Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-06
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.
THE CITY ADOPTS THE STAND
ARD TIME.

The County Commissioners Re-Petitloh
for the New Jail Site-The Opening
and Widening of streets in the Burnt
District-The Fire Department Ordl-
nance Defeated-The Merchants Al
lowed the Privilege of the Sidewalks
During the Holidays-Leasing Hutch
inson's Island.
The proceedings of the City Council
last night were made interesting by the
discussion of the new Jail question and
the adoption of the standard railway time.
The board met in regular session at .
O'Clock.
The Clerk read the minutes of previous
meetings, which were confirmed.
ACCOUNTS.
The Committee on Accounts reported
that thew had examined and found correct
accounts against the city amounting 10
Sc. 573 IS. and recommended that they De
passed for payment.
REPORTS.
The Finance Committee reported ad-
versely to reducing the specinc tax upon
bakers. Adopted.
The same committee also reported adj
versely upon reducing the speclnc tax
upon hotels, petitioned by NJ. l.. Harnett.
Adopted.
The Fire Committee reported favOrably
unon Granting petition of X. j. Stewart to
erect a steam engine at his wood yard,
and adversely upon allowing John NJ.
Rischoff to erect frame shed on Farm
street. Adopted.
The Committee on Water Works re-
ported favOrably upon extending water
main through Gwinnett street. Adopted
The Committee On Health and Cemetery
reported favOrably upon petition OF CoTo-
ner DR.. b. +. Sheftall, referred to Council
by County Commissioners, asking the tur-
nishing of the MOrgue with certain
articles. provided the purchases do not
exceed SO. Adopted.
The Committee on Gas reported favor
ably upon erection of lamps on east side
of Calhoun square. Adopted.
The City Marshal reported the service
of notices for the repair of sidewalks:
The report was adopted and the MarsnaI
instructed to make the necessary repairs.
OPENING STREETS IN YAMACRAW.
The Special Committee on opening and
widening streets in the burnt district re-
ported the following resolution;
Res0lred. That the report of the Freehoders
appointed by Council to assess the value OF all
that area or portion of land necessary for the
extending, opening and widening oil JOachlln;
Indian. Canal, Ann and Water streets In salu
Council. be and the same is accepted ana APP
proved. and the said streets, as opened, eN-
tended and widened by the ordinance passed
in Council the 18th day of November. 1888, are
hereby declared to be streets of said city, and
that the special committee of Council hereto
fore charged with the consideration OF TINS
matter. be and they are hereby instructed TO
notify the owners of land necessary 10 DC
taken of the award of said Freeholders, and
that money awarded for said property be ten
dered to said owners.
Alderman Wells called for the reading
of the assessment made by the freeholders.
He believed it should be made a part OF
the public proceedings of Council. Alder
man Thomas stated that the assessment
was not available, not being at hand, but
that it would be incorporated in the pro-
ceedings when published.
The Committee on Streets and Lanes
reported adversely to opening new
street in North OglethOrpe ward, petit
toned for by VIM. Solte and others. The
report was adopted.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ORDINANCE.
The ordinance introduced at the last
meeting of Council, combining the Police
and Fire Departments under one head and
reorganizing the department, was read
by the Clerk. Alderman Hamilton arose
and stated that while he was in favor of a
paid department and had been from the
first, he deemed it inadvisable at the pres
ent time to make the changes ordered by
the ordinance. He believed its passage,
if it be voted, should be deferred until
later period. He, therefore, asked the
mover OF the ordinance to
of the Council. The request was refused.
A motion to table the ordinance was then
defeated and it was put upon its passage.
The yeas and nays were taken and the
ordinance was defeated by vote of 9 to B..
Several applications for sewer c0nnec-
tiOns and other matters Of an uninterest-
ing nature were acted upon.
a petition from the merchants,
asking suspension of the
ordinance prohibiting the display of
their goods upon the sidewalks between
the 10th and oath instants, in order that
they might make better displays of holi-
day goods, was acted upon.
THE NEW JAIL QUESTION.
The Clerk read the following petition
from the Board Of County Commissioners:
To the Honorable tie Mayor and Aldel'n,eh Of
Savannah:
The Commissioners of Chatham county, in
view Of the general expression OF opinion
IN favor Of the site, and their convictions IN
the premises, hereby renew their application
for the land adjoining the Police Barracks,
for the purpose of erecting the new jail there
on. So convinced are they that the location
is in every respect the most desirable one for
such an institution, they feel that they would
be unfaithful to their duty as public servants
did they not urge their views upon your hon
orable body.
Since their previous application the Com
missioners have had several other sites under
/ consideration, none of which. however, pre-
sent the same advantages as the property in
/ question They therefore renew their request
/ that you have the land appraised and sell it
/ to the county. In doing so they present the
/ following facts TO your attention:
! The site and material of the present jail. If
/ sold, would realize about $4,000, an amount
which will be of great assistance in building
/ the new Jail. The jail block, divided into lots
and sold to private parties, Will. when built
| upon. yield yearly revenue to the city from
| taxes Of 81, 500 to $4,000 The sale Of the pres
| ent site is therefore an important factor to
/ the city, as well the county, in considering
/ the question of erecting the new Jail.
! A jail in any part of the city will be objected
| TO by some of the residents Of the locality Sc
| lected. The question therefore to be consid-
! cred is,where will it meet with the least num-
Der of directors? Certainly where there are
the fewest private residences. provided the
| location is otherwise desirable. Such place,
| the Commissioners think. is that which they
ask you to sell. There is not private resi-
dence on the police barracks block. On the
south is a wide lane, on which are the out
buildings of three houses on Liberty street;
on the west is the public pound NOW used as
the headquarters of the scavenger depart
ment) and the old cemetery, an immense area
intervening between the back of the proposed
site and Aberc0rn street; on the north is the
Jail of the police barracks, and on the Haber-
sham street or east side there is not a dwell
ing on the street in front of the proposed site.
The building which the Commissioners pro-
pose erecting will be highly ornamental, and
will be built in the most modern style, with
nothing in view TO designate Its uses. In
fact it will be the handsomest edifice in the
city, and instead of being an Objectionable it
will be an attractive building-One which
will improve the appearance of the neighbor-
hood. There is nothing unsightly in jails as
they are now built; in fact they are to be
found in the best localities in many cities.
BY erecting the jail where the Commits
sioners propose, it will have many advantages
over other sites. Prisoners can be easily
transferred from the barracks to the jail, and
police assistance can be quickly summoned in
the event of trouble, either internal or eX-
ternal. In January the Commissioners VIII
take charge of the jail, and the city viii be at
no expense in providing for its criminals.
The Commissioners must also call your atten-
ton to the fact that the site applied for is
much nearer the court house than any that
has been suggested.
Before many years have passed by, it is
probable that the old cemetery will be diverted
to public uses, and what could be more apprO-
PIRATE than to make it purk, in which could
be the court house, city hall and other build
ings which a growing city requires. Such
plan carried out would give great advantages
in conducting the business of the city and
county. Your honorable body and the Coun-
ty Commissioners, who. as public servants,
have the present wants aud future welfare