Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-03-27
.WORkMEN APPEAL
FOR BETTER SERVICE
Letter Addressed 10 Mr.. CotlreII
And The Merchants
Association
MASS MEETING HELLO ON PIER
Men Living on This side of Roads
and Employed at Exposition Declare
That City is Being Injured by Nor.
folk and Atlantic Terminal Com
pany's Treatment.

An informal mass meeting was held
on the Pine Beach pier yesterday af-
tcrnoon by about 500 workmen en-
ployed on the jamestown Exposition
grounds and living on this side of the
Roads. The object OF the meeting
was to take steps toward protesting
against the service given workmcn by
the Norfolk & Atlantic Terminal Com
pany
II was decided to address letter
to MIR. w. Il. Cottrell, governor of
works of the Jamestown Exposition,
and the Merchants Association OF
this city, laying the matter before
them and asking for assistance.
The men declare that the service
between here and Pine Beach is such
that il is almost impossible for men
living on this side to continue to work
on the exposition grounds, and that
the business interests Of the city are
being affected.
The Letter.
Following is Il copy of the letter ai-
dressed to Mr.. Cottrell and the Mer.
chants Association. which bears sew
cral hundred signatures:
we, the regular passengers go
ing TO and from Newport News To
the exposition grounds TO work con
sisting of mechanics covering every
line OF work going on ut the EXPOSE
tons grounds, such as foremen, con-
tractors, carpenters. timers, plum.
bers, engineers, inspectors and 9th.
OF avocations, do hereby pray and
beg your consideration of, and at
tentiOn TO the following complaints,
and the nnn1itirnc Vol ipI
list on the ferry boat "Endeavor,"
the only means of transportation
from Newport News to the Exposi.
ton grounds:
list. We arc crowded to sufIo.
cation on the work trips, and be.
love that the capacity and strength
of said boat "Enuuavor" are over
taxed.
end The said boat does no,
leave Pine Beach pier on her sche.
dule time g p. M, but lies ut pier
from twenty five minutes to one
hour. delaying passengers often over
forty minutes after Il hard days
work. much to their discomfort,
many having 10 stand during the
entire trip of | and II hours.
"3rd Passengers have often been
mistrcatcd by officers of said boat,
one OF said passengers being n
young colored man who stepped
over the railing of boat to pier,
when he was caught by the collar,
choked and thrown against the pier
with great force and his head
thrown with much force against
the end of pile of lumber, he
then being forced back to the boat.
There are other very objection
able conditions existing on the said
boat "Endcavor" some of whicn
are foul closets and foul air witch
are detrimental and dangerous To
health. The entrance doors to the
passenger rooms on the boat are
oftentimes locked and the passen.
gers are thus enclosed and entrap-
ped to the danger or their lives
III case OF serious accident.
Relief must come from some
source ut once, as some OF the men
are not physically able to endure
the crowded conditions
I'VE respectfully ask that you
lend us your help, and assist us
in securing another boat to carry
the working men to and from their
daily work on the exposition
grounds, between said grounds anu
Newport News"