Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-09-18
Common Council Directs Finance
Committee 10 Advertise Site for
Sale or Trade.
BRICK PAVING INVESTIGATION
Lower Branch Unanimously Concurs
In Resolution of Board Of Aldermen
Asking Mayer to Examine into Ae-
tions of City Engineer In Reducing
Sand Base.

After discussion that lasted Tor
nearly an hour, the common council,
IN special session last night, directed
the council committee on finance TO
advertise the new almshouse site III
Elizabeth City county for sale or ex-
change for another piece OF property
and requested the committee on aims
house and poor to draw up plans for
almshouse buildings. Both commit
tees are to report at the next meet
ing of the council.
Although the special committee ap-
pointed 10 investigate the site re-
ported that the fine timber on the
property has enhanced the value OF
the land since its acquisition by the
city. some members of the council
were not at all sure that the city
W., be able to sell the property TO
advantage and 1t was for that reason
that the committee on almshouse and
poor was directed to draw plans fer
new buildings. the idea being to erect
those buildings on the present site IN
the event that 1t cannot be sold.
Report Of Committee.
The special committee made
lengthy report on its trip to the aims
house and the conditions found there.
The land was much drier than the
committee had expected TO find IL
and the city engineer had assured
the committee that it could be drain
ed easily. The report commented
very unfavorably ON the design CT
the building on the site. ii being
pointed out that separate quarters md
eating and living rooms have not been
provided for the white and negro peo-
pie.
Finally. the committee reported that
with an expenditure OF about $1,000.
the present property could be put in
to first class condition and the need
ed new buildings could be erected.
Letter From Secretary Mastiu.
Accompanying the report was a let
ter ffcm Secretary Mastin. of the
State board of charities, who accom-
panied the committee on the inspec-
ton trip. In this letter. Mr.. Mastin
raised strong objections to the build
ings for the same reason that the
committee did and he suggested much
the same improvements as the CON-
mttee.
The report was discussed at length,
half or dozen members speaking
for or against the site. Finally, Mr..
Harris offered motion that the
almshouse and peer committee be
instructed 10 take the proper steps
to open up the almshouse. Mr.. Cox
offered as q substitute that the H.
nance committee be directed TO ad-
vestise the property fer sale and the
almshouse and poor committee be re-
qrested to draw up plans for the
new buildings needed on the prese MT
site so that they could he erected
at ence If the site could not be dis
posed of. The substitute was carried
Q to ). Ayes-Cheadle. Cox. Fellows.
Ford. Hutcheons. W. T. Jones. W. T..
Spruill. whitley and ID. s Jones. ,;
Boiling. Christie. Harrison. Ma
and Wallace, >.
Mayor to Investigate.
BY a unanimous vote and without
any discussion. the council concurred
in the resolution adopted by the board
of aldermen last Tuesday night and
asking Mayor jones to make a thor
ough investigation into the action OF
the city engineer in allowing the con-
tractor to put a smaller amount OF
sand base under the brick paving
than the specifications provide Tor
and investigate the manner OF the
laying Of all Of the paving aud curhing
and gutteripg in the city.
Immediately after the motion TO
concur IN was adopted. City Engineer
Pearse was granted the privilege OF
the floor ami he explained that In
his hnal report On the paving he