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At a regtLlar meeting of the City Council held February 25th, 1936, at ~:00
<br />there were present:
<br />
<br />Leslie T. Fox,
<br />City Manager.
<br />
<br /> The 'Pre s ident
<br />President pr5 tom.
<br />
<br />J.T. Hanvey, W. R. Hutohlns, S.B. Moore, J. Alden Oast,
<br />
<br />and Vice President both being absent, J.T. H~%vey was elected
<br />
<br /> Ninutes of regular meeting held Febr~daryLllth were read and approved.
<br />
<br /> The Committee of Norfolk & Portsmouth Traction matter stated ~hat they expect-
<br />~d to have a full report for this meeting, but was unable to do so.
<br />
<br /> The following communicatio~ from the City Manager was read:
<br />
<br /> ' "I'wish to report that information reached me in ~he 'middle of February, to
<br />the effect tha~ the SeaboardAi{~ Line Railw.aF shops were to be moved from this City.
<br /> Actin~ upon this information, on February 17th, I wrote the following letter:
<br />
<br /> ~Mr. E.C. Bagwell,
<br /> Chief Operating Offi,cer,
<br /> Seaboard Air Line R~ilway,
<br /> Norfolk, Va.
<br />
<br />On
<br />
<br /> Dear Sir:
<br /> A reporZ has reached me to ~he effect that you are
<br /> seriously considering the removal of your shops from the City to
<br /> a point South.
<br /> The Sea~oard Ai~ Line Shops have been with us a
<br /> long time, in fact,-until the Community has come to look upon
<br /> them as one of its dependable assets, more or less vital to the
<br /> industrial and busln~ss life of the City~ We, ~herefore, re -
<br /> ceive ~he information with serious concern, but trus~ that the
<br /> report is merely a s~reet rumor.
<br /> This Ci~y has always Co-operated with ~he Seaboard
<br /> Air Line Whenever coroperation was sought and to the material
<br /> a vantage of your Rosd, We therefore feel that a reciprocal
<br /> consideration, on th~ part of your company, of 'the interests of
<br /> this City, should be morally, if not legally, binding.
<br /> We.hope and shall be exceedingly pleased to receive
<br /> definite information from you to the effect that Zhe report is
<br /> without foundation."
<br />
<br />FebrUary 24th, I received the following reply:
<br />
<br /> "Mr. E.B. Hawks, City Manager, Portsmouth, Va.
<br />
<br />Dear Mr. Hawks:
<br /> Your letter of ~he 17th with regard to the shop
<br />situation at Portsmouth.
<br /> The Seaboard appreciates the co-operation of the
<br />Ci~y of Portsmouth; in fact, the Seaboard is a very large part
<br />of ~ortsmouth. We feel we are entitled zo co-operation, and we
<br />have a very kindly feeling toward ~he City of Portsmouth on ac -
<br />coun~ of so many of our employees making ~hei~'homes there.
<br /> I shall be glad to see you on my return to Nor-
<br />folk an& hope we c~u keep your co-opera~!on, as in the long run,
<br />the c.hanges that we are making will be for the good of the majo-
<br />rity of ~he employees. I am planning no further changes during
<br />February or Narch and will be glad to go over the matter with
<br />you fully, in the meantime.
<br /> I am also advised that a committee from several
<br />civic organizations wish to see me. Would it be your idea ~hat I
<br />see you all at ~he same time?
<br /> Yours very truly,
<br />
<br />my mind,
<br />
<br /> E.C. Bagwell,
<br /> Chief Operating Officer."
<br /> The reply is vague and more or less evasive, but carries a conclusion, to
<br />that arrangements are being made for the removal of the shops from this City.
<br /> This report is submitted for your information ~ud consideration."
<br />
<br /> No,ion of Mr. Fox ~o refer back to Zhe Manager for such action as he may
<br />see fit mo take, .was adopted.
<br />
<br />The following communication from the City attorney was read:
<br />
<br /> "In reference to the le~ter of Richard S. Collins referred to me at your
<br />last meeting, I find that the building 2918 Queen S~. was to~ally destroyed by fire in 1933.
<br />The building should not have been assessed for 1935 and was placed on the Lan~ Book by the as-
<br />sessors in error. Taxes for 1935 amo~Jnting ~o $1_5.90 should be relieved."
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Hutchins ~o concur in the Attorney's recommendation, was
<br />adopted.
<br />
<br />
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