Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-12
CHILLYCITY COUNCILMEN.
THEY MAKE QUICK WORK OF
LAST NIGHTS SESSION.

Most of the Time Spent in the Caucus
Room, and the Spectators "FroZe
Out" Waiting for the Regular Session
The HarbOr and Wharves Commit
tee Make Their Report of the COndi-
ton of the River Along the City Front
-Legislating Against the Hogs.
The City Councilmen spent most Of the
time usually occupied by the regular ses-
sion in the caucus room last night. The
temperature was unusually low in the
Long Room. and the spectators
''froze out" before the caucus ended.
1t was GAS O'Clock when the
/ folding doors were thrown open and the
/ Aldermen hled in from their preliminary
| deliberations. The City Marshal and the
| Council Messenger were the only officials
| in the room. and. from the appearance OF
/ things. it looked as though there would
/ be a short session. some OF the Alder
| men wore their OvercOats with the collars
| turned up. and cast sort OF Why-dOn't-
| Ou-give-us-mOre-heat look at the sin
/ ole CRATE slowed away under
/ the heavy mantelplece and supposed
/ to warm the entire chamber with a single
/ bod Of coal, as they filed past and dropped
/ into their seats around the long table.
| The Clerk hurried through with the read
| ing of the minutes about the same as a
/ legislative clerk does a bill on its first
reading, and the committee reports were
/ disposed Of in the same way. There was
| very little before the Council to excite de-
bate. and the business was rushed through
with in hurry.
The Committee on HarbOr and WhaTves,
| under instructions to report the condition
! Of the river and channel along the city
| front, and if shoals were found to recon-
mend the best means for removing them
! and increasing the depth of water reported
that accurate sOundIngs had been taken,
both of the channel and of the river i'm
mediately along the wharves, and the
sOundings had been supplemented by
dredging to ascertain the character of the
bottom. The result Of the investigation
showed that the river is now in quite as
good, if not in a better condition than
formerly. The recent shoals in the
channel, one at the foot OF
East Broad street and the others between
! West Broad street and the Upper Rice
| Mill were Of small extent, believed to be
of local origin, and have been removed by
dredging. \ removal Of the sand from
the basin at the foot of West Broad street
several times a year, it is believed, wOul1
prevent the shOaiing on either side OF the
slip, supposed to have been caused here
tOfOTe by the sewer which emptles into
the basin.
The HarbOr Master, in supplementing
his report of the sOundings, says at the
foot of all the streets, and especially
where there is a sewer trap, the depth
water is less than at any other place
along the whaTves, and the river bottom
is exceedingly bard. He reports the con
ditiOn of several whaTves to be very bad
! The cap logs at the Ferry Dock
between The Lower Rice Mill and Tag
CARTS wharf, are much lower than the
surface and there is nothing to preven
the rice chalf and sand from washing W
the stream. TaggaTt's wharf is in baC
cOrdltiOn. The wharf at the foot OF Price
street is very dangerous and dirty anC
the mOoring bad.
The CITY Surveyor submitted report
showing the lessees Of the various city
properties and the occupants, and en-
crOachments upon the properties, which
was referred to the Committees on street,
and Lanes. City Lois, and HarbOr anC
WhaTYes.
on the hogs oy Offering al
ordinance providing that they shall
not be kept within the corporate
limits of the city, or within one
half mile of the limits, under the penalty
Of a fine not exceeding $50, or impIison
: ment not exceeding ten days. or both, al
IN the discretion of she Mayor, may b.
/ imposed for each Otfense.
Y communication lIDlN lleHIa l. Aotlr
Esq. representing the Board of Marine
l Underwriters. asking the passage OF pro
, hibitory ordinances in regard to smoking
| along the wharves and wherever cOttol
is stored. and forwarding copies Of siml
lar ordinances in force in New Orlean
and other cities. was received and re
ferred to the Committee on Fire.
The condition OF the streets in the east
| ern part of the city. and particularly tn
street leading from Randolph TO the Bio
canal. was reported TO the Council with
petition for their improvement. The ne
cessity for the improvement was urge
/ by Alderman Wells, and the matter wa
, . referred to the Committee on streets an
Lanes with power to act.
| The Drainage Committee reported
resolution, which was adopted, authoriz
> ing the Clerk to advertise for proposal
/ for the rebuilding of the retaining wall c
I the BlihO canal. The matter was no
/ discussed in open Council, but it was I'm
/ derstOOd to have been debated in caucu
at length. The necessity for eXtensiN
work on the canal Is apparent to tn
= Council, and steps are being taken TO be
gin at once.
An appropriation of $500 was voted 70
the Improvement of Laurel Grove Gene
terry.
4 number Of reports were made upOi
minor matters of no general interest.
The session lasted less than an hOur
and the Aldermen butiOned up their coat
and marched out with an air OF relic
s,.ola.