The morning news., 1889-04-25
THE CITY's SOUTHERN EXTENSION
a Proposition to Issue Bonds to Give
Ii IhA Pr-iz-llnr-as Il Naads

proposition to Issue Bonds to Give
1t the Privileges 1t Needs.
Editor Morning Nescs: Under an act ex-
tending the corporate limits of the city of
Savannah, none of the real estate lying
south OF Anderson street and west of East
Broad can be taxed by the city until Jan.
l, 1884, or over AZ years from now. In
the meantime the city is taxing all personal
property within the above limits:
the value of the property thus exempted
amounts to upward of 81, 500, ,000 Property in
the southern limits of the city is rapidly in
creasing in value and the ewes of all citl-
zens are becoming opened to it's rapidly in
creasing values. By the time the right of tax
alton will accrue to the city the property will
probably be worth upward of S., 900, ,000
These figures are not strained, and their sig
niticance should be earnestly considered by
al who have faith in the future of Savannah.
What is the council going to do about the
southern extensione Are the members of
that body asleep to what is going on? If
not, they should give attention to legisla-
tlon looking to Savannah's future growth.
The council Of 1887 exhibited its wisdom
in buying the Dillon tract, by which trans
action the city acquired the land for new
streets without expense and sold only q
part Of the remainder of the land at large
profit. As to the rest OF the streets, the
land that could have been bought and laid
out by the city for a mere song
In 1888 (when the city limits were
last extended, have now acquired
some value, and by 1894 will prove costly.
The city is committed to this place both by
its maps and its ordinances aad will be
obliged to buy the streets later on: yet
though they are daily enhancing in value
our council is asleep to the future and APP
pears to be leaving the figures for future
council to reckon, and tax payers to foot
the reckoning. Although the southern ex-
tension is part of Savannah by its
laws and official maps, although
the personal property of the residents
city, although citizens have invested aud
improved, and covered it with residences,
yet the city government has practically ,ig-
nored it. Neither streets, a water supply,
electric lights nor police protection are
given it. Councils very inaction has been
clog and an incubus. What the southern
extension has already become without these
advantages, shows what a leap of progress
Savannah would take in this direction if
| they were accorded to it.
hold upon the broadest principle of
public interest 1t is the duty of couu-
Gil to take the steps hereinafter in
dicated, and l suggest for it and
the peoples serious consideration, this
proposition:
bonds to the extent of 81, 100000. | can see
no reason to doubt their being placed at par
in reasonable time. This would entail an
annual interest expense of $4,000, which
could easily be provided for in the next CITY
budget. Consider this, if you will, sec
tional question, the section will pay for
itself and retire its bonds in due time With
81 200, 900 you can open up streets, give it a
water system, an electric light system and
police protection.
The streets, | have shown, can be bought
more economically now than hereafter; a
water supply, as has been demonstrated by
the present city water system, would prove
a source Of income and not an expense, it
would more than pay for itself Tbs south
ern extension is already a source Of income
to the city through licenses, tax on personal
property and specific tax. Make these in
ternal improvements, and they will bring a
great and Immediate increase of revenue to
the treasury from these subjects Of taxa
tion.
As to the increase in buildings, and i'm
provements, and in the value OF real estate
generally that will result, it will be some
thing wonderful, indeed not short of s., ,0CO.-
| 600 to Sc 100000. The right to tax real
| estate will accrue Jan. l, 1894 In the
thirty years which the bonds would run
this section would more than paw the inter-
est and retire, by sinking fund, a large
amount OF bneSe DOSiQs. ASIQo from UneSe
considerations you will show the country
| that Savannah has confidence in itself and
in its own future. Your own citizens will
not alone act in this confidence, but both
population and investments will see this
from afar and conse and locate within your
borders.
Mr.. Flagler' sinYestments in st. Augustine
have taught what wonders the pouring out
of capital githln its borders can do to ami
mate q city of fossils. The value Of the
rest Of the city has swelled up to equal his
millions. l believe that the coarse have
outlined would make Savannah spring for
ward with mighty stride. The city's en-
ergies would be unlocked and
loosed upon itself Buildings and
residences would rise as if by magic and ac-
tlvity would prevail in the trades and react
in every direction. What we have always
needed in Savannah is boldness, backbone
over a spirit of progress, and we want
council to take time by the forelock and to
anticipate the future by a course consist
ent, and at the same time with sound tinan-
cial management and the prosperity OF all
It's citizens. PROGRESS.