Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-07
IXINGTHENEW JAILSITE
THE CITY GRANTS THE POLICE
BARRACKS LOT.

session in the Mayors Office last night.
The improvements in progress in the
Council chamber have rendered its use
impossible until the work is complete.
The Jail question was again brought UP
upon the second reading of the ordinance
introduced by Alderman O'Connor two
weeks ago granting to the County Com
missiouers the lots in the rear OF the
police barracks as site. After a lengthy
debate and the failure Of an effort to
defer action until succeeding
meeting the ordinance was passed by
q vote of 6 to T. two Aldermen being abb
sent. Messrs. Nell and Wells were the
absent members. After the reading Of
the ordinance by the Clerk, Alderman
Duncan submitted the request that in
view OF the unavoidable absence Of Mr..
MeIdrim, who was engaged to represent
the property owners protesting against
the location of the jail in the vicinity Of
the barracks, That the ordinance be tabled
until the next meeting.
At the request of the mover Of the rcsO-
luton it was made debatable. Alderman
O'Connor urged the disposal of the mat
ter without further delay. 1t had been
before the previous Council, and had been
fully discussed by the members OF the old
board. The members of the new board
had been afforded every opportunity for
Investigation, and he could see no reason
why the absence Of MT. Meldrim should
cause further delay. Alderman Bogart
still urged the tablng of the ordinance.
He did so with a view to granting hear
ing to Mr.. Neldrim. The only doubt eX-
listing in his mind was whether the loca-
ton Of the Jail on the barracks site would
depreciate the value Of property in that
vicinity. IL it did be would vote against
the ordinance. Ii it did not then he would
by all means vote for IL.
A vote was taken and the motion to
table was defeated.
The passage OF the ordinance was
debated by Alderman O'COnnor, who re-
hearsed the argument he made before the
Council in December. and read the
opinions OF the City Assessors and all the
real estate dealers in the city, except one,
expressing the belief that the location of
the Jail on the barracks site would en-
nance the value Of real estate in that
vicinity instead of depreciating it.
Alderman Myers, while he believed
that the location either of the jail or bar
racks was an objection in any locality,
it would be a less objection to have the
two located together.
Alderman Hamlet said he would vote
for the ordinance because he believed the
able site for the jail.
The ayes and nays were called on the
final vote for the ordinance, and were as
follows:
AYEs-Aldermen Thomas. Myers, Derst,
O'COnnOr, Mile and iamlet-6.
NAYs-Aldermen Hamilton, Bogart, Dun
can and Nichols.
Alderman BOgart explained his vote by
saying that he voted against the ordinance
because of the denial OF the request TO de-
fer action until the next meeting. OF the
two absent members it was understood
that Alderman Wells, had he been pres
emit, would have voted for the or
dinance, which would have given
clear majority of the entire board.
The question after having been before the
Council for nearly a year, and once de-
feated, is at length disposed Of, and the
site is virtually now in the hands OF the
County Commissioners.
LIGHTING THE CITY.
Two bids for lighting the city in accord
ance with the specifications Of the Street
and Lane Committee-One BY the Brush
Electric Light and Power Company, and
the other by the Mutual Gas Light Com
pany-were opened and read. Only one,
that Of the electric light company, was
recognized. Owing to an irregularity in
the form of the bid made by the gas
electric light company's bid was TO
light the city in accordance with the adj
vertised specifications from the oXpira-
ton of its present contract, running 100
lamps for $4,000 per wear for five years.
This bid was nearly on the same basis with
the contract under which the city Is now
lighted. The present contract Is $4,000
for y lamps. The new hid is claimed by
the company to be considerably less per
lamp than is paid IN Baltimore and New
York, where many thousand lamps
are burned. The gas COM
pany, in explanation of its
bid. claimed that the specifications under
which bids were invited debarred it from
mading a direct proposal for the contract.
The specifications, if complied with,
would require the erection of six times as
many lamps as were used under the old
contract, and the laying Of about eight
miles OF new mains. This the company
GOULD not afford TO undertake without the
outlay Of great deal of money, and in
consequence it could not make an adj
Vantageous bid for the contract. 1t
would light as many lamps having three
foot burners. however. as the city would
supply for $40 so, and $50 80
for fye-fOOt burners. The bid was
defective in form, not having any sureties
affixed, and was not considered. The at
tention of the Council was turned to the
electric light cOmpany's proposition.
Alderman Thomas had hoped to secure
100 lights for SO 900. He did not think
the city's finances would warrant the eX-
penditure Of a larger amount. He was in
favor of reducing the number Of lights TO
so. He was in favor Of referring the
matter back to the Street and Lane Com
mittee for new specifications. Alderman
Hamlet opposed the move. The Street
and Lane Committee, ne said, had done
it's work. II had come TO the conclusion
that 100 lights were necessary. A bid
had been regularly made, in accordance
with the specifications, and it remained
for the Council either TO accept or reject IT,
He believed the reference of the matter
at this iuncture would be an injustice "a
the electric light company, which had
submitted a formal proposition.
Alderman Hamilton said if the city was
not disposed to employ 100 lamps the
electric light company would accept
the contract for any number not less
than ~. the number now in use, upon
the basiioi the bid, or $3.50 per lamp.
Alderman Thomas called attention tC
the fact that the bid, IS accepted, would
increase the expense Of lighting the city
$500 over the present contract. lie did
not think the finances warranted that
outlay. he suggested that the contract be-
made for 50 lamps.
Alderman Duncan moved that the con.
hg a.. ssas NlaaN L...s