Minutes 11/28/1922 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ne~ember 28, 1922 We should further pledge ourse!yes to aid in constructing hard roads to ~ctories without City and within a mile of the City limits as follows: the Factories employing 100 to 200 hands -one fourth Of cost " " 200 to 400 " - one half of cost " " ~00 to 660 " - thre~ quarters of cost " " in excess of 600 hands- the entire cost of the road, if necessary." On motion of Mr. White, the recommendations of the Manager were concurred in. 5th. Recommendation that a special appropriation of $150. be made to re-imburse Mr. Law- fence for services rendered to the City in securing the extension of Washington St., north, through the Seaboard Air Line property at Swimming Point, through the E. W. White prqperty at the sempe point and also in connection with the eX~mension of Holladay St., and in securing options and prices on various proposed sites for engine houses. On motion, the recommendation was referred to the Finance Committee. 6th. Enclosin~ copies of the report of cost of operation of the Water Department for the month of October, 1922. ~ On motion, the reportYwas ordered to be filed. 7th. "In accordance with instructions of the Council given on November 14th, I beg to state that ~ have investigated the cost of the construction of a hard-surfaced road following Black's Lane, leading from the Old Shell Road to the Portsmouth Cotton Manufacturing Company and estimate that the cost of macadamizing this road will be $6,000.00. It is recommended that i be authorized to inform the Road Commissioners of the County of Norfolk that the City will.contribute one half'to the cost of this work. This ro~d will connect not only the Portsmouth Cotton Oil Company with the City', but will also serve several other large indus- tries along the Belt Line. All of these concerns are practically Portsmcu~ concerns and al- though they pay taxes in the Oount~ most of their employees live in Portsmouth and spend their w~ges, which aggregate a very large sum, in the City." On motion, the meoommended appropriation was referred to the Finance Committee. 8th. "When the contract for the n~ jail was made, it was expected that our prisoners could be temporarily distributed between ~he Norfolk City and the Norfolk County jails. When the time for the transfer came, these Jails were so congested that other arrangements had to be made. In this emergency, I fitted up, the second floor of the Armory at a considerable expense, which was charged to the Jail Fund. On account of the insecure o_haraoter of the temporary work, it was necessary to employ three~gu~ds for a period of approximately ten months. The expense of these guards was charged $5~.00 to the Police Department and $3,120. to the Jail Fund. ~In addition, during the s~rike last winter, it was necessary to employ extra officers in the Department to maintain order. As a result there will be a deficiency ~f $2,065.00 in the appropriation for the salaries and wages for the Police Department at the end of the year. ~ The bad wa~ther during last spring and summer much delayed the completion of the jail, adding of course to its cost. A considerable amount of extra work which could not be foreseen at the time the contract was m~de was also necessary. Moreover, under an understand- ing with the Finance Committee, I authorized the construction of a sterilizing plant which cost-about $700.00. As a result there will be a defioiemcy in the Jaml Fund of $2,035.00~ I recommend m special appropriation of $2,065.00 for the Police Department and $2,~35.00 for the Jail Fund.~ On motion, the recommendation was referred to Finance Committee. 9th. "In connection with direction of the Council of November'14th to investigate ~hd report on the matter of getting a station on the Norfolk ~nd Western Railroad and the Virginian Railroad at the points where the Deep Creek Boulevard intersects these roads, I beg to state that this matter h~d previously been taken up by me in an executive way with the railroads and I had been assured by both of tham that the matter would be gmven 'careful consideration. I pointed out in my letter to the railroads the adv2ntages to the City and to the Roads from the establishment of these stations. I believe, however, that they will require definite estimates as to the a~ount of traffic which might be expected at such a station, both as to passengers and as to freight. The Chamber of Commerce will be in a better position to proofs this information than any other organization in the City." On motion, the communication was ordered to be filed, a copy of same to be forwarded to the Chamber of Commerce. 10th. "It is weoommended in the preparation of the annual budget that a Health Cen&ter for the City of Portsmouth, similar to that established in the City of Petersburg be put into operation. In this Center could be housed all of the City's health and sanitary work, its bacteriological laboratory, the several clinics now operated by the City and by public sub- scription,.the Red Crows activities, the.Associated Charities and ~ special clinic for mothers and babies. We can either lease a building at a very small figure for a term of years, fitting up the building at a cost of about $3,000.00 or preferably, buy a building. The running ex- penses would be but little more than the present running expenses of the City Health Dep~rtment and might possibl~ be less, if we could get other activities like the Red Cross and the As- sociated Charities to share part of the expense~ The ~fficiency of the Department of Public Welf~e would be greatly increased and I am sure that the various clinics would be ~argety patronized by, and a great boon to the community.