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February 10, 1~
<br />
<br /> A~ a special meeting of the 0ity 0ouncil held February-10th at 11 a. m.
<br />the Norfolk Oounty Board of Supervisors there were present:
<br />
<br />Vernon B~ooks, Jno. Howsmd .Hall, J. 0.: Smith,
<br />J. R. Stewart, R.E.B. ~tewa~t, L.. G. White, 6.
<br />Also the 0ity
<br />
<br />in the Rooms of
<br />
<br />The following "calls was read for the meeting:
<br />
<br />#Mr. L. C. Brluson,
<br />City 01erk & Auditor,
<br />Portsmouth, Va.
<br />D~ar Sir:--
<br />
<br />"Portsmouth,
<br />
<br />Va., February 6th, 1925.
<br />
<br /> You will please call a.special meeting of the City Oouncil with the Norfolk County
<br />Board of Supervisors in the Rooms of the Supervisors, Tuesday, February 10th, at 11 o'clock
<br />a. m., to consider matters pertaining to ferry appraisal.
<br />
<br />Very ~uly yo~rs,
<br />
<br />L. G. WHITE, President."
<br />
<br /> After the reading of the ~oalt;,~the Council recessed to go into executive meeting with
<br />the Norfolk Oounty Board of Supervisors.
<br />
<br /> Upon reconvening, Mr. Stewsmt (R.E.B.) nomimated Gen. ~eo. W. Goethals as the City
<br />Appraiser in the matter of appraising the Norfolk County ferries.
<br /> General Goethals was uuemimeusly elected, the 01erk to notify him of his election.
<br />
<br /> Then Mr..White moved that the City Attorney notify the Department of Labor and the
<br />Housing Oorporation that the 0ouncil has appointed its appraiser and ask that the ap~z~aiser
<br />for the Government be appointed within fifteen days from receipt of the communication.
<br /> The motion was adopted.~
<br />
<br /> Mr. White offered the following resolution:
<br /> "WHEREAS, The 0ounoil o~ the 0ity of Ports-
<br />mouth ~nd Board of Supervisors of the 0ounty of Norfolk have been informed of the introduction
<br />in Congress of a bill authorizing the construction of a toll bridge by private interests
<br />across the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River, two thousand feet above the existing
<br />Belt Line bridge, and
<br />
<br /> NHEREAS, the Oity of Portsmouth and County of Norfolk own ferries now operated between
<br />Portsmouth and Norfolk and Portsmouth and-Berkley which are giving regular, adequate, depen-
<br />dable amd economical service, a~d
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, the City cf Portsmouth and 0ounty of Norfolk are required ~y State 0hatter,
<br />regardless of loss, to ~ain said ferries as part of the state highway system, and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, the County of Norfolk in past years iss~edbonds.predicated, on the revenues
<br />of the ferries, the proceeds of which were expended by the Oouuty is eliminating the toll
<br />roads and toll bridges-in Norfolk C~unty, which action would be nullified by the construction
<br />of thi~ bridge, and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, these ferries have also been burdened with a large debt due to their reconstruc-
<br />tion by the United States as a War measure which mu~t be paid from the revenues of the fer-
<br />ries or by t~xation o~ its owners, s~ad
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, at an early date the owners of the ferries expect to resume control of them
<br />will possibly lease them out to the highest bidder, and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, the agitation looking to the construction of this bridge would have a serious,
<br />depressing effect on the amount bid for~the lease, and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, improved roads have been constructed at heavy expense by the 0ity and County
<br />with a view to bringing increased business and traffic to the 0ity and ferries, thereby bene-
<br />fitting Citizens of the 0ity and 0ounty by reducing tsxation, and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, much of this traffic will be diverted to the proposed bridge for the benefit
<br />6f private individuals at the expense of the public, and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, no public utility, especially if it be operated by the State or any political
<br />subdivisions thereof should be subjected to destractive competition as long as it is giving
<br />adequate, dependable and economical service; a~d
<br />
<br /> W~REAS, the 0ity of Portsmouth and County of Norfolk have acted as Ser~.ants of the
<br />public for.many years in furnishing transportation between Norfolk and Portsmouth~ and Ports-
<br />mouth and Berkley, a~d
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, the' City of Portsmouth and County of Norfolk are entitled to special considera-
<br />tion both from the Fede2al and State Governments by reason of the sacrifice made in turning ~
<br />their property over to the United States as a war measure and by reason of their assuming the
<br />risk of operating and m~intaining these ferries for the public benefit, and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, the general interests of the m~ny as represented by the citizens of Portsmouth
<br />and No~folk 0o~ty a~e paramount as compared with the special interests of the few as re-
<br />presented by the promoters of this brid~eo
<br />
<br />
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