The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-19
The citv's Growth obstructsd.


What is the reason the city council doesn't
| open the streets leading southwark beyond
Anderson stresti For long time those
who own building lots il the southern addi-
tons to the city, and who want TO i'm prove
them have been asking the council to open
! Bull, Whita Ser, Blrnard. jefferson, Mont
eOmery ami otaer streets 50 that improve
ments could be made along the line Of the n,
but thus far they have askei in vain. Does
not the council know that By its inactivity
it is hindering the growth OF the cityi
The ende lcy of the city is TO extend
southwark, but people find little encourage
ment to build n the southern additions be
cause the streets leading to them are virtu-
ally closed. Bull street is DISTRACTED by
toll gate, Whitaker street is only right Of
way for a street railroad, Barnard street is
opened only wide enough for a cart to get
through, jefferson street has a high fence
across it, and Montgomery and West Broad
streets are obstructed by houses. On the
east side of Bull street several streets are
open for short distances. Their further
extension, however, IS prevented by the
curve Of the Savannah, Florida and West
ern railroad track.
This is certainly an inexcusable condition
Of affairs Does the council purpose TO per-
nit the foregoing streets to remaia clofed
indefinitely, thus virtually combining the
city within its present hmitsi IL it does
not, why is it so Indifferent about opening
themi Does it not know that they will
have TO be opened some time, and that the
longer it waits the greater the cost to the
city OF opening them will be! Why not
take hold of this matter with that pirit of
progress and determination which the situa-
ton demands. Now that the people are
willing, and even anxious, to build homes,
why not open the way for them to do 500
1t is the duty of the council to promote
the prosperity of the city in every possible
way. Can it be said that 1t is doing its
whole duty while it takes no step whatever
toward removing the most serious obstruc-
tons to the city's growth?
1t has been said that there is quite strong
sentiment against opening any streets at
the expense Of the city. Who makes this
sentiments Those who have houses to rent
and who expect to get better rents in pro-
portion as the demand for houses increases?
Already there has been a very marked ad-
vance in rents owing to the scarcity of houses.
Does not the council understand that
high rents will drive people away from
here, and keep others away who may be
thinking of comingl What is wanted is an
active, aggressive policy with respect to
street opening. Let the southern additions
be given all the advantages that can be ex-
tended to them so that the building of resi-
dences there will be pushed vigorously.
Perhaps some of our citizens remember
when the streets east of the park extension
were blocked and the site of some OF the
finest residences in that locality was an
undrained swamp The late DR.. Waring, a
most energetic citizen, and others led
the movement to open the streets
and drain the swamp. What was
the result? AS soon as the streets were
opened there was at once wonderful activity
in building, and where not many years ago
there were shantles, vacant lands, and a
swamp, there is now one Of the most attrac-
tive portions Of the city. The policy in
sisted upon by DR.. Warning increased the
taxable property hundreds of thousands of
dollars
Let the council think Of this matter of
opening the streets seriously. The pros
perity Of the city Is involved in it. It may
cost the city something, but the money
thus spent will be returned in the shape of
taxes in a very little time.