Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-26
APPLICATION REJECTED
Harbor Commissioners Hold an
animated Session.
Application OF Southern Branch Draw
Bridge Company for Draw Bridge
Across Southern Branch Rejectcd-AbIo
Speeches for and Against tho Measure.


Harbor Commissioners was held at 4
o'clock yesterday afternoon. with the
President. Mr.. II. A. Dobie. in the chair,
and the following members present:
Colonel George W. Taylor. Messrs. John
N. Vaughan. George Lindsey. John Z.
King, Joseph L. Weaver and ]. II. ia
cocks.
The president announced that the
Beard had been called together to con-
slider the application of the Southern
Branch Drawbridge Company. to con-
struct Il bridge across the Southern
Branch OF the Elizabeth river, near
SIMPSONS Creek. with a siXty-foot
double draw OF steel.
There was Il large number of the adj
vocateS OF the measure present. who
took u deep interest in all that trans
PRED.
Mr. Francis Richardson, president of
the company; Judge w. n. Portlocl1.
Captain John L. West and Messrs. AL
yah II. Martin and H. l.. Page were
granted the privileges of the floor. each
of whom spoke in advocacy of the ap-
plication. showing the many advan-
tages it would prove to the people liv-
iEg in that section as we'll as to the
people OF Norfolk. Portsmouth and
Berkeley They declared that a double
siXty-foot draw would not impede navi-
CATION. and would not in any way OBJ
struct commerce by water.
Mr.. Burwell. secretary and treasurer
of the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal
Company, said that Mr.. Warren G. Ell
lott. president of the company, was
unable to be present on account of sick
ness, but he read Il lengthy letter from
him. strongly protesting against grant
ing the application.
The reading of this letter was follow
ed by strong argument from Captain
w. H. White, why the board should
not grant the application. taking the
ground that the special duty of the
board was to protect the harbor and
commerce of Norfolk from every en-
croachment and jealously guard its in
terestS. He gave Il number of reasons
why the application should not be
granted. Among them was that the
board is to look TO the future; that
bridges built nearly fifty years ago with
draws to suit the traffic in commerce
by water in those days would not meet
the present demands.
Judge Portlock replied In a forcetu!
argument, in which he said he failed
to see any grounds presented in Mr.
Whites argument why the application
should not be granted. The granting
of the application would be no impede
ment to navigation. and would open up
a section of country to Norfolk that
would result in good to all.
He was followed by Mr.. Richardson
and Mr.. Page, each of whom gave
strong grounds for granting the appli-
cation.
Captain White followed in Il brief re-
joinder, after which Mr.. Lindsey, OF the
board. moved that the application be
granted which called forth remarks
from Colonel Taylor in favor of it, who
was followed by Mr.. Dobie. who said
he was willing 10 vote for a bridge with
an eighty-foot draw. but would oppose
the application in its present form.
Mr.. Jacocks favored the application.
Messrs. King. Vaughan and Weaver OPP
posed it.
Mr. Richardson added n proviso to
make the bridge an eighty-foot draw
whenever the Norfolk and Western
Railroad Company increased the size
OF it's draw.
A vote was then taken. with the fol-
lowing result:
Yeas-Taylor. Jacocks and Lindsey
Noes-Vaughan. King and Weaver
The president cast the deciding
vote. and the application was rejected
The board decided to make the fol-
lowing requisition for funds to run the
annual expenses of the board: Norfolk
5000; Portsmouth. $500 and Norfolk
county, $500. Total. sf;460.