Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-04-20
new STREET RAILWAY
Council Grants a Franchise
for Another Line.
MEETS WITH OPPOSITION
MIR. K. G. sickford and Othcrs UrEo That
the Company he Required to Lay
LIS Tracks on L.:ny cite "A venue.
O.her business Transacted.

Newport News Will have another
street railway. w..
AT lie regular meeting of the com
mon councii ned last hight Inc orul-
nance granting Il franchise To the New
port I>sws, hampton d Old POINT I;;lll-
way ana Electric Company was passed.
The session was probably the longest
ever held by the cIty'S leg lsl;,tlNa body.
1t convened at ociuck and uiL not ;iu-
1ourn till long after midnight. Every
member WAS present anu kept his seat
III the motion to adjourn prevailed. 1t
was known that the orclinanc. grant
ing the franchise would come up for
passage last night and consequently
There was Il large crowd present.
There was some opposition To grant
ing the franchise to the railway COM
pany, but when it came up FOR final
passage there was not Il dissenting
vote east. Prominent among those
who opposed the granting OF fran
chise we're Messrs. K. Ct. li+-41ord and
u. $. JoneS> Of thiS-cier. and Mr. A. S.
Segar, attorney Tor the Newport News
Hampton and Old Point Railway Com
pany. Besides Directing to the phra-
seology of the ordinance MIR. 3ckforu
was opposed to giving another colnpa-
ny the right to lay Il track Wash
ington avenue. He thought the line
should run along Lafayette avenue
instead. Mr.. w. j. Payne and Attor-
ney Samuel REGISTER. OF Richmond.
represented the new company which
has among it's stockholders M;,vur w.
A. Post and Col. &. NJ. BraXton. of this
city. and Hcn. Nj. T.. Ingalls, president
of the Chesapeake Il Ohio Railway
The route of the line in Newport News
MU4-be rs rOffo>+as:
Beginning at Twenfy-TirTh street and
the city limits in East End on Twenty
fifth street to Washington avenue.
Twenty Chfiru'- s s. .';:33ss' from Washington
avenue to the CheSap OO a..b ABE :.
way station, Washington avenue from
Twenty-third street northerly to the
city limits. Forty sixth street from
Washington avenue To Lafayette ave
nue., Lafayette avenue to Thirty fourth
street northerly to the city limits.
Thirty-fourth street from Washington
avenue to Jefferson avenue. Jefferson
avenue from Thitry-fourth street to
Twenty fifth street.
After the minutes We're read and APP
proved the council. on motion of Mr..
LEM audited the bills before proceeding
with the regular order of business
MAYORS MESSAGE.
There was one message from the
mayor. 1t read as follows:
Newport News, Va, April 10, 1898
To the Council: sl.,--
In transmitting to your honorable
body the quarterly report OF the presl
dent of the board OF health, l would
especially call your attention tC the le
markedly small death rate, 1866 rcr
1000 of population, on L basis OF $4,000
inha b'tants. The most conservative es
Inmates now place our population at
not less than $1,000, which would give a
still lower rate. #
While we have reason to conGratu"
late ourselves on the general good
health of our people. ii is Il matter OF
sincere regret that the execution of the
garbage contract has been attended
With SO many difficulties as TO render
it almost impossible to secure good
service i'll that respect. The recon-
mendations of the president of the
board of health are worthy of the ear
nest consideration of the council in ar
ranging for the performance Of This
important service during the coming
year. W
The report Of the department is re-
specially transmitted hercw!th.
w. a. posi-. Mayor
HEALTH OFFICER'S REPORT.
The report of DR.. Samuel w. Hobson.
the health officer, follows:
To the Honorable Mayor Of the City Of
Newport News. Va.
Sir:-I1 is the pleasure of the health
officer acting for the city of Newport
News to transmit the following report
of the transactions of the health de-
partment for the quarter ending March
II utimo. with such recommendations
as in his judgment seem eNpedient:
l. "A - i
TICS.
The number of births reported as oc-
curing in the city during the quarter
was 65.57 white and s colored.
The number of deaths reported as oc-
curing in the city was 1919 white ana
q colored. making an annual death
rate OF 1886 per thousand inhabitants
ESTIMATED population 10000. which
compares most favorably with that of
any city in the Union.
A light epidemic of q severe form OF
cerebro-spnal meningitis occurred
during the quarter and i've cases Oh
scarlet fever We're also reported all OF
which, however, terminated in resolu-
ton.
It may be interesting to add that of
about two hundred cases OF typhoid
fever reported during the year 1897.
only fourteen deaths are assembled I"
this cause This shows the mild form
in which the disease prevailed here
where it was so modified by climatic
conditions.
GARBAGE.
The conduct of the garbage service
has been very inefficient and rnsats-
factory, resulting, probably to a great
extent. from the inadequate compensa-
ton of the contractor for the perform
ance Of his duties. 1t appears that the
necessary systematic supervision has
not been given. nor has there been
placed with the service. at all times,
the necessary equipments for the pro-
per execution of the work. 1t would
seem at first blush, that a contract
supported by good bond and proper
ly enforced, would offer a safeguard
against these derelctions. but such is
not the case in view of the fact that
the power vested in me to enforce the
provisions of the contract is limited to
having such conditions as the contract
or may have omitted, fulfilled at his
expense. and with only one sanitary in
:spector to ascertain these omissions, in
addition to guarding against various
other nuisances in different parts of
the city, 1t becomes practically mpos-
sible to rigedly enforce it with the
means at my Command. ! referred the
matter to the city attorney and have
acted upon his advice.
The removal OF garbage by contract
has proven to be impra ctical and dis
NAL failure in other cities. and see no
reason why this city should not profit
by their experience. added to its own or
two years, and reiegate 1t to the past
The present contract expires May Fl
and instead Of a renewal of this de-
%.