Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-06-23

do injustice 30 any one. We simply
desired 10 call attention to the fact that
during the past five years the neat sum
Of S14S 5OO-S29, 100 per annum-has
been appropriated for the improve
meat OF our thoroughfares. yet, as far
Is casual observation goes, nothing OF
consequence has been done; and also TO
show. from what Captain Blsir, a
Chairman OF the Streets and Lanes Com
mi.tee, accomplished in 1874 with a
sun less than s19O,OOO-about the
sve-sge annusl appropriation above
noted-what might have been done to-
ws-cs paving the principal streets Of the
city, now deep beds Of sand.
II showing this. however, We had no
intention Of dispsraging the work which
has been really accomplished by othtrs,
sud therefore we cheerfully make g
statement Of what was accomplished by
Alderman J. r Hamlet while Chairman
q that same committee during the years
1877. ISIS and 1879. From the Mayors
reports Of those years we obtain the fol-
lowing information on this subject;
In 1871 2.49S square yards Of
PAVING in repsirs Of paved streets
and crossings, and 523 yards Of new
crossings were laid, and in addition to
this the grading Of the southern end of
West Boundary street was completed,
and. besides, other streets and lanes were
regularly cleaned and leveled when neces-
sary. AT this was done at an expendi-
ture OF 81. 69S &c, including the tx
pense Of work Of every kind-such as
tine Of hands employed, cost Of mate
nal. feed of stock, repairs. ETC. We
have not at hand the appropriation for
this purpose that year, but it may be
seen tSat, al the above rate, the sfOre-
mentioned paving sud grading were done
a. total cosi Of about So So
per square yard. In 1873 q considerable
amount Of new and repairs TO old work
we're done, the whole amounting to IA, 3S3
SQUARE Yards, at a cost Of $50, 351 o., or
at a little over 8 per square yard. In
1879. in the report Of the City Surveyor
10 the Mayor, it is shown that new
stone pavement Belgian block on West
Broad street and a new stone pavement
on Drayton street 10 Waldburg, a dis
lance Of 900 feet, were laid, and repairs
in various streets were also made,
The whole amounting to 15.52S
square yards. From the Treasurer's re
port It is also shown that the sum
q IS. GjS % was expended on these
works, which was $, 600 more than the
so 500 appropriated for streets that
year The discrepancy, however, is
readily accounted for when it is remem
bered that the above sum Of so, 800 wa:
appropriated for street improvements
alone, while the $2j.CC1 expended in
cluded all expenditures for maintaining
the street force. ETC., so that really the
total amount appropriated for the streets
/ and lanes was not used.
We have been thus particular in de
failing the work done during the three
years named, under the supervision OF
Major Hamlet, to show that that gentle
man was jealous and assiduous in tho
discharge Of his duties, for, as we stated
at the outset, we wish t6do injustice &c
no one Nevertheless the fact still re-
mains that during the past five year;
| $14S. 500 have been appropriated for oul
streets and lanes, and whether the money
gas expended or not that amount ap-
peared upon the tax budget, and take:
have been levied to meet it. Experience
has proven that with that sum, and IN
der a proper system and good manage
ment, much more could have been done
than has been accomplished. 1t is per
! hsps esking too much Of an Alderman
who receives no compensation for his ser
/ vices, TO devote his whole time and at
tention to the improvement of our public
th0r0ughfares, and without the whole
time end attention of some one it will be
impossible to attain satisfactory results.
Neither does it seem reasonable to expect
one City Surveyor to look after ell the
work constantly demanded of him in a
city the SIZE Of Savannah. A sugges
ton has been made in this connection
which, under the circumstances, is
doubtless a good one, and that IS that
the City Surveyor be given compe
tent assistant. whose duties will be
confined wholly to the work. 1t has
been shown that the sums heretofore an
nually appropriated for the streets would
be ample to pay the salary of such as.
sistant, and yet give US many more visible
and practicable improvements than we
now enjoy; but even were said sums not
sufficient to meet the additional expense
proposed, our citizens would, in view of
the coed which would be accomplished,
doubtless agree to a special appropriation
for the purpose. Our people are not
niggaIdly, but when their money is lib
orally expended, they desire at least q
reasonable Quid pro quo.