Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-15

From its Issue of July 81 to this
morning. inclusive, the Virginian- Pr
lot has in each issue given the opin-
ions OF leading citizens on the pier
question that will again come up to-
day before the IIarbor Commissioners
1t has not picked the men that it
has seen. but has endeavored to give
their views fairly and impartlally The
great preponderance of public opinion
Is, that the granting of permit to
build the Norfolk and Western long
piers was ~ great mistake.
The Reed board, of which Mr. Dobie
was II member. acknowledged this as
is shown by its official records. This
board considered the pier question at
It's first meeting. on July B. 1854; at its
second meeting, on July ~, 1884; and
at its third meeting. held September .
1881, the Board of Harbor Commission
erS, after full consideration, adopted Il
report condcmning the building of the
piers. This report was published in the
Virginian- Pilot Of July 3lSt
The interviews that have been pub
lishcd i'm the Virginian- Pilot have been
with prominent men in the various
lines of business, bankers. lawyers.
merchants, physicians, Councilmen
and, most important Of all. with prac-
teal men directly interested in the pre-
servation, vessel owners. vessel and
tug captains. owners of truck. fish and
oyster boats and men who deal di-
rectly with these last named classes
of men as ship chambers, vessel agents,
and truck buyers ana shippers.
The opinions of these men should be
carefully considered by the Board Of
Harbor Commissioners, as haste in
matters of such Importance may place
a burden on this port and section that
will grow heavier as the years roll by.
1t Is the demand of our citizens that
the mistake of 1883 be not repeated at
this late day Herewith we publish
further interviews on the pier matter:
MIR. w. II. HOPKINS.
Mr.. w. II. Hopkins, of the Hopkins
Oyster Company, when seen yesterday,
said the new plan as proposed is fully
as Objectionable as the one that was
withdrawn. He speaks on the subject
from personal knowledge as he has
frequent occasion to pass the Lam
bert's Point piers in small craft and his
company owns number of oyster
boats.
He says that any pier out so far as
the proposed pier is Objectionable. and
that the present piers should be short
ened several hundred feet for the hcne-
fit of the smaller craft that have been
and are of such great value to this
port. Mr.. Hopkins states that oyster
boats coming to this port to the pack
ing houses are frequently unable to
come in on account Of the strong tide
of Lambcrt's Point piers. caused by
the projection OF the piers so far into
the channel way. When the piers are
reached they frequently shut off the
wind and the small craft are forced
back by the tide and compelled to an
Choir to await a favorable tide. thus
loosing many hours and being unable
to reach the oyster packing houses at
n reasonable time. This applies to the
truck fleet as well. and this is n serious
matter to truckers when they are try
Ing to reach the steamship landings in
time to get their loads off to the East
ern markets. From the standpoint of
one who regards our small truck and
oyster fleet as very important fea-
ture of Norfolk's trade. Mr.. Hopkins is
opposed to the present long piers.
favors shortening them In order to
remedy existing bad conditions. and
the establishment of the Port War
denis line where it was originally re-
commended by the United States Ad-
visory Board.
CAPT. j. T. WHITE.
Capt. ]. T. White of j. It. White &:
Co. one of the well-known oyster
packers of Atlantic City Ward SAYS he
is in favor of short piers, cutting off
the Lambert's Point piers and fixing
the Port WardenS line much further
shoreward in order to preserve the
small craft.
He stated that as ii now is small
craft are frequently unable TO get this
side of Lamberts Point piers in a head
wind or with moderate wind because
of the strong ebb tide that is intensified
by the Lnmbert's Point piers He
states that if the riparian owners on
the other side OF the river also build
out to the Port Wardcns line. as they
have an equal right to do. small craft
will he practically barred out of the
harbor unless they are towed or have a
fair wind and tide in. and tow charges
will be a heavy burden.
Captain White states that there are
twelve or fifteen oyster packing houses
In Norfolk. employing on an averag e
about seventy-tve hands With the
oyster boatmen and all employees it is
estimated that the industry here en-
nIoys 5000 hands and supports over
lO.0oO people during the oyster season.
Whlte IL Co. have n number OF boats
or their own, hence they are practical
men when speaking on the subject now
under consideration. Captain White Is
nlso III favor OF cutting OFF about 800
rect OF Hospital Point.
CAPT GEORGE TRAVIS.
Capt. George Travis has been coming
INTO ms port fo- five years. He is i'm
ChaTse or The oyster boat Gladys Whit
ING, ana hence knows the difficulties
of this port. He states that of his own
knowledge the Lambert's Point niars
are serious impeachment to tho fleet
of truck. fish and oyster boats. He en-
dorsed all that Capt White said rela-
tive to the strong, ebb tide ut Lam
hert's Point and the delay caused when
the winds were not favorable and the