Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-15
THE CENTRAL'S SCHEME.
RAIL CONNECTION OF THE Up
PER AND LOWER WHARVES.

RAIL CONNECTION OF THE Up
PER AND LOWER WHARVES.
Proposed Extension Of the Tracks from
the Ocean Steamship Wharves Through
Canal Street and Across the City to
the Lower Wharves-Canal Street
Widened at the COmpany's Expense
How the Scheme Is Looked Upon.
The extension Of the Central Railroad
tracks from the company's wharves
through River street, lately known as
Canal, and across the city 70 the lower
wharves, was advocated By the MORNING
News several years ago. The plan then
suggested Is now under consideration and
IN all probability viii be carried out.
The widening Of River street. extending
from the Ozeechee canal 10 West Broad
street. from its former width Of 90 feet 20
a uniform width Of g. feet. Is now nearly
ACCOMPLISHED. and with the removal Of
two or three buildings which project
beyond the line Of the street the work viii
be complete. The cost Of the improve
ment. Il j. understood. viii be sustained
by the Central Railroad. which viii pay
70 the city $4,000 for the privilege Of ex-
tending is tracks beyond the canal and
through the street as Tar east as " est
Broad street.
A MORNING NEWs reporter called upon
q member Of the special committee OF
Council on opening new streets with an
inquiry as 10 the truth Of the rumOr.
1T Is understood that such a move is
contemplated. although the matter has
not yet been brought formally before the
Council" was the reply.
Does the Central pay for the widening
Of Canal streets''
1T Is understood that they VIII pay for
II. but no formal agreement has been en-
tered into"
w hat Is the amount 70 be paids''
Thirteen thousand dollars. This
amount is expended in the opening Of the
street, and entities the Central Railroad
% extend It's tracks as far as West Broad.
The eastern limit Of old Canal street. Il j.
understood. however. 70 be the plan If
the company TO extend them further on as
TAR as Montgomery street TO the Upper
Hydraulic Press. aud eventually across
the city running IN the alleyway known "a
the FACTORS and connecting with the track
of the Savannah. Florida and Western
Railway near the foot Of Randoip street,
What viii De the advantages Of con-
nectIOu across the city as prOpOSedE'
They VIII be twOf0ld. The advantages
% the railroad VIII be the convenience in
tie handling Of freight. and the advantage
70 the city. which is far greater. viii be
the development Of the wharf property.
which j. rapidly depreciatng in value.
The immense stOrehOuses along the Fac
tors. which are now idle, will be brought
into use. and instead Of hauling goods
from the wharyes at the limits Of the city.
more extensive and far more convenient
facilities may be obtained in utilizing
the warehouses under the bluff. The ex-
cellent facilities at Port Royal for the
shipment of freight To the interior over the
Port ROYAL and Augusta Railroad. also
owned by the Central. are a means OF
drawing a great deal Of heavy freights
from Savannah, which would natu-
rally come here were the wharf facilities
ample. The opening up Of the long
stretch Of wharf property from West
I Broad 10 Price streets. now compare
lively unused, and the utilizing of the ex-
teusiye warehouses, would bring to this
port much Of the trade now passing
through Port Royal. The interests Of the
city and the railroads being identical.
both would be benefited, the city by the
development Of her property and the in
creased trade which would be brought
here. and the railroads by the enlarged
business which would certainly be the
result Of the Development Of the wharf
'front.'"
Has there been any definite move in
! the matter yet;'
NO further than a verbal agreement in
| regard 10 the Improvement Of River street
I and the extension Of the tracks through
/ it. The right 10 do this is included in the
payment Of the $4,000 agreed upon be-
I tween the Council committee and the OIL
/ GERS Of the road. The matter will be
/ brought before Council and acted upon at
an early day."
Mr. John B. Howard. City Surveyor. in
LOT frfs
/ Of the River street improvement, said:
/ The widening Of the street will soon be
| finished. The old LachlisOn foundry and
/ one or two smaller structures are the only
/ obstacles now TO be removed in order TO
/ give the street uniform width from
/ West Broad street to the Ogeechee canal.
/ At the latter point a wide and durable
| drawbridge viii be built by the Central
/ Railroad Company, when the new thor
| oughfare VIII be quite level all the way to
/ the cOmpany's wharyes.
is there any probability that the com
/ pany viii extend its track on this i'm
| proved street at an early day."
! The matter has been referred to quite
/ recent! and my impression is that the
/ extension Will be made. but within what
/ time I cannot say"
..Will the road on reaching West Broad
/ street make an effort to build its line
| eastward under the bluff"
Il don't think they would care to run
| their line under the bluff. They would
/ probably lay their track across West
: Broad street to a point near Montgomery
I street and then follow up the passageway
! OF lane known as "the Factors" between
I the north line Of Bay street and the range
I Of buildings overlooking River street and
! the wharyes. Il would cost a good deal
/ Of money 10 grade the line from River
| street into the Factors on this side Of
/ West Broad street."
/ Glow far east do you suppose the track
/ viii be laid:''
Il DO not know. In fact I am not GER
/ tain that the extension will be made at
! all, although it is contemplated"
/ Would the extension greatly improve
/ the value Of wharf property between
/ East and West Broad streets p
1T would be a great convenience TO
/ shippers, and would no doubt improve the
/ property far beyond its present value"
DO you think that the railroad COM
pauy. in building the extension, would
| encounter much opposition in the Coun-
| cil?"
Il cannot answer that question. My
/ idea, however, is that when the company
/ makes application for the privilege it
| will be granted