch on steamer loading cotton, the
same to be kept filled with water until
the vessel is loaded.
Failure to comply with this resolution
VIII render the party liable to n fine of
twenty dollars $500, to be collected as is
usual in such cases.
! 1t was ordered that 500 copies OF the
above resolution be printed for distribu-
ton among the shipping interests in this
port.
The Board decided that 1t had no au-
thority in the matter or appointment of
watchmen on board loading ships and
accordingly ordered returned to their
writers number Of letters applying for
such position.
! 1t was ordered that the secretary COM
munfcate with the presidents of the
Boards of Harbor Commissions of New
Orleans, Galveston, Savannah, Charles
ton. Mobile and Wilmington. and obtain
copies of rules ana regulations govern
ing ships loading cotton ut those ports.
! The secretary was also Instructed to
address letter to Mr.. c. il. Ifosetter
anu itdHcSt lle prompt removal OF GER
tain logs of his which are obstructing
navigation.
The Committee on Port Wnrdcn's
Lines was asked TO consider and recon-
mend to the board lines IN SCOTS Creek
and Gander Creek; also thai they rectify.
the Port Warden's line on the south side
of Smiths Creek, from the Lowenbcrg
ana Grlndy property 10 the Atlantic
City bridge.
/ The REPORT of the harbor masters on
the condition of the Nicely property at
the foot of London street. Portsmouth
was referred to the Committee on
Wharves and Docks to take such action
as they may deem necessary
Some other business, not of public i'm
the board adjourned.