Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-11-30
THE CENTRAL'S SCHEME.
A FEW POINTS FOR COUNCIL TO
LOOK INTO.

The Proposed Freight Railroad Along
the River Front Connecting the Upper
and Lower Vhsrves-How it Would
Affect Wharf Property-A Question for
Careful Municipal Thought.
Among the published ordinances now
pending before Council, and awaiting its
action, is one entitled San ordinance to
permit the Central Railroad and Banking
Company OF Georgia to run track from
its present system Of tracks on the west
ern side of the west side OF the Savannah
and Ogeechee canal to Randolph street, in
the city of Savannah, and thence along
River street to the BilbO canal" 1t is
therein proclaimed to be the great pur-
pose OF this ordinance, that it is desirable
to bring again into active use the wharYes
in the city of Savannah which have been
idle for a great length of time.
The citizens of Savannah and those in
terested IN property along our river front,
placing that construction upon the object
and meaning OF this ordinance, which its
plainly proclaimed purpose alone seemed
TO warrant, were disposed to yield 1t
hearty acclaim as a wise measure OF pub
lie progress, intended only for the COM
mon welfare of this community and de-
manded by the growing commercial and
shipping interests of the port. Council
has not been called upondor years to tax e
final action upon any question OF greater
significance Or one charging with weight
Ter responsibility the members of that
body, individually and collectively; and
the public to re affected by its procedure
will watch with jealous scrutiny the min
istration of a public trust allotted to pub
lie servants for the public good.
WalI nav Council 6onlo arm in this ita Or-
dinance, that it is desirable to bring again
into active use the wharyes in the city of
Savannah, which have been idle for
great length of time; and consistently does
itcarry outfits declaration, when in section
l it defines the route and limits proposed,
and grants such privileges of construction
''as may be necessary to bring into gen.
eral and more profitable use the wharVes
along the city 'front.'" The owners of prop
erty along the city front best realize the
long continued idieness of the wharYes,
the emptiness of their warehouses, and the
improbable condition of their holdings,
since the construction OF wharves
and warehouses on the east and west by
the great railroad corporations, and in
vested with the browning adVantae e of ac-
cess by rail, has resulted in the destruc-
ton of their consequence and the absorb
ton Of their life. The building of a road
as proposed in said ordinance would GER
tainly restore portion Of the lost value
OF wharf and warehouse property between
East and West Broad streets along the
river front, and would thereby secure a
benefit to the general public by increasing
the revenue Of the city TO be derived from
the taxation of the property so enhanced
in value.
Stores now idle in this section could
and would be utilized for the storage of
grain, hay, flour, sugar, molasses, bacon,
coffee, bagging, etc, which would be re-
ceived at these points by rail and de-
livered for shipment, or transfer, by the
same means. Cotton could be delivered
at all the presses and most of the ware
houses now existing by rail and trans
ferred for shipment from point to
point by the same mode of con-
Veyance. Vessels loading at any of
the wharves could be reached by gang
ways through the stores on the north side
of the alleyways, through which the road
would run. These and many other adj
yantages would result from the building
of the line through the city. 1t is the
clear duty of Council, as trustee for the
public, in giving to a powerful rail-
road corporation the right 10 create per-
petual servitude upon the public thor
Oughfares, to guard Its grant with saluta-
ry and well-cOnsidered restrictions. No
measure of so vast Importance, reaching
hastily considered or improYidently con-
summated.
Does the ordinance in question give
evidence of cautious deliberatiOn and of
careful municipal f0rethought? We think
not. "Festina lente" is wise maxim in
such cases. The character of the engines
and motive power to be employed should
be defined. The length of trains
should be prescribed. There should be
some provision for the uncOupling
OF trains which stop and block
a crossing. The track should be watered
in dry weather. The rate of speed should
be regulated. There should be some pro-
vision for keeping the track clear, and for
seeing that it is so kept clear in order to
prevent accidents. Transfer charges should
be uniform to all points on the same arti-
cles of merchandise. The track
should be required to be so built
that the platform of the cab shall
be made level with the second
story from wharf front of the buildings on
the north side of alley ways. There
should be an absolute limit, say not less
than one year, for the commencement of
the work and the use of the franchise
granted. There should be condition an
neXed to the grant that the whole line, as
stated in said ordinance, shall be COM
pleted within fixed time, say in one to
two years from the crossing of the canal
by the track of the Central Railroad, ana
forfeit should be provided if this is not
done.
Many other important provisions which
should be rigidly insisted upon will be
suggested by consideration and discus
sion. 1t is now reported that the Central
Railroad does not intend to construct a
line of track further east than West Broad
street, and to avail itself Of the broad fran
chise conferred only to accomplish a spe-
cial purpose. The necessity on the par
of the public custodians of the rights and
interests of this community to guard
against partial construction of this line,
which would wholly defeat the great purt
pose proclaimed in the ordinance, is thus
obvious and imperative.
If the line be built only to West Broad
street no general benefit can result, and
the purpose of the grant of so important
q franchise utterly fail. One cotton press,
one cotton warehouse, one wholesale gro
GERS warehouse and one coal dealers
yard would receive benefit, with perhaps
some advantage to the Planters and Up
per Rice Mills, and these special privileges
to particular interests and individuals
would accrue to the detriment OF other
parties in the same lines of business. Spe-
cial facilities extended to one piece of
property must necessarily diminish the
importance and value of other property not |
~
street, thus partially occupied by tracks,
would inconvenience and damage others
compelled to continue the. use of draYs by
reason of the non-eXtensIOn of the track. |
Should the Central Railroad fail to build
the entire line or object to the terms to be
prescribed other corporations or IN
dividuals Doubt SIS will offer to do so,and
a barren franchise not used is calculated
to deter others from applying for similar
privileges. 1t is not to be presumed for
one moment that our City Fathers would |
knowingly consent to 4 prostitution of
their delicate and responsible trust, for |
such it surely would be, to great |
a franchise for the putlic good Ostensibly, |
knowing that it was to be used only Fl I |
private gain. The law and public senti- |
ment accord to the Mayor and Aldermen |
the right to grant certain franchises |
which will result in general municipal |
advantage. Neither law nor opinion con- |
firm authority TO accord special privileges !
or to foster mOnopolies. Their charter |
gives them power to make, ordafn |
and establish such ordinances az shall APP !
pear to them requisite and necessary for |
the security, welfare and convenience OF |
the city and its inhabitants. They may |
levy taxes, establish markets, adopt a |
system of drainage, build street railways |
or farm out the privilege, and carry out |
various purposes of public utility. Did
it ever enter into the brain of any NUM- |
cipal trustee that, under the fundamental