Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-15
AN OPEN LITTER TO THE BOARD
OF HARBOR COMMISSIONERS OF
NORFOLK, PORTSMOUTH
AND NORFOLK COUNTY.

You are to-day about to consider q
proposition fraught with the greatest
Importance to this section of the State
the granting to the Norfolk and West
build 4 costly steel pier out to the Port
Warden's line at Lambert's Point.
For two weeks past the views of the
leading citizens of this section have
been freely given in the columns of the
Virginian-Pilot. Whether the inter-
views given to the representatives of
this paper have been favorable or OPP
posed to the granting of the privilege
asked for. they have been given i'm
partially to the end that you. the SER
wants Of the people. shall fulfill the
trust that the people have reposcd in
you and execute their wishes.
The opinions of leading citizens in
every line of business activity have
been sought. and bankers, lawyers,
merchants. Councilman and men who
own or command both large and small
craft. as we'll as those of men who
come in contact With the vesselmen as
ship chambers, ship agents and COM
mission men, have expressed their
views on this matter.
The hasty and strange manner in
which a great privilege. affecting vi
tally the interests of this port and sec
ton, was given to the Norfolk and
Western Railroad Company has been
made public.
The condemnation OF this hasty ac-
ton by the Board of Harbor Commits
sioners that succeeded the Groner
board Is a matter of record in the
minutes of the meetings of that board.
In the report that condemned that
hasty action. the Reed board. of which
your present president was a member,
it concludes with the expression. 1--WE
RECOMMEND NO FURTHER AC-
TION AT PRESENT"
These words speak volumes "AT
PRESENT" BY their use the MEM
bers OF that board saw the time APP
preaching when the demands of our
increasing business would make their
removal necessary.
Noto, the people demand that these LONG
piers be SHORTENED (say about SEQ
piers, about 500 feet toithin Tic present Port
Worden's line. be built; and that no more
LONG piers be ertcndcd out into tho hdrbor
rhich, costing large Sums of money. UiH
cucntudliy have to BE- condemned and PAID
FOR BY OUR PEOPLE LIVING
AROUND THIS PORT.
If, however. after careful considera-
ton, you shall conclude to take the
responsibility on your board OF disre-
garding the wishes OF the citizens of
this port, and decide to allow the Nor
folk and Western Railroad Company to
extend its pier out in our harbor to
the Port Wardcn's line, and thus cs
tablishing very Objectionable and in
furious precedent for all others. on
both sides of the channel of our harbor,
then the public would earnestly ask at
your hands. that in granting this val
liable privilege it should be condition
ed, as a matter of good faith. on an
ample bond and security. binding the
railroad company to shorten its pres
ent piers, as well as the proposed new
pier, at it's own expense, by cutting
away about 500 feet Of them next to the
channel, whenever they shall be here
after adjudged. by the proper authori-
ties, to be an obstruction to navigation
or an injury to this harbor.
Tho time has come when the Harbor
Commissioners should. with the aid of
exper: opinion. established. we'll within
the present Port Narden's line. n line
to which all owners of riparian rights
can erect structures and beyond which
none shall be permitted to go. For
this purpose the line originally recon-
mended by the United States Advisory
Board might serve; such line having
been established, steps could then be
taken to condemn and remove obstruc-
tons as occasion required.
To permit the building of another
long pier now would more than double
the difficulty OF removing the obstruc-
tons and broadening the harbor.
THE NIRGINIAN-PILOT