The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-08
FOR FOR GREATER NORFOLK
The Councils Committee Of the Whole Takes
Decisive Action on The Measure.
ACTION TAKEN BY cOAAOa COUNCIL.
Only One Opposed TO the Annexation
ofBerkIey-.The Free Bridge Across
Main Street h Matter Was
Thoroughly Discussed I'm tho Meet.
Jugs Held last Night.

m ..Hl-. .FLr
Judging by the action OF the commit
tee of the whole and that of the Com
mon Council last night. the annexation
of Berkeley to Norfolk is q foregone con-
clusion, for in the Common branch
there was one vote against the effort to
| enlarge Norfolk's territory.
The two branches of the Council met
In committee OF the whole to consider
annexation, but the Select Councilmen
were slow In coming I'm. While waiting
for u quorum of the latter branch the
Common Council was called to order by
President Roper, the following members
answering the roll call: Messrs. Shell
White, Leigh. Simmons, Collins, Nc
Manus, Walker, Il. c. White, Peclle,
| Small and Hyslop.
After disposing of the Brambleton
matter, the annexation matter was ta-
ken up, the following members of the
Select Council having arrived: Messrs.
Winston. Beasley, Bunting, Goodridge,
Tredwell. Cooke. Wrenn and Briggs.
The proceedings of the two sessions
of the Common Council and committee
of the whole follows: l
COMMON COUNCIL +.
After the reading of the minutes Of the
last meeting of the Common Council, q
petition from he B~rambleton Ward Lo-
cal Board of Improvement was read. in
which the Councils were requested to
have introduced an amendment to the
city charter. giving the people of Bran
bleton all opportunity to vote ON an
issue of $3.50, 600 in bonds. the proceeds
from the sale of which shall be used
for sewers. water and oher Internal i'm
provements n authorizing an increase
In taxation in h ward.
A resolution to carry out the request
was introduced and advocated by Mr..
Borum, who referred to the lack OF
sewerage In the ward.
Mr.. Leigh said he would like to hear
more about the matter as $3.50. 600 was q
large sum OF money.
Mr.. w. II. Sterling. secretary of the
Local Board of Brambleton, said he
thought that the city should grant the
request as sewerage was needed bad
ly.
Mr.. Leigh said III only wanted time
to consider the matter.
Mr.. I. p. J%ernigan, of the Brambleton
Board. spoke upon the subject, saying
that In laying out q city it is always
customary to look after the sewerage
before anything else. Bramblcton was
willing to pay the interest and the ques-
ton was TO he put to n vote in the ward.
MI. Sheldon did not care to antago-
nize the measure. but he thought 1t toe
much money to spend on sewers at the
present time. Norfolk. he said. did with
Out sewers a good many years.
Yes" said Mr. Jernigan, Norfolk
is one of the oldest cities In the United
States, and you nave had sewerage
only fourteen years. Yet during that
fourteen years your population has in
creased more thar 1t did for fifty years
previously"
The resolution was adopted unani-
mously.
The petition and resolution in full
were as follows:
To the Honorable Common and Select
Councils, City of Norfolk. Va:
Gentlemen-The Local Board Of I'm
provement for Brambleton. or Fifth
ward, acting In pursuance of the author
ity vested in it by the annexation ac
of the Legislature. respectfully recon
mend to YOU honorable bodies that til,
Legislature Of the State be petitioncd a
once to so change the charter of tn,
city as to the said annexation act as I,
authorize the Councils of the city o
Norfolk. subject to the approval of tn,
voters OF sale ward at the May election
1886. or at any regular election there
after, to issue bonds to the extent o
$780, 600. predicated upon the assessed
valuation of the real and personal prop
erty OF Brambleton ward. and to In
crease the taxes of said ward to an ex
tent necessary to meet the interest 81
the same, and that the Legislature ma,
authorize the Councils to submit tn
said matter to the voters at the tim
named. after advertising the same TO
thirty days. after which. if so approved
the bonds may be issued and the worl
done.
The object OF this bonded indebted
ness IS to place n perfect system o
sewerage in Brambleton Ward, q thin.
of the greatest Importance to the healtl
and comfort of it's inhabitants. Unde
the present law the Local Board of I'm
prOvement nay not recommend 4 great
err increase in the bonded Indebtedness
than $1,000 q year.. hence the appea
to the Legislature that the matter ma,
be submitted to the people at the May
1896. election, Cor at any regular cleo
ton In accordance with the annexation
acD. If. therefore, the matter Is no
acted upon by the present Legislature
it can not be carried through until tn,
expiration of W. years.
The present rate Of taxation Of Bran
bleton Ward is $1.40 per 500. 81 of which
accrues to the ward and the balanct
to the State.
To increase the taxes 50 or 40 cents O,
the 500 in addition to the rate already
in force would be sufficient evenu I,
pay the interest ON $3.50, 600 yearly at
per cent. The expenditure Of thi:
amount would give us sewerage and wa
! ter facilities IN noGa tho ~ o1o.4t,,.