Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-07-14
American lll' Tobacco Company Lab.
able 70 Close Local Plant 10.
less Hands Are Secured.
CHAMBER Of COMMERCE At WORK
Plan For Keeping Industry Here viii
30 presented a. special Meeting
Need of Double End Ferry to Be
Called to Mr.. Payne's A,.en,
tlon.

A communication from an Official
Of the American Tobacco Company,
III which IT. was stated that unless
4 more labor could he secured for the
comnary's local factory the plant will
intall probability have to be closed
caused the Chamber of Commerce
last night to TAKE steps at once look.
Ing toward tho Inauguration of some
suitable plan whereby enough labor
can he secured to keep the factory
in operation.
At present there are only n few
hundred people working In the plant,
which represents an outlay by tho
: tobacco company OF about $5O.O0D
and which could give employment
to two thousand persons. Many Of
the girls now employed In the fac
tory make from sc to $l2 week at
very light work. yet the officials or
the company have been unable to
( secure only II small force to operate
the plant
1t Is probable that special meet.
. ing OF the Chamber Of Commerce
Will be held In the near future at
which definite plans for securing nd.
ditional labor for the tobacco factory
will be made.
The chamber held It's regular meet.
+ ing In Rosenbnum's hall last night,
the body being called to order by
Secretary Farrar because of the fact
that neither the president nor vice
president was present. DR.. II, r..
Styll was elected temporary chair.
man. ,sf
Want Ferry Boat.
Mr.. j, l.. Patton suggested that
tho chamber call the attention OF
Mr. w. J. Payne. president of tho
Newport News \ Old Point Railway
81 Electric Company and the Norfolk
d Atlantic Terminal Company, to
the need of double.end ferry boat
on the route between this city and
Sewall's Point and upon motion
by Mr.. H, b. Holmes. the president
of the chamber was directed to up.
point committee to confer with Mr.,
Payne upon the subject.
In making his suggestion about tho
ferry boat Mr. Patton stated that the
merchants OF this city would reap
great benefit from the jamestown
exposition II such ferry was pu,
on the route between Ivy avenue anot
Sewalls Point. They would be able
to successfully compete with the
merchants OF Norfolk in filling the
demands for food stuffs, furniture,
hardware. etc, ut the exposition.
In discussing the matter Mr.. w.
%. Cottrell suggested that the com.
mittee he instructed to draw up n
paper IN which the merchants of this
city pledge themselves to patronize
the ferry route and after the business
: men have signed 1t have the commit.
4 tee present 1t to Mr.. Payne
q Newport News Building.
After some discussion the plan for
placing Newport News building at
the Jamestown exposition was re.
ferred to the committee on conven-
lions and expositlons with instruc-
lions that 1t ascertain the cost OF
such building and report back to
the chamber at Its next regular meet
ing. : a.. ~lsBsw
The proposed building wiflsI2cost
comparatively little. bnt will, 1t is
thought, be a very effective way OF
I advertising this city at the exposi.
ton! 1t Is proposed to have soda
fountain In the building. at which
I soft drinks will be served and there
Will be a representative to tell the
visitors of the advantages of stop.
ping in this city while attending the
exposition.