Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-05-24
THE CITY GOVERNMENT.
MORE ABOUT THE PROPOSED
NEW JAIL.

NEW JAIL.
Lieutenant Green Elected Assistant
Chief of Police-The Bonded Dent
Compromise Ordinance Tabled-Ihe
Chatham Artillery Tax Troubles-Ihe
Collection of Ground Rents Not 10 De
Enforced at Present.
The proceedings of the City Council last
night were. with the exception ofthe cleo
zion of the Assistant Chief of Police, the
discussion Of the exemption Of the Chat
ham Artillery property from taxation and
the introduction of an ordinance IN
reference TO the proposed new jail,
devoid of any special interest. The
Long Room was well filled with specta-
tors. who retired as soon as the election of
the police official was announced.
The late hour at which the board con-
yened and the length of time spent in the
preliminary caucus naturally indicated
that weighty matters were under cOnsid-
Grafton. The Council was not called TO
order until after nine O'Clock. There
were present Mayor Lester and Aldermen
Hamilton. Thomas. Nell, Hanley. O'COn-
nor. Wilder. Green. Derst, Nichols. Wells,
and Hamlet.
The Clerk read the minutes of the pre-
viOus meeting, which were confirmed.
ACCOUNTS.
The Committee on Accounts reported
that they had examined and found correct
accounts against the city amounting TO
S19.797 IS. and recommended that they be
passed for payment.
REPORTS.
The Committee on Finance, to whom
was referred the petition of :. NJ. Phillips
to transfer liquor license to green gTOcer's
license, reported adversely to transferring
same. Adopted.
The Finance Committee, to whom was
also referred the petition of Theodore b.
Masters. asking for compensation as
had investigated the matter and found
Mr.. Masters had been employed by the
late City Treasurer, Jas. +. Cope. at
salary of 800 per month as clerk, and
that he was not a city official. They
recommended that he be allowed 800 for
the month OF March, and that that sum
in full settle his account against the
city.
The Fire Committee reported fayOrably
on the petition of J. w. McAlpin to move
building on Hull street. Adopted.
The Street and Lane Committee report
ed on petition of sundry citizens, asking
to repair fountain in Chippewa square,
and recommended that $50 be appro-
priated for such repairs. Adopted.
They also reported adversely on
granting petition of L. +. Johnson
to extend and rebuild pOrticO in front Of
the Theatre, and on petition Of sundry
citizens TO sell goods from stands on the
sidewalks. The reports were received
and adopted. In regard to the petition
of sundry citizens, asking that Hall street
be graded, they reported that this street
was already graded, but recommended
that Hall street lane be improved as early
as practicable.
ORDINANCES.
The ordinance providing for a cOmprO-
mise of the bonded debt of the city OF
Savannah, incurred through the Atlantic
and Gulf Railroad Company. was, upon
its second reading, laid upon the table.
The ordinance providing for the increase
Of the salaries of the engineers Of the Fire
Department from 5000 to $1,000, was
Alderman Thomas arose and stated
that he was opposed to the
ordinance. He had held the reputa-
ton Of being stingy, and he was willing
to hold that reputation still, in the eX-
penditure of public money. He was in
favor of allowing the offices of engineers
to become vacant at an early date and
present salary if such salary was not sat
istactOry to the incumbents. In the matter
OF increasing expenditures he was opposed
to any advance. TheamOunt of the appro-
priatiOn for fire purposes at the beginning
Of the year, he stated, was $4,000. In
five months $4,000 Of that appropriation
had already been expended. The Ordi-
nance was put upon its passage and was
passed by vote Of to 3.
THE NEW JAIL.
The following ordinance, by order of the
Council, was introduced;
AN ORDINANCE, to be entitled an ordinance,
to grant to the Commissioners of Chatham
county and eX-OfliciO Judges, all that certain
tract or parcel Ofland, in Forsyth ward, city
Of Savannah. in which the jail is located,
and to provide for the opening Of Howard
street through said land.
WHEREAS, By the act Of the General As
semDly, approved September -, 1881, vesting
the management and care of the jail in the
County Commissioners and sheriff Of the
county Of Chatham, il was enacted, among
other things, that no fees shall be charged for
dieting or for other purposes against the city
of Savannah as to prisoners sent to Jail from
the Mayors Court of Savannah or other Police
Court Of SAID city; and, whereas, il is deemed
desirable by this Council that new Jail
should be speedily erected IN some other part
Of the city Of Savannah. Therefore,
SECTION l. Be IL ordained 6y tie Mayor
and aldermen Of the city Of Sdednndh, IN
Council assembled, and Il IS hereby ordained
by tie authority Of the same, That all
that tract or parcel of land
situate. lying and being in the said city Of Sa-
vannah, in Forsyth ward, bounded north by
Hall street, east by Whitaker street, south by
lots Nos. thirty-seven 81 and thirty eight,
(3Sl, Forsyth ward, excepting therefrOm How
ard street, which is hereby continued and eN-
tended north and south through said proper
ty, be and the same is hereby granted to the
Commissioners of Chatham county, and eX-
OfhclO Judges and their successors in Office
and assigns, in fee simple to be by them apprO-
priated to aid in the construction of a new
Jail. this grant to take effect Immediately
upon the completion of new jail for said
county of Chatham, provided said new jail be
erected and ready for occupation within -
years from this date; and provided further
that unless new Jail shall be commenced by
the LIST day of ----- next, said lands shall
revert to and become reyested in said the
Mayor and Aldermen Of the city Of Savannah
in the same manner "a if tins grant had not
been made.
An ordinance was also introduced re-
quiring the Assistant Chief of Police,
upon ent ering upon his office, to give a
bond in the sum of $4,000, insuring the
faithful dI scharge of his duties. By
unanimous consent of the Council, the or
dinance was voted upon and passed.
PETITIONS.
A communication from j. 5. Barnwell
in reference to an exhibition of paving
material for the streets of the city, in front
Of the Exchange, was referred to the
Committee on Streets and Lanes.
Petition of ID. Is. Lester, desiring to
purchase part of the Springfield planta-
ton, asking that ii be valued and exposed
for sale. Referred to Committee on Pub
lie Sales and CITY Lots