Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-11

There ought to be no occasion to adVe-
cate the building OF wooden houses in this
city, situated as it is in the pine region OF
the South, and in locality where wooden
dwellings are more desirable than those
Of brick or stone; and there would not be
if it were not for the fact that there is
small, but influential and active, opposi-
ton to the erection of wooden houses
where there is a very strong desire to
erect them. 1t seems that those who have
the most interest in having the city in
proved-the real estate owners-are not
responsible for this opposition. They are
rather ANXIOUS to have wooden buildings
erected, and are ready to encourage the
building OF wooden houses by erecting
them on their own lots. All they want is
permission from the city authorities.
One great argument IN favor of houses
OF wood is that they are cheaper tnan
those of any other material; and another
is that they are healthier. A matter also,
that is of considerable Importance, is that
wooden houses are susceptible Of much
greater ornamentation than brick ones
are, and that, too, at much less expense.
1t is claimed by some that the danger
from fire is greater where there are wood
en- dwellings than where the buildings
are all of brick or stone. Experience
shows that this claim has no foundation.
Where there is an efficient steam fire de-
partment wooden buildings in ordinary
fires are less liable to damage or destruc-
ton than those OF other materials.
VTpfil tho fra voarc
ago, that part of the city. where permits
sion to build wooden houses is now
asked, was not in the fire limits. ana peO-
pie built houses there of whatever ma
terial they desired. The panic caused by
that fire-which, by the way, originated
in a fire proof brick warehouse-infu-
enced the council to restrict the limits with
in which wooden house could be built.
The panic was soon over, and it was then
seen, as it has quite often since been
demonstrated, that there was no good
reason for the ordinance.
II those who are most interested desire
a repeal of the ordinance, and would
rather risk being burnt out in a wooden
than in brick house, why not let them
take this risk.
No one perhaps will deny that the ordi-
nance retards the growth OF the city, and
unless the reasons for it are too strong to
be disregarded it ought not to be per-
mitted to obstruct the city's prosperity.
There is certainly need to help the city
forward in every possible way. More
houses mean, or ought to mean, lower
taxes and lower rents, and these two
things are sure to Increase the city's
population. Many people OF small means
have been forced to leave Savannah within
the last few years because they could not
afford to pay the rents. There has been
an improvement in this respect lately and
rents are little more reasonable. A
man with a moderate income, after pay
ing his rent, has now enough left of his
salary to provide his family with some
of the comforts of life.
Let the City Council give this matter its
most careful consideration. 1t is very
impOrtant-far more important than it APP
pears to be to those who have not given 1t
thoughtful attention. The city's pros
perity, to a certain extent, is involved in
it. This fire ordinance is a sort of weight
on improvements. Amend it, and new
buildings will spring up in many places.
and old ones will be repaired, the repair
ing of which is not even thought of now.