Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-25
MAY GET BRIDGES
Committee Willing if the
Cash Can be Secured.
C. & 0. OFFICIAL TALKS
General superintendent G. r. Doyle DIX
cusses the Cue stion OF Overhead
Crossings Iii Il Business
.'.. Like Tone. .

The special committee appointed by
the common Council TO inquire into the
most feasible plans for constructing
crossings over the Chesape;ili. 4: OHIO
lalIWay tracks held u meeting last
night in the mayors office at the court
house. This is the first time this
committee has been called tu:,.. Their
and all Of the members easr>; Geo
+. VIA X. J. Mackey and a. Il. Bur
cher-were present The railway DILL
perintendent z. T.. Doyle. General
Agent II. +. Parker and General Yard
. Master E. /. Ford who came by in
vitation TO confer With the committee
and discuss plans. #
After going over the plans prcvious-
iy prepared. which PROV ldea for Two
overhead crossInss-on. at Twc.!ty-
fifth street and the other at twenty
fourth street, Il u tunnel al! bridge
at Twenty-eighlil street Gena. III Su-
perintendent Doyle was invited Ia ad-
dress the meeting Mr.. Doyle talked
business from the beginning to the end
OF his address and responded promptly
9to the questions propounded by the
committeeman. He said the company
was ready to begin work on the cross
rings at any time, and indeed was anx-
ious to rid the city and the railway
company Of the death trap at Twenty
eighth street. If the council would as
sure the railway company that at some
a tunnel or bridge at Twenty eighth
street would be commenced. the Ches-
apeake & ONO company would begin
3 work Immediately on the other two
bridges. Mr.. Doyle pointed out the
danger to life and limb at the grade
crossing, saying that the day might
, come when Il horrible accident result
ing in the loss of many lives would oc-
cur. In all cities. lie said. bridges had
been erected over railway tracks at
II any of the committeeman doubted
the wisdom of building bridges he
would take them To Cincinnati and other
large cities and show them bridges
! over: which there was heavy travel
Mr.. Doyle called attention To the offer
Old Point Railway Company to contrib
ute $4,000 toward paying the city's
portion of the expense Of tunnelng
under Twenty-eighth street, stating
in the same connection that the new
electric railway company which was
recently granted a franchise by the
city would pay literally for the priv
tlege decreasing the other two bridges
This. he argued would reduce the citys
burden of the expense. besides giving
encouragement to capitalists who were
about. to invest III Newport News.
General Superintendent Dyole's adj
dress impressed the commmittee.
I'VE are ready to build the bridges
Sdlu CHAIRMAN VIA, ''Dut We nave no
money. Provision has been made for
the issuance of $40 600 worth of bonds
for this purpose. but as yet the bonds
have not been issued. Would the rail
way company take the bonds?"
MIR. Doyle said he had no fear for
the future of Newport News. and the
company would be willing to begin
work at once. for there was no doubt
the bonds would be sold. He was not
in position to state whether the com
pany would take the bonds. though he
was inclined to think it would.
The committee did not formulate a
report to be presented at the next meet
ing Of the Common Council, but two
members expressed themselves as be-
ing in favor of taking steps looking
to the erection of the crossings. and il
is probable that the committee will
recommend prompt action by the
council
All the council is waiting for is the
signal to go ahead, as n ma
ior!ty of the members are anxious to
see work commenced on these much-
needed improvements. and in this they
are supported by Il large majority OF
the citizens OF this city, who declare
that legislation along this line must
not be held up any longer to please the
fancy of the little od-foggyism tina t
exists among few individuals not
abreast OF the times This matter will
be called up at the next meeting of the
council for action. Newport News will
yet get the bridges.