Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-01-14

why They Have Not Been Erected
Fancy Prices for the sites Desired
Delay in Obtaining Title from the
State.


ed for the proper lighting Of the Savannah
river from Tybee to the city. 1t was under
stood when the appropriation was made
that the lights would be in position by the
first Of October, 1881, at the farthest, and
vet half Of the first month Of the new year
is gone and nothing has been done.
In fact the river in this respect Is
worse than it was at the time
the approx ration was made, as two Of
the lights which were then In position were
destroyed during the great storm In August
last. As the matter is Of great importance
70 the commerce Of our port, the MORNING
News has given the subject considerable at
tention, and endeavOred to impress the su-
thOrities with the necessity Of immediate
action. The delay on the part Of the
Lighthouse Board in getting to
work was to many unaecountsble,
but knowing that there must be some cause
for IT, the representative of the News de-
termined to ascertain, II possible. all the
facts in the case, and the result OF the
inquiry shows, we regret to say, that the
blame is not with the National Light
house Board, but is due to our own people.
Hearing that Col. Vim. NJ. Wadley. Presi-
dent Of the Central Railroad and Ocean
Steamship Company, approaching the value
Of having the river properly lighted, had
entered into correspondence with the United
States officials on the subject, we yester-
day called upon him at his Office 10 ascer-
tain the result. Col. WadleY stated that
he had in letter to Capt. Geo. Dewey, of
the National Lighthouse Board, early in
December last, called his attention TO the
fact thar the beacon lights carried away
in the hurricane of the 9th OF August
had not been replaced, and that the tenn
pOrsry bescons which had been erected
by the Ocean Steamship Company were in
sufficient, and IN view OF the great import
ance to the commerce Of this city, urged
that prompt measures be adopted for the
early erection of the lights recommended
by the Lighthouse Board, and for which an
appropriation had been made.
Capt Dewey replied to this letter by stating
that the delay was occasiOned by the great
difficulty the board experienced 10 obtain
ing sites for the beacons, the owners OF the
land refusing to sell at anything like reason
able prices. He stated further hattie gov
eminent could not build except on lands to
which it had obtained good titles, AMI re-
ferred Colonel Wadley to Msi P. g. Haines,
at Charleston, who was authorized to make
purchases for the sites on behalf Of the gov
eminent, with the suggestion that possibly
a conference with him might result satisfac
torily.
Colonel Wadley thereupon wrote to Major
Haines requesting to be informed Of the
exact locations desired by the government
for these lights, so that the names OF the
owners might be sscertained, when possibly
he could give aid in procuring satisfactory
terms
Major Haines iu replying referred to the
fact that on the 81 of November he had ad-
dressed letter 10 Governor Colquitt stating
that two Of the sites wanted by the govern
ment belonged to the State Of Georgia, and
requesting the Governor to give titles to
the same, as he was authorized 70 DO under
the law passed by the Georgia Legislature
in 1874 To this letter Msjor Hsines
had received no reply up to the
6th Of the present month Why
Governor COlquitt. under the circumstances,
has not given attention to the matter, is
something we cannot understand. II the
government had clear titles to these sites,
the work Of erecting beacons there would
be commenced, and that much at least
would be accomplished.
Notwithstanding the efforts made by
Colonel Wadley and Major Haines to secure
the sites selected, nothing was accom-
plished. Ol the 6 b instant Colonel Wadley
wrote to Governor Colquitt, directing his
attention to the statement of Major
Haines In regard to the delay
the Lighthouse Board encountered
through failure to have this land belonging
10 the State properly ceded to them, and
asking bis immediate attention to the mat
ter. To this letter, up TO yesterday, no re-
ply had been received, aud hence nothing
can be done. We regret here to note the
apparent unwillingness on the part OF the
private owners OF the property desired
Tor this important purpose to meet the
government authorities on reasonable
grounds. While it is perfectly proper that
every one should be DESTROYS of getting just
compensation FOR his land, yet 1t is neither
wise or patriotic to insist upon exorbitant
prices and thereby retard action on the part
OF the government, which involves so much
Of importance to our commerce and the ia
ciities Of our port.
In his last letter Major Haines states that
there are nine sites designed by the Light
house Board for these beacons and lights,
which are located as follows, aud gives the
following information in regard TO them,
which explains the delay in com
mencing this work. We are permitted to
make the following extract from the letter
bearing upon this subjec':
1.-TWO Of these places are on Jones Island,
on lands said to belong to the es-
tate Of John Stephenson. William II.
Rose, of Savannah, represents the estate,
and offers to sell two sites Of one acre each,
with right Of way between, or 81 800, a
price so utterly out Of proportion to the
Va 'ur VI tAC ANU buau ~ NohbCv DO ChACA
tanned.
1.-TWO sites are on Long Island. The title
TO them is invested in the State of Georgia,
and under the laws Of the Safe
the Governor has power to trans.
fer tile and juri>dctiOn 30 the
Uoited States. Application was made TO
him on the 3 Of November, but he has not
replied 20 nv application. One site is at
Day Beacon, No. II, on land belonging to
A ard w Y arpxUaII I have
several letters with them, but have not
been able 10 come to any agreement they
ak 81 500 for five acres, 81 600 for one
acre. 5000 for half an acre, aud $500 for one
quarter Of an acre. As the land is estimated
by Mr.. 0. p Law, Deputy Surveyor of
Beaufort county, South Carolina, as worth
not more than $50 per acre, the price is
considered eXOrbitan
1.-TWO sites are on Eliza Island on land be-
longing 10 the estate of John Shad. Mr.. j.
B. Howard City Surveyor of Savannah, in
forms US that its representative, Mr.. Geo. Nc
Cleskey, demands 81 900 for them, although
the land IS practically valueless. l have
written to Mr.. McClesky, but have received
no answer from him.
"The remaining two sites are near Fort
Jackson, on land belonging to Mr.. VIM ?.
Carmichael, who expressed his willingness
to sell one acre for the sites for $500. This
price the Lighthouse Board is willing to psy
for the land, in fee simple and without con
di,ions, and It is supposed that there will be
DO trouble In acquiring titles from Mr.. Car
michael.
"The board has directed that steps be taken
to condemn the land for the sites situated
on the South Carolina side Of the river
under the existing laws Of that State, but
this may require additional legislation, and
is at best a slow process, while to condemn
the sites on the Georgia side Of the river
will probably be slower.
1.-TWO sites on Daufuskie Island, near
Bloody Point, have been purchased, and the
title papers are in the hands of the Attorney
General of the United States, who is re-
quired by law to give an opinion as TO the
validity of title before any work can be done.
At each point it is necessary for you to
secure site and title before any work can
be done"
So the matter stands, and with this in
formation before them, it is to be hoped
that municipal and State authorities will at
least give immediate attention to the re-
quests Of the Lighthouse Board, and that
owners Of private property may be induced
to abate somewhat in their demands when
they reflect that the work proposed is for
the public good.
BURNETTsS COCAINE
Promotes a Vigorous and Healthy
Growth of Lna Hair