Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-05-14
Engineer Nexen Tells Chamber
About Proposed Drainage.
FURTHER INVESTIGATION
Committee Authorized to Incur Ex-
pense in Aseertainins More Facts
Relative to Conditions in Sawyers
Swamp Territory--ReguIar Meeting.

After hearing Civil Engineer Ebert
Nexsen's report on two separate plans
for the draining of the swamp lands
I'm Warwick and Elizabeth CITY cOun-
ues directly to The northward OF this
city. the Chamber of Commerce l"S'
night referred the matter back To the
committee on agriculture ana lihnii-
grafton with instructions 10 ascer
lain the owners OF the lana Whleh
{, is proposed to drain together WIN
tho general conditions OF the land.
4 he sum of Sl00 was appropriated Tor
the use of the committee i'll getting
the necessary information regarding
the territory.
Mr. Nexsen first reported 10 the
Chamber on the proposition To urain
about six square miles OF territory Dy
cutting a canal from Scenes Dam 10
James river, IA distance OF 3,S0O ieet'
The proposed canal TO run unuer 'he
chesapeake K Ohio right OF way
through the old Abattoir property. The
approximate cost Of this WORK Is
slightly less than $1,000. The plans
prepared by the engineer provide for
the construction OF culverts under
The railway right of way and the main
county road with the remainder oi
the drain to be an open cahai.
Drain Larger Area.
The second proposition provides for
The construction Of canal from the
Scenes Dam bridge to the river. This
bridge Is approximately han way be-
tween Fifty-seventh street ana North
Newport News. AS rough estimate,
Mr.. Nexsen said that this canal would
cost between $4,000 anu Slo,0OC ana
II would drain about 1000 more acres
than the canal near North Newport
News. The plan is to have the Old
Dominion Land Company sewer under
Fifty-seventh street opened up so that
the swamp land right at the very
doors OF this city can be drained. with
this sewer open and the canal running
from Scenes Dam bridge TO the river,
practically all of the swamp land In
both Warwick and Elizabeth City
county north of Briarfield road could
be drained.
The plans were discussed at
length. ana the question OF who owned
the land TO be drained was brought
up. The ownership of practically all
of the land was in doubt in the minds
of the members of the Chamber and
il was decided 10 let the committee
ascertain this information and report
back at another meeting Of the Cham
Der.
Would Change Calendar.
Secretary Cottrell read communi
cation from the Chamber Of Com
merce OF San Francisco asking the
local Chamber 10 endorse PROPOSE
zion to change the present calendar.
This matter will be brought up AT the
International Congress of Chambers
of Commerce at London in June. The
plan is TO have thirteen months in
the year with four weeks to every
month. This will leave one day I'M
accounted for and il is proposed to-
name that day Ammo day and TO make
I; holiday. Ammo day will come be-
tween the last Saturday in each year
and the first Sunday in the next year
Every week, every month AMI every
year will begin on Sunday and end on
Saturday The Chamber referred the
! matter to the board of directors with
power TO &C; for the Chamber.
The report Of the committee On
port charges and usages relative to