Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-08-22
Committee Delays Consideration
of Water Franchise Bids.
new METHOD OF PURIFYING
Entertaining Exhibit Closed With Con.
fusins Argument Between Experts.
Police and Fire Department Civil
Service Ordinance Tabled.

On account of the serious illness of
Mr.. James NJ. Cumming. president OF
the Peninsula Pure Water Company.
the fire department and water com
mittcc of the city council last night
postponed the consideration OF bids
for tho new water franchise until next
Monday night. MIR. lIiIlpot. of Ilamp-
ton, appeared to represent Mr.. Cum
ming and at his request the committee
adjourned without considering the
bids. MIR. l.. II. Manville, the ugcnt,
and Mr.. Fred Manvillc. were present
to represent the Newport News Light
and Water Company
Yesterday afternoon the committees
occupied seats upon the stage at the
Casino thcatcr during an interesting
demonstration of the electrical method
OF purifying water. which is to be used
by the Peninsula company. The dem.
onstration was conducted by Captain
NJ. Murphy. inventor OF tho method
and an official of the plant manufacture
ing company. and in addition To the
members of the connittcc there were
present representatives of both water
companies. several city officials ami Il
numbr Of citizens.
Following the demonstration. the
isfactory to the members of the com
mittcc, came an argument between OK.
pcrts which might of been interesting
if the spectators had known what it
was all about. Mr.. L. u. NIanvillc ill.,
troduccd Mr. Andrew Robertson, an
expert chemist from Richmond. who
requested the privilege of prOpounding
to Captain Murphy. The latter readily
agreed to answer all questions and
then the trouble began
The experts argued in heated. but
polite manner for more than an hour
and at the finish the spectators were
inclined to argue as To which had the
best of the debate The cost of
the aluminium composition used in the
purifying apparatus canscd Il lengthy
discussion. Captain Murphy declared
that he had invented Il method of mhl
ing the plates at n comparatively small
cost and that his secret was unknown
TO any one else in the world. FIc in
vitcd Mr.. Robertson to visit his home.
| saying that he would he glad to give
n practical demonstration Of how the
composition used in his plates is made.
The committee met last night with
all of the members present aud If Mr..
Cumming had not been absent tho
iidHCilScI HldlttT pIobdDts WOulu nave
been disposed Of without delay. Tie
personnel of the committee follows;
w. w. HARDWOOD. chairman; J. r. BAL
lcntinc. NJ w. Gayle, NJ S. Llwcllyn,
and l. Snmptcr Davis.
Bills were audited and routine bust
ness disposed of during the meeting.
a resolution was adopted congratu-
lating the running team Of the Eagle
Engine Company upon its victory dur
ing the recent State Fircmen's Asso-
citation convention.
Ordinance and Police.
The ordinance and police committees
met last night and disposed Of regular
business. The ordinance creating 4
civil service commission for the fire
AMI police departments was laid upon
the table until the next meeting and
the clerk was instructed to furnish
each member with copies Of the ordi-
nance.
Mr.. Caleb D. West was elected chair
man Of the committee to succeed Mr..
j. NJ. Brown, resigned. The members
of the committee present were: West,
Gayle, Via and Christie.
Special Joint Meeting.
~ joint meeting of the finance and
school committees has been chilled for
next Monday night. Tho matter oi
making ;iaiE addition to the. salary of
tho superintendent of schools is to be
considered.