Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-01-12
PROPOSE TO ERECT
HALL FOR CONVENTIONS
Chamber Of Commerce Appoints
Committee to Look Into
Matter and Report.
FINE SITE IS OFFERED Free
Old Dominion Land Company VIII
Donate Use of Ground at Twenty
fifth Street and Washington Aven-
discriminating Committee chosen
Freight Rates.

a movement was started by the
Chamber of Commerce last night
looking toward the erection of q
suitable convention hall in this cit,
to accommodate some OF the many
conventions that will meet in this
section during the jamestown ex
positions. A. special committee,
composed of Messrs. A. Rosenbaum
j. l.. Patton and w. c. Morton. was
appointed by the Chamber to ascer-
tain the number of conventions that
will meet In this section, the nun.
her that can be secured for this
city, and the cost of erecting n
temporary hall large enough to &C.
comodate the very largest OF the
conventions. This committee will
report back to the Chamber at a
special meeting to be held the
part of this month.
Free Site Offered.
President Walter B. Iiyezey an.
nonnced TO the Chamber that the
Old Dominion Land Company would
grant the free use OF all of the
land Mt the corner Of Washington
avenue and Twenty-fourth street
back to Hotel Warwick for the
erection of convention hail. There
is anf Client room on this site for
the erection OF a hall that would
accommodate over 5000 people.
1t is very probable that the cost
of erecting the convention hall will
be covered by private subscriptions,
which probably will be started aftes
the special Committee submits It's
report to the Chamber 1t is be
lieved that Newport News will he
able to land thirty or forty con.
ventions, il suitable quarters can
be provided. The proposed site for
the hall Is one of the most desirable
that could be. found. 1t Is within
easy access from the chesapeake
d. Oio depot, the street car lines
and the principal hotels of the city.
Newport News is the logical place
Tor organizations to hold their con.
ventions In this section The atmos.
phere is much more pleasant than
on the other side of Hampton
Roads. TIE ride to the exposition is
by boat instead of crowded street
cars and therefore much more pleas.
ant and beautiful.
Nominating Committee.
Messrs. w. b. Barrett, H. B.
Holmes, Clarence Porter Jones, w.
Lee Powell and r. M. Lett we're
named a nominating committee to
nominate the officers Of the Chamber
during the ensuing year. This com.
mittee will report at a special
meeting of the Chamber to be held
between January % and January
81. The officers to be elected are
q president, three vice-presidents, a
treasurer and nine members of the
board of directors.
The question of securing through
tickets and through checking Of
baggage to Newport News from
Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia
and New York, which was brought
up by Secretary IT. l.. Farrar. was
referred to the standing committee
on transportation and traffic. This
committee will communicate with
the Norfolk & Washington Steam
boat Company. the Baltimore Steam
Packet Company, the Old Bay Line
Steamboat Company, the Clyde Line
Steamship Company and the Old
Dominion Steamboat Company in
regard to the matter.
Freight Rates.
The Chamber passed resolution
empowering a committee of five TO
take UP the question of freight rates
between Newport News and southern
cities and it possible to put this
city upon the same freight basis
as other Virginia cites. President
L.yezey named Messrs. j. l.. Patton
w. 10. Barrett, George L. Lester,
H. B. Holmes and DR.. Clarence
Porter
III you are not entirely statistical