Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-29
OUR OIrY.
A Few Suggestions a. to What Would
Add to Its Attrsctiveness.

Few Suggestions a. to What Would
Add to Its Attrsctiveness.
We have city beautiful for situation,
pleasant for residence, and profitable for
business. Our advantages and prospects,
commercially, compare fayorably with any
city south OF Baltimore. In the matters
of health, educational advantages, bust
ness facilities, desirsbility of residence
generally, our reputation Is so we'll known
that the city is rapidly increasing in
population. That all who come make
living is evidenced by the fact that there
are less beggars on the streets and fewer
rObberies than in auy city of its size and
mixed population in the country
We have much to be thankful for, much
to be proud of. There is, however, much
that can be done to increase the attractive
ness of our city, and to render residence
in our midst more desirable. AS we add
to these, as we cheaper living, as we in
crease the chance of making a living, as
we remove encumbfances to advance
ment, do we invite the stranger to come
and dwell with us, and, by adding sub
stantial citizens to our number, increase
the prosperity and wealth of our COM
muntty.
We are undoubtedly favored with
honest men. They have done much under
very adverse circumstances, and, l be-
lieVe, stand ready to do all in their power
tor the advancement of the interests of
the city
take it to be the duty of all good cit-
Zens to second their efforts, and to assist
| by the suggestions of such measures as
! seem to promise good to the community
at large. Nor do think that any should
be deferred from so doing by the fear that
such suggestions would be received I'M
kindly. The Mayor and Aldermen are not
the people. but the servants and agents Of
the people, and | take 1t to be their desire
to learn the will Of their constituents, and
| their pleasure to carry it out. Knowing
each of them, l could never believe that,
individually or collectively, they consider
themselves better judges than the people
as TO what is best for the people.
| So in the matter Of the much-talked-ot
fire ordinance | cannot believe that any
Alderman will oppose its repeal if it shall
be made to appear that the people wish it
repealed. Imagine that no Alderman will
/ feel 1t TO be his particular duty 70 espOuse
! the cause Of the brickmaker, the brick
| layer, or his rich friend. the owner of the
| brick house, as against the mass of the
| people. If you, my aldermanic friend,
| have secured your wooden house before
the enactment OF the present ordinance,
| or have been so fortunate as to make
enough to build brick one, are You going
| to shut us less fortunate brothers out
| from the privilege OF owning our own
wooden hOusesl I'VE the people" want
| this privilege upon our own grounds, and
ask Of you the repeal of law which is
not OF your making, but is legacy of
misfortune and clog upon the wheels of
| progress.
think it can be demonstrated that
more bricks would be used in the increas-
ed number of wooden buildings that would
be built, if the ordnance were repealed,
than would be needed in the few brick
buildings erected under the continuance
OF the present law. No injustice would
be done to those who have already built
! Of brick, because under the working Of
the Roberts ordinance the consent of the
owners of adjoining brick buildings had
TO be obtained. The restrictions OF re-
! ferring all applications to a fire commit
tee would sufficiently guard the privilege
from abuse.
Great weight should be given TO the fol-
lowing considerations: giving work to
! idle mechanics by the building mp Of
waste places; the increase of the taxable
property OF the city; the increase Of the
wealth of the citizens by adding value to
lumber, etc, by giving lumber the shape
OF manufactured Srucles, viz, houses,
! which increase the health, happiness
and prosperity Of citizens by inducing
them TO own and live in their own LOuses.
A better, more ornamental, healthier.
| ploasanter home can be built OF wood
than OF brick. We live in a wood cOun-
try where competition is rife on the part
of dealers in wooden material. which our
people ought to have the fall benefit Of
On the other hand, there is no competition
m brick manufacturing and there has
been none for years.
In point Of fire risk, the best fire.
men In the city will testify that
"a fire IN wooden house is the
soonest controlled and the easiest
TO get at and eXtinguish. II is matter
J OF history that all OF the large fires ~ this
city have originated in brick buildings,
ana in many cases consisted only o.
brick buildings. II IL n significant fact
that the most liberal fire ordinance Sa-
vannah ever had originated with and
bears the name Of one OF her eX-chief fire.
men. Augusta, Atlantis, Macon, New
Orleans. especially the latter, are built
up largely Of wood. Some OF the hand
soonest residences on 81. Charles avenue,
in New Orleans, are built OF wood.
Sayannah's great need to-day il medium
sized houses. uch IA abound on Greene
street In Augusta, that arc moi In the eX-
tremes of the city, convenient, but small,
respectfully located, sEch ~ n man with
"a moderate salary can live IN and yet not
ieel that the ueighborhood Is such as he
cannot rear his children in. These can
not be built 81 brick and rented to yield a
fair interest on cost.
There nro other things that sour city"
needs ~ add 20 its attraetiyeness, which
would like % refer 10 another time, but
fear the length Of this will result In a
refusal Of further from 4. n.
KNOW rHYsELF. hr rennlnr tha ..sci.