Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-12-04
Council Committee Commits
Four Persons to institution.
BILL ON BRIDGES HELD UP
misunderstanding Arises Between City
and Chesapeake & Ohio Railway
Company az to Which Shall Pay
for Painting Structures.

The city's new almshcuse on the
Briarfield road. about three miles from
here viii De opened this morning.
Four persons. three negroes ana one
white man, were ordered committed
to the new institution last night by
the council committee AND almshouse
and poor and they will be taken to
that institution this morning by SUI
perlntendent Wright.
Reports made to the committee last
night show that the almsGouse prop
erty has been put into first C ass shae
and that everything Is in readiness for
the opening. All the necessary sup
plies have been purchased and Su-
perintendent Wright has bought the
horse and buggy as directed by the
committee.
Completed Year Ago.
The almshouse has been competed
nearly a year and its opening has
been the subject of long. and at times,
heated discussion in the city council.
Many of the coInciImen opposed open
ing the place, but special committee
examined it and recommended that it
be put into good condition and
thrown open as soon as possible.
Although it is in good shape. other
improvements at the almshouse are
necessary. At present there is only
one dining room in which both the ne
grces and the whites must eat. This
condition will have to be changed and
a separate dining room provided for
white people.
OF the four persons committed to
the poor house, one OF them nas been
in Jail for some time and the other
three have been cared for in the pri-
yate homes at tae city's expense for
many months.
This was the first meeting of the
almshouse and poor COMMITTEE in two
months and many bills were audited
and much routine business disposed
OF during the session.
Hold up c. q o. Bill.
Following the meeting OF the AIMS
house and poor committee. the coun-
Gil committee on highways ana sewers
met and disposed OF much business. A
number of bills were audited, but
that of the Chesapeake & Ohio Rail-
way Company for $4,000 for put
ting the Twenty fifth, Twenty eighth
pay for the keep up of the bridges I'D
first elias repair was held up FOR the
present
There seems to be misunderstood
ing between the committee and the
railway company as TO witch shan
--pay for the KEEP up of the bridges ID
the future. The committee thought
that under the terms of the contract
recently entered into between the city
and the railroad, the city was to pay
for the keep up of the bridges above
the flooring and the railroad company
was to keep the lower part OK the
bridges in repair. However, the rail-
way company CONSTITUTES the, contract
TO mean that the city must pay for
painting the bridge both below and
above the flooring whenever painting
is necessary.
The matter was referred to City
Attorney N1assie for an opinion on
the terms of the contract and the Dill
will be audited when the matter mas
been Strengthened out.
Charter Granted.
The State Corporation Commission
has lust granted a charter TO the
Pythian Manufacturing. Produce and
supple Company. Incorporated, with
an authorized capital stock Of s2a,-
600. The corporation is formed by
negroes OF this city to do manufac-
turing and general mercantile bus
ness. and its principal oface is to be
located in this city. The charter
was secured for the corporation by
its attorneys, Bassette & Walker. COL