Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-04
Nufaanee apd NeeeasIty.


Editor Morning NsacS In the enforce
ment of the ordinance TO abate nuisances a
proper regard should be had as to what
would and should properly be construed as
a nuisance. / am well aware OF the diff
Guilty of enscting general law that will not
be broader in its operations than the spirit
or the letter Of the law really intended. To
specify in an ordinance or bill what is the
real and objective intention Of the law
would in many instances produce confusion,
misunderstanding and wrong interpreta-
tons; hence the necessity Of general law
many times without specific qualifications.
But State or national law is somewhat
different in its workings to municipal laws
or ordinances. The first must necessarily
be broad and general, while the latter can
be specific. definite and explanatory. Such
is the beauty and the object of municipal
law, and all police regulations being con
fined to narrow limits, there is no trouble
for Board Of Aldermen to be precise and
objective.
A city is place of trade, business and OF
commercial relations, not only with the i'm
mediate citizens, but especially to those who
vi it city TO trade aud traffic. city Is
necessity and not a place for show, for
pleasure and the cultivation OF aesthetic
taste, when business is the object sought
and desired. Thus every merchant wishes
BIZ signs, show windows and outdoor u.s.
play show cases to aid those VINO NAV De
strangers to the place to fiud the place they
nav wish to 90 il they desire anything in a
certain line, and at the same time to set out
sample goods such as he may have, Tor the
eye of the everyday passer-bY That Is
business, and that is city way or doing
business. Competition is an Incentive to
attractive displays.
Thus, il any of our merchants nave up
right show cases, say about two or three feet
square, in which they display an assortment
of goods. and which do not take up more
than foot or two of the sidewalk, such a
display should not be considered nuisance,
but business necessity. Many gentleman
and lady have been induced to buy from
what thew saw in a show cvse. Strangers
readily find the kind of store they are look
ing for. Therefore, the merchant should be
allowed a foot or two where he does not
encroach upon the sidewalk to the annoy
ance OF the pedestrian.
The nuisance recently so loudly COM
planned of was really a nuisance; where our
wholesale merchants monop0lized two
thirds OF the sidewalk with boxes, barrels,
sacks, etc. There we're many times not
more than two feet OF walking space, and
two men could not walk abreast. True, that
was business, but It was doing business on
the sidewalk to the annoyance OF hundreds
every hour in the Day. Goods were piled
out on the sidewalk to be shipped during
the day, but 1t was to the discomfort OF the
busy pedestrian.
There should be a specific ordinance stat
ing just how many inches or feet show
case or goods set out shall occupy on the
sidewalk. The sidewalk should be broad
enough to admit three persons to walk
abreast land Just here let walkers bear in
mind to always keep to the right, and In
meeting there will be no iostling). The
errors OF our old fathers In laying out the
streets and sidewalks were akin to their mar
row ideas and narrow business relations fifty
and hundred years ago.
Some of the private residences should be
moved back from the sidewalks, aud, II not
that, the stoops or porches taken away, for
many OF them are real nuisances In that re
spect. CASTOR street is the only sensible
and real decent looking one we have in the
city. The sidewalks are clear, and there is
pleasure in walking, al d the sooner we can
conform some OF those houses which do not
now give the walker more than two feet,
and hardly that, better will it DE for the
looks of the city and certainly great COM
fort to walkers.
The little apple, peanut and notion stands
OF the day, belong TO cry, something new
to US, but very common in the old country,
ard great convenience in the way Of buy
ing a handful or pOcketful of fruit. They
should be encouraged, for they are far from
being nuisances.
numbering up the sidewalks with boxes,
barrels, ETC., is one thing, aud having little
business stands or show cases of foot or
two, is altogether another thing. There is
such q thing as legitimate business displays
and illegitimate displays, those, Of course,
which interfere with the comfort OF others
on business bent Look at the city in
plain business light-ist wants, necessities,
growth, development and the business ideas
Of the day, and legislate accordingly.
r. M o.