Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-01-19
CITY COUNCIL.

OA4A OOOGCA6a
Regular Meeting OF the Board-New
Ordinances and General Bust
ness.
Council met at O'Clock last evening.
Present Mayor and full board.
The minutes of the preceding meeting
were read and approved.
ACCOUNTS.
The Committee on Accounts reported that
they had examined and audited accounts
amounting to 1898 60, and recommended
they be passed to payment. Adopted.
REPORTS.
Fire Committee reported fsvorablY on
petition Of Thomas Henderson. Adopted.
The Street aud Lane Committee, to whom
was referred the petition of sundrY citizens,
asking that Liberty street, near the Savan-
nah, Florida and Western Railway depot,
be paved, reported in favor Of paving said
street as desired but as great deal of paw
ing has already been done In that portion Of
the city, and other portions need paving
equally as much, the committee recon-
mend that the work be delayed until such
time as the finances Of the city will permit
the paving of the street requested and
other places in similar condition.
The Committee on Streets and Lanes, to
whom was referred the petition OF DR.. B. F.
Sheftall to pay expenses Of repairs to his
buggy, amounting to $40, recommended its
payment IN full settlement Of the claim,
upon advice of Corporation Attorney, the
damage being occasioned by pile Of rocks
on Drayton street, near the parade ground.
Adopted.
The report of the City Marshal, relative
to certain sidewalks needing repair, was
received and the Marshal directed to repair
the pavements, in accordance with existing
ordinances.
ORDINANCES.
An ordinance to increase the pay of the
Chief of Police to 50 600 per annum. Ordi-
nance on its first reading.
An ordinance to increase the pay Of the
Mayor for the year 1882 from 81, 800 to
50, 900 per annum.
An ordinance TO regulate the manner Of
filling excavations for gas and water pipes
and for other purposes. Ordinance on its
first reading.
PETITIONS.
Petition of the Savannah Electric Gas
light Company for permission to erect
poles, run wires, and locate one or more
COuuuCL
their business. Referred to Committee on
Streets and Lanes and Fire Committee.
Petition of Cleburne Hose Company, ask
ing that arrangements be made for storage
Of hose reel. Referred to Fire Committee
and Finance.
Petition Of William Swoll for permission
to erect furnace on Springfield plantation
for burning and destroying garbage. Re-
ferred to committee.
The petitions of sundrY citizens relative
to the lightir g of the city lamps, and urging
that further use Of the naptha oil be discon-
tinued, as the light was imperfect and IN
satisfactory.
1t was moved that the petitions, which
were numerously signed by merchants and
business men and large taxpayers, be re-
ferred to the Committee on Gas.
Alderman Guerard moved as a substitute
that they be referred to the Council as
committee on the whole.
Considerable discussion ensued.
Alderman Hamilton addressed the board
at length on the subject, stating that the
committee had thoroughly examined into
this matter before they had recommended
the adoption of Mr.. Thompson's proposition
to light the city. There had been COM
plants made about the lights going out,
and the committee had investigated. II
appeared from information obtained
from the police, that whereas the first few
nights some two hundred and seventy
three lights had gone out, yet the
company had made such progress that
last night only twenty-seven were reported
as having gone out, and yet the system
had only been in operation about twelve
DAYS. The experiment he considered so
far had proven successful. There were
always difficulties in the way of insugurating
new enterprises, but it was certain that
even in its infancy this company were now
giving better light than we have had in the
past three or five years, and the com
pany propose to do still better. As soon
as the contract was signed the com
pany would give a good bond of $50, 600
for the faithful performance of every clause
of their contract, and the Committee on
Gas were determined to see that they did.
The committee had no interest in this mat.
ter beyond a desire to serve the city. When
he accepted the position in this board he
took the oath with the determination to do
his duty to the best of his ability, unbiased
by fear, favor or Teproacb, and he did not
propose to be swerved by newspaper criJi-
cisms or the opinions Of anonymous cor
respondents. He believed the change would
prove successful, and every promise of the
contract should be carried out, or 1t would
be forfeited. There may be isolated cases
where the lights 90 out, and so were
lights extiDguished before, but there
was no reason to think that these defects
could not be remedied. He recognized that
these petitions came from responsible citi-
zens, and were entitled to respectful consid-
Grafton, and he could say that the Gas Com
mtjtee would look carefully to the faithful
performance of the contract Of Mr.. Thomp-
son.
Alderman Doyle stated he had seconded
the substitute, as he was desirous that there
should be flu expression on the subject
by members of this board. There was
considerable complaint about the lamps,
and It seems that some Of the members had
voted for the report recommending the con-
tract without knowing all the objections
that had been raised to 1t.
The question was called and a vote was
taken on the substitute to refer the petition
to the Council as q committee of the whole,
and it was lost.
The original motion to refer the petitions
to the Gas Committee was next called up.
Alderman Abrams stated he had voted
against the substitute, as he thought that it
would be well for the Gas Committee to
submit a written report, embOdying the
views and information given by Alderman
Hamilton, in order that the public be in
formed.
Alderman Hamilton stated he wished to
call attention to a clause in one of the petit
lions to the effect that the oil used In these
lamps was of a volatile character, and its
use was prohibited by the State laws. In
regard to this he would state that this very
matter had been brought to the attention
of the Attorney General Of the State, and
that he had returned reply that there was
no law against it.
The question was then put. and the mo
ton to refer it to the Gas Committee was
adopted.
Application of W. H. Cosgrove to make
sewer connection. Referred to Street and
Lane Committee with power to act.
Petition of Thomas NJ. and NJ J. Fleet
wood for separate titles. Referred to
Committee on Public Sales and City Lots.
Petition OF Joseph A. Logan to lease
parcel Of land near the water works tract.
Referred to Committee on Water Works.
ELECTIONS.
When this order was reached, the Mayor
announced that there was resolution on
the Clerks desk in reference to election Of
officers OF the Fire Department, and If there
were no objections it would be read. On
motion the rules were suspended and the
resolution read.
By Alderman Roberts
Resolged, That the Clerk Of Council be
and no is hereby instructed to give notice