The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-03

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in chief was completed Wednn sday, re-
Sumed the stand for cross-cNa NINA
ton. Replying 10 questions asked by
Mr.. Byrd. he said that in his opinion
tho Chesapeake ana Ohio viaduct OH
structs the dock to a consid cradle ex-
tent. lie believed it would discourage
appropriations from Congress to admit
that the dock had been closed lie ad-
mittcd that nothing be more dscourag-
ing than the present appearance OF
The institution, and he would not be
SURPRISED, he said, if the number OF
vessels coming into ii should decrease.
Richmond Is Loser.
Asked how he had formed his
opinions regarding the dock while say
ms that lie had no intimate knowledge
Of it, Mr.. Freeman said that in his
Judgment Richmond has lost commerce
10 places which are provided with bet
ter facilities. MI. Byrd asked him
why, If the public is Interested in The
dock 1t doesn't use IT. and he responded
that use was based on cost. The at
torncy was not satisfied with this, call
ing IL m obvious general proposition.
and repeating his query. Mr.. Free
man then said that he does not to-
importance.
Mr.. Byrd read a statement showing
| the outgoing freight in a year which
Mr. Freeman said he supposed one
| good sized vessel could carry. lie
knew or no distractions placed in The
dock under the ownership of the bond :
| holders. Under examination by
Judge Christian. Mr.. Freeman said
there was some distance between the
Lott a .fllo
no complaint about interference from
them
Mr.. Curtis Tcsufes.
Captain John \. Curtis. harbor mas
ter OF Richmond. was next introduced.
! lie thought the dock valuable to the
| city, and believed If il were closed a
| large portion Of the water borne
freight business OF Rtchmopd would be
lost lie feared competition, for rail-
roads would be eliminated. Captain
| curtis went INTO detail about the hand
| ling of vessels in the dock. where tides
do not affect ne water and where no
| ordinary frcshet can enter.
! He fearcl no competitions For the
dock from the rev city wharves. but
| OH the conttary believed the dock
would be helped in the volume OF bust
| ness.
Congress. he believed, would be un-
| favorably affected BY The closing OF
the dock, as il gets its reports from
engineers on the ground. He told OF {.
| lumber company whose business has
been saved through use of the river
| Here adjournment was taken. Cap
tain Curtis rcsuming the stand at the
afternoon session.
How Bin WAS Passed.
He said the wharf would not FUR
nish sufficient berth facilities. without
| which II was difficult to get appropria-
| tons. Then Judge Christian began
| his Questioning on the passage OF the
bill through the Legislature
Are you a member of the II ousc OF
Delegates of Virginia from Ken
| mond?" he asked.
! Yes replied the witness.
! Mr., bradley stated on the stand
| mat he explained to YOU during the
! session the bill under which THIS hear
ing is held. Please state what occur
red"
THAT bin was introduced in the
House OF February IS" responded Cap
E'ably from the committee on Roads on
February IS, 1 at once caught ii on
the calendar, and, noting the words
dock and wharf sent a note re.
garding ii to the firm Of Munrord
| Hunton Williams & Anderson. My i'm
I preston was that tho TrieE basin was
/ Involved The reply of the firm was
That they knew nothing about the bill
i'fhen the measure was printed and
read II. but could not understand il.
meaning. SO | notified the Itichmont
delegation saw Mr. Cooke, Of Nor
toik. and the Portsmouth MEMBER, ant
had the bill passed by from day Il
day for week.
Tracing Its Origin.
Il asked Mr.. Toney. the patron, wha
II was, and he said he didn't know Mr.
Con, member from his city, told nj.
there was nothing in it. ! asked hin
now he knew this, and he said Mr.
Toney had told him so. Then ! aske.
Dir. Coz who had told Mr.. Toney. ant
he said Mr.. Bradley had done so.
Learning that Mr.. Bradley was the1
in the ]oiaoy, went ont 10 him an,
asked about TIC bin, lie told me /
: was Intended 10 fill UP the dock be
tween Fourteenth and Seventeenth
streets l was anxious TO see thi
part filed up as it cannot he used.
) told MIR Bradley that I had made
G mistake in not seeing him a, first.
Still not satisfied, sent note t
u. l.. Bcmiss, OF the bondhoi1crs, an
TO l.. NJ Williams. ] got word tina
Mir. gciniss would be up TO see me. II
. asked him abou. tho bill, and he sal
was no harm in it.
Got Further Advice.
Then ] tclephontd Warner Moor
who came UP 10 the House. | gave hi,
the Bill. and he sat down and read i
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