Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-30

channel from Tybee to this city properly
lighted. About year ago the General
Government made an appropriation OF
$50, 900 for this purpose, and though
considerable correspondence has been
kept up between our city authorities and
the government on the subject, so far
nothing practical has resulted, and
none of the lights have as yet been
erected.
We understand the matter to stand at
present substantially as follows Twelve
sites in all are required for the iron
lighthouses proposed to be erected, and
which it has been decided will light up
the channel sufficiently to meet all
the requirements of commerce. OF these,
seven have already been secured,
but for the remaining five negotiations
have not yet been successfully COM
pleted. The obstacle in the way is that
the owners of two of these sites, which
are on Elba Island, on the Georgia side
of the river, demand $4,000 for ten
acres-ive acres being requisite for each
site-while the owners of the other three
on Jones Island, on the South
Carolina side, ask for the land required
of them 81 800. These prices, the gov
eminent considers exorbitant, it arguing
that the land as it now stands is practi-
cally valueless, and the fact that it can
be utilized in the way proposed does not
enhance its value to anything like the
figures placed on it by its owners. 1t
therefore offers what it considers a good
price, but still it is price so far below
the demands of the owners that the par
ties ia interest have been unable to arrive
at any agreement.
While the owners of the desired sites
are, we think, inclined to set entirely too
high value upon their property, there
is no doubt that the government is
equally as inclined to go too much to
the opposite extreme. True, the land
selected as sites for the proposed light
houses is, at present, of no practical
value for any other purpose, yet it does
not follow that it may not, at some
future time, become valuable. In
the memory of many of our in
habitants, Elba Island has been
under cultivation. Circumstances may
arise which will enable it to be success
fully cultivated hereafter, and this, Of
course, gives its soil an intrinsic value
Whether there is any possibility of that
portion of Jones Island selected for the
location of these lights ever be-
ing utilized in the same way
or not we cannot state, but it should be
borne in mind that the very demand for
it by the government for the purpose in
dictated certainly gives it an enhanced
value, and this in connection with the
great benefits which would be secured to
commerce, and therefore to the general
public, should induce the government
to make as liberal an offer as possible.
| On the other hand this last mentioned
fact should also be considered by the
landowners, and they should besides
consider that the portion of this land
desired by the government is at present
valueless, and that even if their property
should ever prove valuable as planta-
tons, the parcel required for the light
houses is so small that its non cultivation
would never be noticed. Ttese matters
should induce them also to be as liberal
as possible, and make them satisfied with
fair remuneration.
In a matter of this importance it is
greatly to be desired that both parties in
interest may consider calmly, and in a
spirit of justice. all the points of the
case, and arrive at a speedy settlement
of all differences between them. Still,
if these differences cannot be adjusted,
it is clearly necessary that some means
Or other should be adopted which will Sc
cure us the needed lights.
Two plans for this have been suggest
ed both of which are feasible. In the
first place, the erection of these lights,
being a matter of public necessity as
well as Interest. gives the two States in
whose territory the proposed sites are
located power, under the right Of
eminent domain, to appoint appraisers
and condemn the land for the purpose
for whIct it is desired, paying therefor
The value at which it may be officially
appraised This plan, however, could
not be carried into effect until the Legis-
lature of the two States assembled and
passed acts authorizing the condemna-
ton, and as the Legislature of Georgia
does not meet until next winter, and that
of South Carolina until about eighteen
months hence, it is evident that
before this could be done too
much time would elapse. And as, in
the meantime, the present appropriation
would lapse, additional delay would be
occasiOned through the government hav.
ing to wait for further action by Con-
gress on the subject.
The second plan suggested is undoubt-
edly the better, ana it is that the pro-
posed iron lighthouses be constructed
dpon suitable foundations and placed in
the water close to the banks, about low
water mark. This would remove them
from the land altogether, while they
would offer no obstruction to naviga-
ton, and if, in future, the necessary
sites could reasonably be obtained, they
might easily be removed to a more
permanent and substantial location. In
this way the channel could certainly be
lighted, and the present appropriation
for that purposebe made available.
1t is evident, however, that neither of
these plans should be adopted except in
case of absolute necessity, and it is to be
hoped that satisfactory arrangements for
giving us good, permanent and substan-
tial lights on the river msy speedily be
concluded. 1t would be well for our
citizens to appoint committee to visit
Washington to endeavOr to induce the
government to make as liberal an offer as
possible for the required land, and also
to induce the land owners to meet the
oovarnrnanf IN tho coroo ct1irif Gartain