Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-05-14
ANNEXATION CASE
IS NEARING FINISH
CONTINUED from First Page.)

bureau necessary, Dut hau NOT ie
commended 1t to the police commits
sioners.
Answering a question from the
court, Chief Reynolds said he saw
10 good reason for anneXing the
territory east OF Salters' creek, but
that this was his own personal opin-
ion. Chief Reynolds, after being
called back to the stand, said he
thought the territory west of Sal
ters creek should be annexed. as the
creek is the natural boundary of tho
city, and the same could be said of
the little neck at Deanville.
No Rental Depreeiations.
w. Lee Powell, president OF
the Newport News Chamber OF Com
merce. banker and business man, was
called to the stand by Mr.. Bachelor
TO state the conditions as to rental
values in the city. MIR. Powell said
he has | 400 to 100 houses listed in
his rental business and in not single
instance in the past five years has
there been a reduction in any rents
from the houses. He cited twelve
cases where the rents have been in
GltdStu. MI. IOWttl was NiOStlf LiOoo-
examined by Mr.. cumming, but ad-
herred TO his claim that there has
been no decrease in rent of any
house he has in charge.
At this point Mr.. Massie recalled
Chief Reynolds to axis him whether
or not he thought il proper for the
city TO take in the section west of
Salter's creek. The chief replied that
he did. and said that the new territory
could be policed by the city at prac-
tically no additional cost. He said
the Majestic hotel had a bad reputa-
ton.
When Chief Reynolds left the
stand. Mr.. Bachelor announced that
the case of the petitioners was con-
Guided. with the exception of one
witness, who was away. but would APP
pear later. He also desired to call any
wit.iess that may be necessary from
later development in the case. The
court said that he did not intend to
mold the attorneys down TO any strict
rules. but would not permit a rehash-
ing of the direct testimony on the
redirect examination.
At 12:55 o'clock. the court took q
recess until 2:15 for dinner
Superintendent of Schools Willis.
When court reconvened at 2:30
o'clock, J. NJ. Willis, superintendent
of schools of Elizabeth City county.
was called TO the stand. Prof. Willis
said the county is amply able to pro-
vide school facilities for all of the
children of school age within its
limits. He spoke especially of the
George Wythe school, near the terri
tory proposed to be annexed east Of
Salters creek decribing this school
building. its equipment. etc. Witness
said there were few children in the
territory west of Salter's creek to at
tend school. and that some of them
attend the George Wythe school. The
county school board, he said, has the
money in hand for the establishment
Iof a negro school in the Deanville
section, and the annexation agitation
had considerable to do with the de-
cision not to establish school in this
section. Describing the George
Wythe school. the witness said the
building cost $4,000, the equipment
about $500, and that the whole prop
erty, including lots. represented an
Investment cf I'll ,O00
City Auditor Read.
City Auditor John w. Read, OF
Newport News. who testified for the
city and the petitioners Thursday.
was recalled according to agreement
f counsel to furnish certain informa-
|tion desired by Mr.. Cumming Mr..
Cumming questioned the witness
closely as to the annual income and
expenditures of the city during the
lpast four fiscal years, and had placed
lin evidence several statements which
the witness identified as having been
prepared by him from his books. The
budget adopted by the city council
for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1909. also was put in evidence Mr..
Reads statements showed that at the
|clcse of the fiscal year ending June
so. 1906. the city had balance to its
credit OF s37.s3O; at the close of the
fiscal year ending June 80. 1907. bal
ance Of s52,9T757: at the close of the
fiscal year ending June 30. 1908. a
balance of 81 .5123s, and at the close
|of the fiscal year ending June 30,
1909, a balance Of $e6,s37.64
All Of the attorneys questioned Mr.
Read and various facts concerning or
binary and extraordinary receipts and
expenditures were brought out.
Ebert Nexsen.
Ebert Nexsen, a civil engineer in
the city OF Newport News. was placed
on the stand by the petitioners. Mr..
Nexsen identified a map made by him
Of the territory proposed to be an
nexed. He said he estimated that
there were 267 acres of land in this
Territory. not including Deanville.
which was net shown on his map.
Thfe estimate fnrfudad C11fc~-e crook