Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-21
was the only speaker greeted by ap-

killed IL we or our children would ever
see free bridge between Norfolk and
Berkley He also admitted that at
times. on account of shipping, traffic
would be INSTRUCTED. but he believed
| the bridge was for the best interests of
the greatest number
He then read letter bearing on the
subject that City Engineer Brooke had
| written him yesterday in answer to
questions that he (NIr Shultice) had
put to Mr.. Brooke. The letter is as
| follows:
CITY ENGINEERS LETTER
"R. W. Shultice, Member Board of
| Trade:
Sir-In reply to your inquiries in re-
gard to u bridge across the Eastern
Branch. to connect the city with the
town Of Berkeley, beg leave to state
that on November IL. 1895, as City En-
gineer. l was directed by the city au-
thorittes to look into this matter, and
10 report thereon. In pursuance of the
premises l investigated both sides of
the eastern Branch, having before me
the United States Government maps
showing Port Warden's lines and prop
erty and streets inside of same The
very best location for the desired
bridge, under all circumstances, was
shown in the map I made at the time
inns location was identical with that
of the old draw bridge torn down some
and Western railroad.
The direction OF the brge across the
/ channel was made as nearly at right
| angles as was possible when all of the
points OF the problem were considered,
and the variation from an exact right
angle is inconsequential. To have at
tempted an exact right angle would
have thrown the Norfolk end of the
bridge some 200 feet up stream. and to
this extent been injurious to commerce
IN narrowing the space between this
bridge and the Norfolk and Western
railroad bridge, but what was worse. 1t
would have prevented the landing from
a bridge twenty-five feet in height
ABOVE the water unless Main street
should be used for such a landing My
OBJECT was to so locnte the bridge as to
best conserve the citys interest pre-
vent as few as possible obstacles in its
| contraction, and to preerve to the best
OF my ability the commercial interests
on each side of the bridge The result
| was the plan submitted.
| las to the effect of such q bridge on
currents In the river-early in 1890 the
secretary of War acting under author
ity. granted in section II OF the River
and Harbor act Of August II, 1883, fixed
the Fort Warden's lines in the Eastern
| Branch. The line established makes
the width of the Eastern Branch lust
where the old draw bridge stood. 700
feet, and calls for the cutting off of
ABOUT 100 feet of the old abutment now
standing on the Berkeley side. AS we'll
as recollect, when asked by the Coun-
ellis for permission to build a bridge,
the Secretary OF War required as pre-
/ requisites that the bridge should have
a clear height of twenty five feet above
high water; that the bull<head should
! be removed, and the channel widened
| by the same amount as it would be OBJ
| structed by piers, SO that the tidal
| prism OF the river should be undimin-
ished. The location of the bridge,
| whether on an exact right angle with
the river, or askew from the right
angle in either direction, so long as the
above requirements are observed, can,
in my opinion, have no effect whatever
in the currents at the point of cross
ing.
I'm conclusion, I beg leave to state
that In my opinion there is no other
| location for the bridge now being con-
sidered by the Legislature that win so
| well conserve the interests of all con-
cerned as that shown by me on the plat
made by order of the City Councils in
| 1895.
Very truly.
"w. t. BROOKE.
Mr. Shultice said the building of the
| proposed bridge under the pending bill
would, no doubt, be detrimental TO some
private interests and beneficial to
| other private interests, but said it
should be considered In the light of a
public question. Personally, he favors
| the bill
Captain McCarrick said he would
Withdraw his objection If a guaranty
was given that the bridge would be
completed according to the location
| plan of Mr.. Brooke.
Mr.. SYnon then took the floor and
urged that If the bridge is to be built
il should be built as free bridge or
to become g. free bridge in certain
definite time. He said the Councils
did not understand the bill when they
passed the resolution, and If the matter
| had been considered with the bill be-
| fore them the resolution would not have
| been passed. He said there was no
protection for the city in the bill. and
that the city was giving away valua-
| Bile franchise.
Mr.. w. w. Robinson, OF Berllley,
spoke, favoring the bridge bill, and
said what was desired was the greatest
| good to the greatest number. He in
Qured if anyone present knew OF any
one who is willing to give 100000 for
the franchise asked.
MR. MYERS OPPOSES BILL.
Mr.. Barton Myers spoke. saying that
| for several years he had been commit
| ted TO the project of a bridge from
| Berkeley to Norfolk, but when he ex-
amned the present bill he was opposed
| to 1t. Mr.. Myers favored the incor-
poration Of a clause permitting the flu
ture requirement of the bridge by the
cities of Norfolk and Berkeley on terms
| to be fixed by appraisers. to be pro-
vided for in the BILL and the bridge to
| then. on such requirement become q
free bridge. He said the charge that
the effort to secure an amendment was
a blow to kill the bin was untrue.
Mr.. East then rose and addressed the
| meeting on the subject of q nendinr