Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-03
further distractions to the navigation
of tho river.
MIR. ID. r. CREECy

Pilot with interest. He agrees with the
tenor or the interviews, with the excep-
tion of two or three. If the Norfolk, and
western Railway Company wishes to-
bnild pier, not farther out in the
water than the two there now. there is
no objection to 1t. 1t would not in
crease the obstruction to navigation.
But the Harbor Masters should look
carefuliy into any proposition the Nor
folk and Western railway makes before
granting any privilege that road asks.
Tho interests of the city require that.
MIR. d. j. CALLAHAN.
Mr.. d. ]. Callahan said he thought
| the Harbor Commissioners were gen
| ueneh VINO had the interests of the
port. which we might term the great
est interests of the city. at heart and
would certainly not do anything to
opposed to any obstruction at the point
OF egress in ingress to the harbor The
harbor. he said. was contracted enough
at this point already.
WELL-KNOWN PILOT.
| n pilot OF experience and standing
said that. while some of the marine
men here maintain that the Norfolk
ana western railway piers have not
| been any disadvantage to navigation,
II Is probable that they have changed
the condition of the channel. There is
no question. he said, that the branches
or Enzaoeth river have been affected
by the bridges which have been thrown
| across them. The piers stop, the cur
| rent and cause changes in the chan
nels. Within his observation there has
been decided change since the coal
| piers were established ut Lambert's
| Point. The water is DETECTED from the
piers toward the spit opposite, so that
great accumulation of land has &C.
cnrred at the point of Craney Island.
Within his recollection, he said there
n hi .ifJ 10
the Craney Island Lighthouse. Now
there is about $50 feet. OF course the
report of an expert in marine engin-
eertng would be necessary to determine
precisely what the effects of the coal
piers have been on the channel but to
the eyes of n layman they appear to
he too great to permit the Norfol< and
Western Railway Company to build In
been built Will have to he cut off sooner
or later at n great expense, probably
to the city-certainly to the general
government.
MIR. ]. B. BLACKBURN.
Mr.. ]. q. Blackburn, broker in pro-
visions. said one point not brought out
in any interview heretofore is that the
Norfolk and Western Railway Com
pany wishes to provide for dredging.
If the piers can be built into deep
water the Government Will have to do
all Of the dredging. That will save the
lDG eNpetlSe IL MOulO OLncTWlSe
incur for keeping the proper depth of
water. Instead OF paying for its own
dredging the Norfolk and Western
Railway Company would have the
Government do the dredging at public
cost.
MIR. r. p. vOIGHT.
Mr.. r. P. Weight. president of the
Wholesale Grocers' Association, said
that he Is opposed to the Norfolk and
Western Railway Company. or any
other corporation. building piers that
would obstruct the channel. Speaking
further on the subject. Mr.. Voight
said that he had grown up not more
than 100 yards from the Dismal Swamp
Canal and that he was familiar with
the effect Of distractions in water
channels. For example, when the ca
nal was clear of trees on the banks the
water would be of n regular depth. But
whenever an overhanging limb
stopped the current the refuse would
gather and create an obstruction at
that point Drive pole in q stream
would gather at the base of the pole
and create an obstruction in the
| stream. If the piers of the Norfolk
| and Western Railway Company would
have this effect on the channel of Eliz
| abeth river the Board of Harbor Com
missioners should not give permission
| for more of them.
| MR.. w. B. BALDWIN.
Mr.. w. B. Baldwin. real estate dealer,
| said he is not familiar with the sub
ject. The discussion began while he
was absent from the city and he has
not had time to study it.
| WHAT MIR. HENRY KIRN SAYS.
Than Mr.. Henry Kim there is proba-
| bly, no man in this section more COM
petent TO speak with weight on the
present matter. as he was for a quarter
| OF n century member Of the Board of
Harbor Commissioners, having in
charge the interests of this port. Mr..
Kirn is the largest trucker in the coun-
ty and has. perhaps, the greatest hold
ing of city property in Portsmouth and
Norfolk Mr.. Kim has the following to
say over his own signature:
| II am opposed to the extension. 1t Is
An outrage. The harbor is too narrow
now. The present pier should be taken
in at least 300 feet. 1t is too far out.
I was member of the Board OF Har-
| Dor Commissioners for twenty five
years, and when the present pier was
built I opposed 1t. I, in comany with
Commodore Truxton. of the United
States Navy. and United States Engi-
neer Creffcld. who looks after all the
harbor improvements. went down there
to see them. and both Of these gentle
men. as we'll as myself. opposed the
pier coming out " far. There is plenty
land. but very little water for the ships
| that now come here.
1T is only a question of a short while
before the entire water front of this
side OF the river, clear down to Craney
Island will be built UP. Then suppose
wharves and piers should be built out
on this side OF the river. like they are
| on the Norfolk side. which they would
have the right TO do. we would then
have nothing more than canal. and
L. -x1.