Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-23

the different plats of the new addition
south of Anderson street, has decided In
favor OF the one, with a few changes,
adopted by the Council two years ago.
The changes are not very important. The
same number OF streets, running north
and south, are retained, but there is no
provision for lanes. The owners Of land,
however, if they want lanes may open
them on their own account. This is a
slight concession to those who own the
greater part Of the new addition, and will
result in saving very considerable sum
to the city. Notwithstanding this cOnces-
sion, however, there is no doubt that the
plan is not what is wanted by those who
own the greater part Of the property, and
not the one that is calculated 10 promote
the best interests Of the city.
In view Of the fact that the action Of
the Council, if it approves the report Of
the committee, will probably be final and
forever settle the question Of the plan
upon which the new addition will be
built, the greatest care ought to be taken
not TO make a mistake. The interests of
few, in comparison with the interests of
the whole city, should not be permitted to
weigh a feathers weight. The fact that
a citizen who lives or does business on
Bay, Broughton or other street is inter-
ested in the new addition as well as the
owner Of property there, should not be
overlooked.
1t will not be denied, probably, that
this Is an expensive city to keep well pO-
Iced and in q good sanitary condition.
A n MI fu
years, collected annually for municipal
purposes, and yet there is nothing to
show for it except five paved streets and
one public building-the police barracks.
The question is frequently asked: What
has become of the immense amount OF
money that has been collected from the
peopleS The answer is that it has been
spent in keeping up large police force,
made necessary by the immense number
OF streets and lanes which the city is re-
quired 10 guard, and in trying to keep in
presentable condition over seventy
miles of sandy streets and forty miles of
lanes.
In view Of the many Objectionable
features which the plan OF the city has,
the Council ought to hesitate long time
before extending it to the rev addition.
Indeed, it is not perhaps too much to say
that to extend this plan to the new addi-
ton would be to place a burden upon it
that would stunt the city's growth.
II the Council will take the trouble to
inquire about neighboring cities it will
lind that in Atlanta, Augusta and Macon
there are large blocks, which permit Of
of handsome residences.
1t seems to be understood that two
thirds of the Councilmen are In favor of
plan which calls for larger blocks and
fewer streets than the plan of the city
proper. They favor the plan recon-
mended by the Hamilton, rather than that
by the Thomas committee. 1t is reported
that the reason they do not insist upon
the adoption Of the plan they favor is that
they have been informed that to abandon
the plan that was originally adopted would
be to involve the city in expensive litiga-
ton. If they are Influenced by information
OF that kind little inquiry will show them
that it is incorrect. The truth Is,
the Thomas plan never got beyond
being plan on paper, and the city never
had any right to the streets provided for
in that plan; hence it could make no reg
ulations with regard TO them or exercise
any control over them. The land covered
By the proposed streets OF the Thomas
plan is private property. The square
known as the Thomas square in the
Thomas plan cannot, doubtless, be dis
turbed, but there is nothing that protects
the streets. The square is the property
of the city, and the city, therefore, had a
right to dedicate it to public purposes.
Briefly stated, the situation is this:
With the exception of few interested
parties the entire city is anxious TO have
the Hamilton plan adopted. Eight OF the
twelve Councilmen are in favor of the
Hamilton plan. or the four who are OPP
posed to it, one doesn't want to adopt any
plan until eight years hence, when prop
erty in the new addition will be taxable;
and another prefers to let property owners
build on lines to suit themselves, so that
eventually the city will get the streets for
nothing.
Is not the duty of the Council plainp
Why should the eight members hesitate
to do what they know 10 be right, particu-
larly when they are supported by an al
most unanimous public sentiment, and
when only two OF the other four Council
men object to the plan favored by themg
If the eight permit the opportunity to pass
10 insure the building up OF a handsome
addition south of Anderson street they
will never cease TO regret it, and will al
ways be blamed for their weakness. To
hesitate is to acknowledge that they have
less confidence in their own judgments
than In the judgments OF those who OPP
pose them.
In reply to those who claim that the
plan OF many streets and small blocks lie
the best that can be adopted it may be
said that that idea was virtually aban-
doned years ago when that part OF the
city south OF CASTOR street WAS laid of.
At that time a plan providing for fewer
streets, larger blocks, and scarcely any
lanes was inaugurated. The tendency IN
all new cities is 10 allow more space for
dwellings. The result Of permitting
suburbs 70 be laid out to SUIT the ideas OF
immediate holders OF property can be
seen in those parts of this city known as
Uohorfavfiia and CurrVfowu