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January ZS, 19a6
<br />
<br /> At a-special meeting of the Oity Oouncil held jointly with the-Board'of Supervisors of
<br />Norfolk Oounty at 11 a. m. January 2~th there were present:
<br />
<br />]~essrs--E. W.f~aupin, .Jr~,~.J.O. Sm/~h, J.
<br /> R.E.B. Stewart, L. G..White, 5.
<br /> Also the 0ity Manager.
<br />
<br />R. Stewart,.
<br />
<br />The following directions were read forrthe special meeting:
<br />
<br />Va., Janusmy 26th, 19~6.
<br />
<br />"Mr. L. C. Brinson,
<br />City Clerk & Auditor,
<br />Portsmouth, Va.
<br />
<br />Dear Sir:--
<br />
<br /> You will please call a special meeting of the City Oouncil with the Beard of
<br />Supervisors in the Rooms of the Supervisors, Thursday, January 2~th, at 11 c':loek a. m.,
<br />con~ider the ferry appraisal. ~
<br />
<br />to
<br />
<br />Very truly yourm,
<br />
<br />L. G. WHITE,
<br />
<br /> The ~call" having been read, the report of the arbitrators on the Norfolk County Ferries
<br />was read and was on motion ordered to be placed on file.
<br />
<br /> The City Manager pzesented the following resolution in con~ection with bill introduced
<br />in the Rouse of Representatives known as H.B. ?093 or commonly known as the Deal Bridge Bill:
<br />
<br /> -,WHEREAS, Certain private parties have had introduced in the National House of Representa-
<br />tives a bill known as H.B. ?093 authorizing the construction of a toll bridge over the Southern
<br />BranCh of the Elizabeth River, and · ·
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, said bridge will be a s~rtous menace to navigation and has been condemned by
<br />navigation interests and by the Hampton Roads Maritime Exchange, the best informed authority
<br />on Maritime affairs Ln the community, and
<br />
<br /> WltEREAS, said bridge ~s so located as to be~ ol little value to the cities of Norfolk and
<br />Portsmouth and will retard, if not prevented, by its construction the ~ture construction of
<br />a bridge cr tunnel in a logical and convenient location, and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, the Ohief of Engineers of the ~nited States Army has given as his official
<br />opinion that the S~ate law is sufficient ~o cover the coustructlon~ of said bridge and that
<br />Federal legislation is ~necessary, and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, the construction o[ said bridge will, without ~ording any corresponding bene-
<br />fit to the communities affeuted, seriously and adversely affect the income and efficient service
<br />of the ferries operated by the City of Portsmouth and Oounty of Norfolk, between the 0ity of
<br />Portsmouth and the_ Oity of Norfolk, which ferries are now burdened by a debt of $6~3,000,00
<br />by reason of having been taken over and rebuil~ by the United States as a War emergeney,.an~
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, said ferries are ~iving adequate, dependable and economical transportation be-
<br />tween said communities, amd
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, a reduction in the income of said ferries will result in an increase in taxes
<br />~or the City of Portsmouth and County of Norfolk, which practically ga~v_e up and turned over
<br />to the Uni-ted Statestheir property at a severe loss.and sacrifice to mid ~ in
<br />winning the war, and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, the proposed bridge would in effect transfer to private citizens funds from
<br />public treasuries thereby taxing the i~babitants of the City cf Portsmouth and County of Norfolk
<br />for the benefit of a few individuals.
<br />
<br /> BE IT RESOLVED, That the Council of the Olty of Portsmouth and Board of Supervisors of
<br />the Cgunty of Norfolk, in joint session assembled, go on record as voicing their opposition
<br />· o ~e construction of the proposed bridge and do vigorously protest against the passage of
<br />said bill and do call upon the=Senators and Representatives from Virginia to oppose and defeat
<br />it.
<br />
<br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution duly attested by the Clerk of
<br />the City of Portsmouth and the Clerk of the 0ounty of Norfolk be sent to the two Senators and
<br />all Representatives from Virginia in Congress, t~ the 0hairman of the Interstate and Foreign
<br />Commerce. Conmzittee cf the House, ~o ~he PTesident cf the Senate, to the Speaker of the House,
<br />to the Maritime Exchange, and to representatives of the Press.#
<br />
<br /> .. Mr. S%ewaxt (J.R.) moved that ~he resolution be adopted and that a Committee be appointed
<br />~y the President of the City Council and the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors to appear
<br />· ,her°re.. .. . the Oommittee in W&shington in opposition to said~ bill.
<br />, ~' The~tionwas adopted, and the President announed Messrs. E.W. Naupin, Jr.,
<br /> and Vernon Brooks as the Committee for the 0ity of Portsmouth.
<br />
<br /> The 0ity Manager offered a plan for the Housing Corporation to operate the ferries for a
<br />~term ofyears. It was moved that. the President of the Council of the Oity of Portsmouth and
<br />.the Ohalrman of the Board of Supervisors of Norfolk County appoint a Committee, who, with
<br />i~he City Attorney of Portsmouth and the 0ommonwealth Attorney of Norfolk OountF. will work
<br />
<br />
<br />
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