Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-10-27
JOINT FERRY
COMMITTEE ACTS.
Will Ask the City Council to Ap-
point Ferry Spoilers.
MR.. WOOL CALLS THEM SPIES.


The Joint City and County Ferry
Committee held a two hour and a half
session yesterday afternoon at which
was discussed the condition of the fer
ny property, the irregularities of sched-
ule ana the causes therefor The dis
cusSion also took the course of trying
10 determine when a quicker schedules
VIII be put in operation. but this was
clearly regarded by the lesseas and by
superintendent Davis as n line OF
prophecy on which they Go not care 10
commit themselves.
The ferry men declared they had
operated from the first to The best of
their ability in the face of numerous
obstacles. 1T was admitted that the
se er, mac been Irregular. but the
causes for its being SO were stated.
ana the members of the Joint Commit
zee admitted that the reasons given
were plausible The iessees also said
~ was impossible 10 run an absolutely
regular schedule. and they did not ex
pect ever 10 be able 10 do so.
me members OF the Joint Committee
present were Messrs Deans. Ballen-
tine. Overman. Montague. Tuley.
wood and John a Codd. Mr.. Deans
T Wee. as CHAIRMAN, Alessrs. John l..
Watson and I. j. Wool. two Of the les
sees; and superintendent l.. IL. Davis.
OF The ferry We're also present.
ME-. Bailentine reported for the Spe-
ciai committee appointed 10 look into
the workings of the ferry He said he
mad seen plans for a new ferry house
IN Norfolk, with which he was quite
taVorably impressed: also that pencil
drawings of the proposed new ferry
house Tor Portsmouth had been shown
him' but 1t would be necessary TO OBJ
tain the consent of the CITY Council bn-
FORE the plans for this building We're
drawn. because il would require the use
OF half CT high street. This would he
Wrought up at the next meeting of the
Council He said that under the CON
dltionS which have existed for the past
month the lessces could not run a bet
ter schedule than they had been rtsn-
ming. for the reason that two boats
were being run in the Pearl street dock
in Berkley while the Chestnut street
dock was being repaired. These re-
pairs We're now completed and trips,
he said. were being made regularly.
Mr.. overton said he would ask at
the proper ;ime that the Portsmouth
Ferry Committee appoint men TO take
record OF irregularities. SO that the
penalty could he imposed. Mr. Over
ton said 1t was his idea to keep these
penalties in reserve until the eXpira-
ton of the lease. when they could be
charged against the amounts expended
by tho lessees. and which the city and
Council Will have to pay for.
MIR. Overton was asked by Mr.. Wat
son whether he cid not know it to he a
fact that the recent IRREGULARITIES of
schedule We're caused by the rebuilding
of the docks in Norfolk. Mir. Overton
replied that he had heard 1t was due
in part at least to the fact that the
Superior had a couple of paddles out
OF her wheel and could not make time.
AT this point petition, numeroulsly
signed by ferry patrons in the three
towns. asking that steps be taken to
insure regular trips. and Offering rec
concentrations for Improvement of the
ferry service Mr.. Montague objected
to the paper being read, saying that ii
ought to go first TO the city Council
and Board of Supervisors. He was
overruled. The petition contained the
following suggestions:
Docks should have been rebuilt and
repaired before April lst. 1900.
The lay-up dock in Portsmouth
should have been fixed so 81 could have
been used i'm case OF emergency.
Work on the BerlSIey float and bridge
could have been done a the same time
as work on the dock.
The Superior should have been run
in the east dock in Norfolk so as not
to Interfere with the Portsmouth boat.
and should now he run in the east dock.
Work should be at once commenced
on the new dock in Portsmouth.
one or two new boats should be
bought.
The committee should employ one or
two competent men TO keep record of
Irregularities. so that the owners would
be i'm a position TO impose penalty
therefor
That the waiting rooms and boats be
kept clean.
Nlr. Montague, while admitting that
the boats had not been Running regu-
larry of late, said the petition showed
the animus of one man. whose sigma
ture headed the petition. The ailusion