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M~. Brooks moved that the report, with exception of item 1, be adopted, The motion was
<br />adopted by the foll~win~ vote:
<br /> Ayes-- Brooks, Hutchine, 0asr, Smith, St~ewart, White,
<br />
<br /> Then with reference to item 1, Mr. White moved that a'slmecial appropriation of $1,000.
<br />be allowed to employ additional assistance for the City Cotlectbr in connection with prepara-
<br />tion of 'list of tax payers who are-d~linquent, &c. The motion was adopted, and by the f~l-
<br />lowing vote:
<br /> Ayes-- H~ltchins, Cast, Smith, Stewart, White,
<br /> Nays-- Brooks,. 1.
<br />
<br /> The Committee of the Whole of the 0o~ncil made a report, with its recommendations, on
<br />re-routing, imprc~ment, and more frequent trips of street care, and establishment of trolley
<br />~us routes and regulating of $itneys.
<br /> Mr. Brooks moved that 'action on same be deferred until special meeting of the Council,
<br />to be call,d by-the President. The motion was adopted.
<br />
<br /> The following communications were read from the City Manager:
<br /> let. Request that he be
<br />~o~zed to hay? R. ~riplett p~r~llel ~he State ordinancee~by City ordinances in conne~tion
<br /> ~ne preparation ox our new ~oae, ana recomme~dt.ng that ~100. be appropriated for sams.
<br /> On motion, the request was r~ferred to the Finance Committee.
<br />
<br /> ~nd. Transmitted a ~etter from R. W. Peatross, City Attorney, Norfolk, Va., relative to
<br />the Berkley water system. ~his is simply, as I understand it, sent in order that-our attentio~
<br />may be called to the fact ~nat it was impossible to complete the appraisal within the p~escri~-
<br />ed six months period. The right~of the City of Portsmouth are in no way effected and it was
<br />believed.by both Mr. Davis and myself that the eilstiag status quo would be maintained."
<br /> The following is the letter from the City Attorney of Norfolk:
<br />
<br />e The :Honorable Mayor and City C~mncil
<br /> of the City cf Portsmouth,
<br /> Pot t smo-~th, Va.
<br />
<br />"June 19, 1922.
<br />
<br /> ~Gentlemen:
<br /> ~-or about December 20, 1~21, the City of Norfolk gave notice to the City of
<br />Portsmouth that it would, within six months, purchase and take over that portion of the plant
<br />and property of what was formerly the Portsmouth, Berkley and Suffolk Water Company located
<br />in Berklsy, South Norfolk and W~shington Magisterial Diserict, Norfolk COUnty. The City of
<br />~orfolk is advised that the app. aisers appointed by the City of Norfolk and the City of Ports-
<br />mouth have not completed their appraisal and that the completion of the said appraisal will
<br />be delayed beyond the six months period.
<br />
<br /> The City of Norfolk stands ready to complete the pttrchaee of this property,
<br />· n accordance with the said notice, as soon as this appraisal is completed, and your attention
<br />is called to the existing situation in order that the s~atus quo may be ~aintained.
<br />
<br />"R~ spectfully yours,
<br />
<br />"R. W. Peatross, City Attorney."
<br />
<br />motion, the matter was referred to the City Attorney.
<br />
<br /> ~rd. #In accordance with instructions given by the Council to report on t~he advisability
<br />of reduction of jitney fare to Port Norfolk, I beg to state that an investigation made by me
<br />indicates that the total number of passengers carried each da~ by each jitney to Port Norfolk
<br />a~id Pinners Point varies between ni~ety and one hundred. The number carried to intermediate
<br />points varies between two hundred and sixty to three hundred.
<br />
<br /> Jitney drivers are paid one third of their daily collections and only a few drivers are
<br />steadily employed.
<br />
<br /> Jitneys cos~ about $2~00.00 each and the depreciation' thereon is~t least $5.00 per day.
<br />The cost of fuel and oil is $5.00 per day and ordinary repairs at least $1.00 per day, making
<br />a total annual cost ex~lusive of wages about $~,O00. per year. Apparently the ~ross annual
<br />income for each jitney is about $8,~00.00. Of this amount the drivers receive $~800, leaving
<br />available to the owne~ ~or all purposes $~,600. O0. The operating expenses and ~epreciation
<br />as already shown are $~,000. The net profits are therefore $1,600. per year on each vehicle.
<br />This is~a~parently a very handsome profit and if the jitneys were on a well regu~ate~ and
<br />s~a~? ~a~iea ~ rec~.c~ig~ in fare might be advisable. On account, however, of the uncertainty
<br />o ]x~neys, · ac no~ coaxers that it would be zair for the Coun~l at this time to require a
<br />lOWer rf~e. ~ ~ _
<br />
<br /> I understand, however, that the ~2~ay operators are voluntarily putting into effect a
<br />seven cent fare. No further action is therefore recommended in this mat~er."
<br />
<br /> On motion, the communication was ordered to be filed.
<br />
<br /> ~th. ~Notice of the resignation of Dr. Wm. S. Trigg, Chief Food Inspector of the Depart-
<br />ment of Public Welfare., effective July 15th.
<br /> On motion, the notice was ordered to be file~.
<br />
<br /> 5~- eEncloeing an agreement with the Seaboard Air Line for lease of siding ~sed by the
<br />Water Department at ~ffolk flor unloading coal, alum, lime and other carload shipments. The
<br />Superintendent of the Water Department has written to the Interstate Commerce Commission in
<br />regard ~o this agreement and the Commission advises that the Seaboard Air Line is within its
<br />rights in requesting the City to enter into this contract.
<br />
<br />
<br />
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