Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-14
LANES OR NO LANES.


Inc new L4LGnsA0As
Editor Morning Nel5s: Your article in
Saturdays issue Of the MORNING NEWS
headed Lanes a Nuisance" deserves more
than q passing consideration.
The SUBJECT Of which il treats is q mat
ter that deeply interests every one look
ing 70 the future welfare OF Savannah,
either in a HYGIENE or an economical
point Of view. II requires not only a mere
Consideration OF its merits or dement's,
but demands the vigorous opposition OF q
taX-ridden community 70 prevent the con-
tinuatiOn Of a system which is both IN
slightly and expensive.
In the first place. the laying out Of lanes
involves an unnecessary expense. which,
in the present state Of the city's finances
can be well dispensed with. for. by
emitting them altogether from the present
programme One-third. if not more, Of the
entire purchase money can be saved,
which IS quite 40 item 10 begin with. 70
to say nothing Of the annual cost Of keep
ing them in order: the unnecessary work
entailed upon the police, enlaFging their
beats. and thus detracti8g from their use
fuIuess. by this withdrawal from the
points where their vigilance Is most re-
Quired; besides. where these lanes are al
present contemplated may be the very
places where the most expense will be in
CURED in the removal Of improvements,
or satisfaction 70 owners for plans already
projected.
Lanes are harbors for chicken thieves,
rendezvous for burglars, and hiding
/ places for criminals.
A further supply Of them should not be
tolerated. Let the opinions Of Gen. An
I ders0n and the police force be taken as to
I their utility.
Let the views Of the scavenger depart
ment be given as 10 their expense. and no
/ other conclusion can be arrived at than
/ that which which we have above stated
! In the second place, they are not con-
/ duciye 70 the health Of city, for they are
4 generally the receptacles Of all sorts Of
/ filth and decaying vegetable matter, r.
yaling the city Of Cologne in the variety
AMI extent Of its stenches.
They are not by any manner Of means
/ like our sQuares-tO be considered as
/ the lungs, but rather the intestinals Of the
/ city-therefore let them be abolished.
II the owners Of property wish 10 make
I lanes let them do 50 at their own expense
/ and the city will thus avoid all outlay
I either IN purchase or keeping them in
/ order.
( BY their suppression an opportunity
I will be given to extend or enclose proper
! ties which otherwise would be much cur
/ tailed.
But few years ago an attempt va.
made 10 connect the Screven House with
the building On the other side Of the lane
50 as to continue 1t 70 BrOughtOn street
and what a magnificent hotel this would
have made, but for the estOppage Of q
nasty lane and the interference Of an in
/ junction.
In the course Of human events Sayan-
nah will require many public institutions
which her present limits, with the incu-
bus Of lanes, prevents. And now, when
we have the means Of gaining ample room
/ contracted ideas. either in the shape Of q
| near-sighted committee or a city sur
yeyor, who ought to know better, blocks
I of a second Yamacraw to stultifg us witt
future generations.
The blocks in this extension should be
at least 300 or 400 feet. We require jai
with ample grounds. We may have occa
sion for college, lunatic asylum, q
widows home, an asylum TOR decayeC
| gentlemen, a fever hospital. We should
have a fair ground where monthly fairs
are held, 50 as to abolish the court house
nuisance, and for these purposes there
| should be broad views and grand cOncep
tiOns. We should not think too much o.
ourselves individually, but bestow q
| thought upon the wishes Of the public, tht
| interests Of Savannah, and the uncertain
blessings Of posterty. At all events abol
ish the lanes. PROGRESS.