Minutes 01/31/1928 - Laserfiche WebLink

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January 31, 1928 ~hite and myself from POrtsmouth. A meet~ was called for Jsm~ary 12th, at which all members were present. Major Tyler, addressing the Committee,-said that a year or more ago it had.been suggested to him, by some OffiCial of. the City of Portsmouth, that Norfolk build a bridge between Norfolk and Portsmouth. Construing t~nis as an expression of the sentiment in Portsmouth, and feeling ~hat a or~dge between the two co,.~muities would be desirable, feasible and for the best interest of the Com- munity of Hampton Roads, he spent much time and thought upon the consideration of the project. To be able to have something tangible to submit at the proper time, he got in touch with some interests in Baltimore, who have at his suggestion, made a thorough and comprehensive study of · the bridge situation. At this meeting, Major Tyler than informed us that he had a representative o£ these interests outside and with our permission would like for him to come in and-present to us his findings, with the understanding that we would not be committing our Communities in any manner whatsoever to the project. To be absolutely clear on this point, the following resolution was adopted by the Committee: "Resolved, That the Committee hear Mr. Eager, of EoOoving~Goodrich Co., relative to a Sridge or other physical connection between Norfolk and.Portsmouth, and that such information as he may give will be received without moral or finsncial commitment on the part of this Com- mittee as representatives of their respective bodies." When the representative csm~in, the resolution was rea~ to him and he agreed to its terms. He then read us his report, which was_ quite an exhaustive one. The two main items of this report were: (1) That a bridge 140 ft. high be constructed across the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River from Portsmouth to Berkley; that the streets of Berkley be used to the Norfolk-Berkley B~idge and then that bridge either as it now is or reconstructed to be used into Norfolk. (2) That the ferries continue to operate aud that the op~rators.of th~r~dge guarantee to make up from the receipts of the bridge any smd every loss ~n profmts, wnzcn may ffall below this present years earnings. (These figures are net correct 'out to illustrate, sup- pose the total revenue of the F~ies is $500,000,O0 per year. S~ppose it cost $300,000.00 per y~ar to operate, there would~,2OO,OOO.OO left to be equally davided between Norfolk ~ounty and the City of Portsmouth as is done at present. Now suppose ihe~b~idge is.~nstructed,.we continue to operate the ~ries ~ud~ecause of the bridge cur total rece~ots fe~l off to - $3D0~000.00 a~a it cost US th~ame amount.to operate $300,000.O0, we woul~ only have ~50,000.~0 left to divide. Under this a~rangement wzth the bridge CoSpany, they would pay us $1pO,000.O0 per yea~ and our share cf the receipts would then be the same as if this bridge did net exist)[ After the report was completed, Major Tyler was appointed a Committee of one to draw a bill ~o be submitted to the Committee from the three bodies who were in turn to ~bmit their recommendations to their respective bodies for action. You now have the bill before you, sub- mitted to you ~y your Committee without recommendation and .for your consideration tonight. Major Tyler.met me the day before he presented his report to the Committee and asked me to go over ~his report With~im as to its fairrmss and its completeness. There were several changes I suggested, to which he agreed. -I want to say here and now that I believe Major Tyler tc be actuated only by the purest of motives and furthering what he considers a great project for the best interest of the Community of Hampton Roads. He made it perfectly clear that he wanted both Norfolk County's and the City of Po=tsmouth's interest in the Ferries protected in whatever was finally done. We have been too long thinking and feeling that nothing good can come out of Norfolk and that her~otives are always selfish. I will admit that this pro- ject wiil help Norfolk, but I believe it will help Portsmouth infinitely more. So long I remain-on the Ooum. cil cf the City of Portsmouth, I shall have an ear for whatever Norfolk wants jointly done and if I believe it to be to the best interest of my beloved City, it shall have my sanction and co-operation, and if I consider it detrimental to the best interest of my City~ I shall oppose it with all the force and vigor and fight that I have-in me. I have given this bridge project much time, much thought and much consideration. I have even dared in my mind's eye to visualize the bridge which I h~dhoped some day would be constructed between Norfolk and Portsmouth. Aft:er Major Tyler and myself had finished going over the Legislative recommendations, I da~ed to express to him (he is the first with whom I hkve ever discussed it) my conception of a bridge between Portsmouth and Norfolk. I am now and always have been and will be unalterably o~posed to ~uy bridge or tunnel project (I am not wedded to a bridge if a tunnel will better serve us) which would wipe out or change our present business values. Consequently, in considering a bridge I had this tho~ught always in mind. My friend, H. L. Alexander, findir~ that Portsmouth was interested in a bridge camel in to see me., bringing an Engi=eer from Baltim~-re, who had abo~t two years ago made plans of a bridge from Washingtonstreet going over the flats at ~hd of Court Street and coming down in Norfolk ~t~aBout Boush and Main streets. He offered me all of the information and plans he had without cost or obligations. This project did not appeal to me, for it would have eventually put our Ferries out off business and destroyed all High street business from Washing- ton street East to the water's edge. Major Tyler became so interested in my plan that he sent the representatiVe~ who ap- peared at otuv original 0ommittee meeting ever to see me l~st Wednesday r~questing that I go over and point out my plan to him. Thursday the Ohieff Engineer of the engineering company who mmda plans fo= the bridge to Norfolk via Washington street c~me ~o me and we went over the~te~ritory to be covered by the proposed bridge. He liked ii much better than Washington street, said it was feasible, would make a beautiful layout ~d things were ideal, as the spans would be short for a bridge there. ~ithout cost or obligations either on the part of the City or myself personally, he has agreed to make perspective of the layout so that the bridge can be easily visualized. . , ._~y plans s~a~ on Cra. ford S~rset at o~ near H~gh street gomng south; The beginning of the Rsm~p to be ~vided the right side for entrsnce; the left for Ex[t. from B~idge, and-when sufficient heighthas been obtained to cleat the S.A.L. t~acks to unite, follow-Crawford street to approximately the Cat Hole bridge, curve right across and loop itself at a higher level, then to the water's edge at or near South or Oolumbia streets, thence over Berkley entering