Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-05


into the river under any conditions.
The company might give bond and pro-
per security indemnifying the cities OF
TINS port against any damages in the
future resulting from the piers. but
IL would trust to Its influence to pre-
vent any action ever being taken to-
ward enforcing the conditions of the
bond.
CAPTAIN j. ]. BURROUGHS.
Captain j. ]. Burroughs said:
think II VIII be most serious
mistake TO build another pier at Lam
berts Point out so far into the river
as the present ones, which l have al
ways thought extended too far out.
The harbor has already been damaged
immeaSurably."
MIR. ]. DAVIS REED.
Mr.. j, Davis Reed is of the firm of
keed, Bros. x Co.. exporters. He is
the Italian Consular agent here, and
is familiar with the commerce of the
harbor. He said that one solution of
the Lamhert's Point pier difficulty was
that of urging the Government to APP
propriate money enough TO clear the
channel. That means an appropriation
sufficient not only to widen and deepen
the channel, as it exists, but to cut off
the land at Hospital Point and the
piers at Lamberts Point. These en-
terprises are too costly to be done by
the city or private corporations. They
are for the public benefit. and they
would enlarge the channel. In order
to accomplish this the citizens of all
the cities here should unite With the
Norfolk and Western railway to Sc
cure the appropriation.
The Norfolk and Western needs the
new piers. No one should oppose the
interests of corporation which brings
so much traffic here, except for the
greater public interests of keeping the
harbor clear of distractions Il all
the interests would combine with the
Norfolk and Western, that Is, say the
Old Dominion Steamship Line, the
Merchants and Miners Transportation
Line, the Clydes Line, and the great
Pennsylvania Railway, and the citi-
zens here. there is little doubt but that
n large appropriation could oe secured,
including enough to enable the Norfolk
and Western to build several smaller
piers and dredgc for deep water to
them. Powerful Influences could be
had for this purpose. But since the
Norfolk and Western railway has al
ready built piers, 1t would not be any
greater obstruction to have another
pier.
MIR. ]. w. PERRY.
Mr.. ]. w. Perry. vice president of the
Citizens Bank and capitalist. said that
the Norfolk and Western railway
should have nil the facilities necessary
to do Its traffic. Il brings an immense
amount of merchandise here ALI of which
| nus All lilOGIlCe III tiic VI thS
city. The harbor should not be OBJ
structed 1t would require an expert
to determine precisely how the railway
can have all the harbor facilities to
which !. is entitled, and still not build
piers that will obstruct navigation. He
said that he is not able to do that.
hence he Is not able to give an opinion
that Is worth anything on the subject.
The opinions OF experts must be taken
on the subject of granting or not grant
ing the requests of the railway. Mr..
Perry declined to say what should be
done In the case of the request OF the
Norfolk and Western railroad of the
Harbor Commissions; first, because he
does not believe that he Is competent
to decide the question; and. second, be-
cause lie believes the Harbor Commits
sioners will examine it carefully ana
decide 1t honestly and disinterestedly.
CHAS. REID'S SONS.
The senior member of the old and
honorable firm of Chas. Reids Sons. ex-
porters, said that his father was a
member of the Board of Harbor Com
missioners previous to the Groner
board. His father. one of the most dis
tinguished business men, as we'll as the
oldest citizen of Norfolk at the time of
his death two years ago. had opposed
the building of the Lambert's Point
coal pier at the time. Mossrs. Reid, the
sons. regret that it was built They
know It IS Il disadvatftase-te-e commerce,
and that. sooner or later 1t must give
way to the changing conditions. These
are the greatly increased traffic of this
port and the increasing size and num-
Der of the vessels which are coming
here. Mr.. Reid could not say what was
best to be done. The Norfolk and West
ern railroad Is great agent for the
success of this city. The piers are nee
essary to conduct its business, hence
there is n difficulty In saying precisely
what should be done. but what over is
done must he for the general welfare.
Meantime, there ought to be an eleva-
tor In this city ample to do the bus!-
ness the exporters require. Newport
News not only gets credit for business
that should be done here. but the ex-
porters here have to pay a charge of I
cent q hundred on merchandise sent
there from here to be exported The
Norfolk and Western Is credited with
the intention OF building an elevator at
Lamberts Point that will be annie for
the demand here. If that be done II
will be a benefit to Norfolk.
MIR. ]. v. HERMAN.
Mr.. j. V. Herman. a Councilman
from the Second ward. said he was
opposed to extending the Port War
denis lines. He was not acquainted
in detail with the plans of the pro
posed Norfolk and Western pier. but
he was sure that all citizens who had
the interests of Norfolk at heart would
oppose additional Instructions to nav
igation in the harbor. He thought by
all means the road should give an in
Identifying bond if the construction of
the pier was allowed.
MIR. J. SYDNEY SMITH.
Mr.. j. Sydney Smith said:
IF we vii! only let the corporations
alone they will take all. both land and
water. am opposed to the building
of the pier so far out into the river, as