The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-31
TO BUY MORE APPARATUS
THE CITY TO INVEST IN A CHEM
ICAL FIRE ENGINE.

Council Passes an ordnance Re
quiring Spark Arresters to be Put
on the Smoke Stacks of Hosting
Engines - The Electric Light Com
panies' Letters to the City The
Ground-Rent Property Question.
The city council last night authorized the
fire committee to purchase an aerial truck
and a chemical engine, and it passed an
ordinance compelling masters of vessels to
put spark arresters on the smoke-stacks of
their hosting engines.
No action was taken on the electric light
bids received al the last meeting, but a
new feature in the competition of the two
bidders was developed by communication
from Capt. Henry Blum, president of the
Mutual Electric Light Company, in which
he informed the council that the company
sis prepared to submit new estimate for
lighting the streets of Savannah more
favorable to the city than any estimate
heretofore made public"
This was replied to by Mr.. S. p Hamil-
ton. president of the Brush Electric Light
aud Power Company. In his reply Mr.
Hamilton said: sit does not seem Just to a
bidder in good faith coming forward in
strict accordance with the requirements of
the city, and adhering to the form and
practice prescribed and heretofore OBJ
served, that higher bidder, of which the
proposed propositionfo for new estimate is an
admission, should, after ascertaining the
bid of competitor, submit new and diff
ferent bid. After new t6iis were made the
same process might be repeated, until the
practical result would be sale to the lowest
bidder. The city reserves the right to re-
ject all bids, but this right is not exercised
where a BID is made in good faith and is
sufficiently low to warrant and deserve &C
ceptance.n
The two documents were received for in
formation.
THE CITY'S EXEMPT PROPERTY.
CITY Treasurer Hardee presented a
lengthy report of forty pages, showing the
property in the city Of Savannah exempt
from taxation, which was received for in-
formation, and the following resolution, by
Alderman Falligant was adopted:
RESOLVED, That the list of real estate reported
by tbs city treasurer as not assessed for taxes
be referred to the corporation attorney for his
opinion as to what properties or parts of prop
critics on said list are exempt from municipal
taxation under the constitution of this state;
and more especially in reference to that class of
properties commonly designated as ground
rent lots, to ascertain whether the
deeds to the same are deeds Of lease or
deeds in fee; whether the title thereto vests in
whole or in part In the city, or in the purcha er;
whether the city has any right, title or interest
of any kind or character therein excepting the
right of re-entry to recover the balance of pur-
chase money due thereon, with the interest;
whether the payment of said interest consti-
tutes rent; and whether said lots are lawfully
exempted in whole from municipal taxation.
The report referred to shows that there
are 81 ground-rent lots not assessed for
city taxation. There are 43 church lots
exempt, board of education and schools 80
lots, Savanna, Florida and Western rail-
way IL lots Woman's Home Missionary So
ciety 10, armory lots z. government prop
erty lots, Sisters of Mercy lots, Orphans
Home lots, Georgia Historical Society 4
lots, engine houses lots Savannah Female
Asylum 8 lots, Orphan Asylum 2, old jail
lots 2, Abrahams Home lots, St. Joseph's
Inhrmary 2 lots, aud the following build
ings and ground: Police barracks. city
pound, county jail, old cemetery, Telfair
Hospital, Savannah Hospital, parsonage Of
Trinity church, Home for the Friendless,
city dispensary and the court house.
THE SESSIONS ROUTINE WORK.
A great deal of the work of council was
routine, and there were no stirring Incl
dents which sometimes lend an interest to
the proceedings.
The petition of George w. Parish to
erect bay window to his house. encroach-
ing overhead ON the sidewalk was dis
allowed. The corporation attorney decided
that it would be a technical encroachment,
that the city has no power legally to grant
an encroachmept beyond property lines in
street or lane without an act of the legisla-
ture authorizing it, an ordinance to the
contrary Notwithstanding, and il the ordi-
nance should be tested it will prove invalid.
For this reason a resolution of Alderman
Falligant to permit bay windows to en-
croach over the streets il the encroachment
is at least seven feet above the sidewalk and
does not obstruct travel, was lost.
The petition Of the master Of the steam
ship Cairngorm, for reimbursement for
expenses incurred in a second return from
quarantine, was reported upon adversely.
John McAleer petitioned for his appoint
nent as fire marshal, but no action was
taken.
w. r. Pritchard's resignation as port
warden, owing to injuries incapacitating
him for service, v as accepted.
The petition of Wilcox & Gibbs for per-
mission to construct tire-proof and water
proof vault, 10xS4 feet, in front of their
store or Bay street was not acted upon, as,
when asked for his opinion, Corporation
Attorney Adams said it would be tech
meal encroacnment.
The Chatham Real Estate Company made
a tender OF ground to open Price street,
provided the city will ill up its ditch, and
extend its sewer on Price to Sixth street
1Ac OdSpeFNllAS ldDu Auu 1uDFOVeQlenJ
Company petitioned for dhe opening and
exte sion of Jasper avenue.
DR.. Norton's petition that his claim for
medical services rendered Fireman Strobher
be allowed was supported by little speech
by the doctor, and the matter was referred
to the committee of the whole.
MUST HAVE SPARK ARREsTERs.
An ordinance was passe requiring mas
tiers of vessels to put spark arresters on the
smoke stacks of donkey engines, or any
other engines used for hosting cotton.
The ordinance provides that on tine arrival
of steamer in port the harbor master
shall notify the master of the vessel
of the enactment of the ordinance,
and il its provisions are not
complied with within forty-eight hours,
upon conviction in the police court of a
violation of the ordinance, the master
offending shall be liza lie to fine of not to
exceed 500 or thirty days Imprisonment,
or both in the discretion Of the mayor. An
effort was made to extend the ordinance to.
compel tugs to use spark arresters, but it
met with opposition and was not pressed.
Alderman Cam called attention to the
violations of the ordinance in Tightening
cotton without having the bales covered
with tarpaulin, and the mayor explained
that the Tow Boat Company were using all
they had in stock, and had sent ON an
order for a sutficis Il supply with a view Of
nj Oh rrrttfl @l,e