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September
<br />
<br />~r. Frank0. Hanrahan,
<br />Oity Manager of Portsmouth,
<br />Oity.
<br />
<br />"September 25, 1930.
<br />
<br />dear Mr. Hanrahan:
<br />
<br /> 'In the belief that, by taking immediate action, the Oity of Portsmouth
<br /> cans ave a considerable amount of money,and at the ss~ne time provide-almost ideal'facilities
<br /> for handling traffic between the city and the Suffolk roads, I am addressing this suggestion
<br /> to you with the request that you place it before the Oouncil at your earliest opportunity.
<br />
<br /> ~ you know, the State Highway Oo~ission is just about to
<br /> on the Widening of the old Suffolk Bou/evard betweenAlexander,s Corner and Driver begin work
<br /> Station,
<br /> as well as on the new road, (2cute 527) between Alexander,s and Suffolk alon~ the Seaboard
<br /> Air-Line Railway. The Oommission proposes, between the junction of these roads at Alexander,s
<br /> And the Glty line, to provide a road into the Oity of sufficient width $o care for the heavier
<br /> traffic.
<br /> You Will recall that the Chamber of Oommerce requested you, in Sop%em%
<br /> bet, 1929, to have the Oity Engineer's office inquire into the practicability of a new road
<br /> from Alexander,s t? some suitable point On Rodman Avenue or Hamilton Avenue, so tha% traffic
<br /> might be diverted ~nto High Street. It ~as the belief of our board of directors at ~hat time
<br /> that such a road would be to the Oity's Interest, and that, as very l~kely, the entire-right-
<br /> of-w~y might be obtained and a new road constructed at
<br /> additional right-of-way and psmt construction, over the less cost to the State tha~ the needed
<br /> The important pointl however, was that, by th~ m~ams, present llne of Oounty Street, extended.
<br /> in improvement of OountY Street, and wSul~ at the same the city WOUld be saved g~eat expense
<br /> time afford traffic a more attractive
<br /> and convenient means of ingress and egress to the city. We have discussed this pr~ect
<br /> gether since as long as two years ago,' butI-believe the time has now come for immediate
<br /> s~d definite action. In the light of the Oommission,s proposed improvement of the old roa~
<br /> and acceptance of rout~ for the new road, the advantages of an entirely new entrance to the
<br /> cit~ Seem more impressive than ever; aS you Will see. roughly illustrated in the attached sketch.
<br />
<br /> ~ The great sub, eot of widening of the old Suffolk Boulevard is one
<br /> ich~? Pgrtsm~th 9hamber of Oommerce has taken conti
<br />~'~. ~l~nou~ see~lz~ ~o ~ ,,~ ~+ ......... ... hued interest for at least th e
<br />~ve~gn, of our roads committee resent d _ s~o~, I. recall that. Ohazrman. J. 'M.. '
<br />mn. ~e~ersbur~. Deoe b~ -~- ~-? . e an.%ppeal to ~ne Hmghwa Oommis on ~
<br /> ~. m_~_, ~=~, ~or earAy oonslcerati Y si ...........
<br /> on of the need ~or~improvements. Since
<br />then we have never missed an opportunity to press this need on the oohmission~s attention.
<br />In support of steps initiated at various times by ~he Chamber of 0ommerce, similar bodies
<br />in other citles~ ~s well as civic and governmental bodies at home, have frequently given us
<br />their aid. We have on file copies of a Resolutlon of 0ity Oouncil, ~aY, 1929, urgin~ the
<br />commission to widen Suffolk Boulevard.
<br />
<br /> In Eeepi~ng with its new policy, the commission tried a~ fmr~t' ~ to
<br /> secure right-of-way for this road66½ feet in width, this effort having been started last year.
<br /> When the right-of-way department, after Woking about eight weeks, admitted its inability
<br />
<br />willingness to aooeRt a 5C-foot right-of-way, and. asked the Chamber the commission expressed
<br />t.o s~cu.~e right,cf._waY on this basi~, the project lay dormant until of Oo~m~erce to assist
<br />in securing the required 20 feet at a maximum price of $250 per acre. ~ithin the limits
<br />of reason, it seems that the commission's, requirements have been met, and that construction
<br />may be expected to start Within a short time. There is attached a resolution of the Joint
<br />Highway Oo~mmittee, self-explantory, which will indicate the demand I have mentioned for im-
<br />mediate action on the suggested new entrance into the city.
<br />
<br /> With best Wishes, I remain
<br />
<br />Mr. Frank 0. Hanrahan,
<br />Portsmouth, Virginia.
<br />
<br />Dear ~&r. Hanrahan:- -
<br />
<br />Oity ~anager,
<br />
<br />Faithfully yours, '
<br />
<br />Robert R. Beaton, President.,
<br />
<br /> "21~ New Kirn Building,
<br /> September 24th, 1930.
<br />
<br />Portsmouth, Va.
<br />
<br />the ' Referring to our conversation re ardin the
<br />~ 0mty of Portsmouth emb=acin~ the combin~t~- _~g~a_ ~ ~ ~j~.pro~o~ change .of Route into
<br />~oulevard, I wish to ~1 cretin
<br /> say, that I have had a conference w' g the Suffolk
<br />of the Tidewater Realty Oom~ ~-~ ...... zth Mr. Hugh 0. Davis, President
<br />we shall be very ~=~ ~ ~_o~_~_~u~z_.sm au~ngr~zed to say on beef of
<br />lxs~ent of this new Ro~e in so'f-- -- ~- -- ~xl~_wlth you in ~y way we c~ in the esta~
<br />~k.~ ~' ~ ~- AnVOAVeS Z~e pass~e thro~h our property at ~Grove
<br />
<br /> Of course, in doing this, we shall have to follow such a course as will be
<br />consistent with the interest of those to whom we may have sold lots, and who have erected
<br />homes in the said property, but we are of the opinion, that this can be done as we think but
<br />few, if any, will be affected by this proposed P~ute.
<br />
<br />~.ses,
<br />course
<br />
<br /> ~ide from any personal interest or Preference we might have in the pre-
<br />we feel that you. and your associates are following a mgst progressive and business l'
<br />in this contemplated new entrance into the Oity. The ~mpression likely to be oreate~ke
<br />
<br />
<br />
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