The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-05
A FIGHT FOR PRIVILEGES
ENTERPRISE AND ELECTRIC RAIL
WAYS WANT SANE STREETS.

w nat IL W III 10 anu EuCS On ACJlOD
for Two Weeks South Broad and
Wheaton Streets the Bone of Conten-
ton - Other Matters Before the
Council
The city council held an unusually hong
session last night 1t was nearly midnight
before an adjournment was reached. There
we're but few spectators present, and the
meeting was quite contrast with that of
last Wednesday night. when the long room
was overcrowded with people attracted by
desire to see what was done about the
Sunday ordinances.
A caucus Of an hour and half was held
before Mayor McDonough and ten aldermen
entered the council chamber. Shortly after
the opening of the session Mayor Melon
ough became indisposed and had to go
home. Chairman Mills occupied the chair
for the remainder of the session.
The report of the special committee on
railroads on the amended petition Of the
Enterprise Street Railroad Company was
what caused the prolonged session. The
railroad asked TO run on Water street, from
River street south to Mill street, east on
Mill TO Farm street. south on Farm TO VIII
liam street, up William to West Broad
street. across West Broad to South Broad
street, up South Broad on both sides to
Wheaton street and up Wheaton.
THE COMMITTEES REPORT.
The report Of the committee was not in
the shape Of a recommendation, but simply
stated that the committee saw no obiection
to the use of the streets by the railroad,
thereby throwing all The responsibility on
the council
Alderman Cam objected to wording of
the report, stating that it should have been
that the committee saw no objection to the
use of the streets asked for, except that
portion OF Wheaton street from its in
tersection with Liberty to Bilbo
canal. He said the committee did not
feei disposed to take the responsibility of
giving the rigAt to use that street, and left
the matter to council for decision.
Alderman Carson objected to the word
ing up Wheaton street ~ as it did not
specify what distance was wanted
mr.. sTILLwELL HEARD.
MIR. w. B. Stillwell, president OF the
Enterprise company, was allowed to ad-
dress the council He said that the word
up" was not material, as the original
petition specified the portions of the street.
wanted. The Enterprise company intended
to build ON Wheaton street as far as Waters
road, out Waters road to Twelfth street
and thence to Isle of Hope.
Alderman Carson thought the matter
should not be hurried. In the first place,
this petition of the Enterprise company had
never boen before council, it being an
amendment to the original, ami only consid-
cred by the committee In the second
place. another railroad now in actual course
OF construction was advertising for the
same streets as the Enterprise company
wanted, and it should be given some con-
sideration.
Mr. Stillwell, in answer to Alderman
Carson, said that the route asked for had
been before the chairman of the committee
Tor six weeks He was told that it was all
right, aud when the Enterprise company
got ready TO put in its petition the council
would hE things to suit. If. there was
any objection to using electricity
on Wheaton street, Mr.. StillweIl
said his company would agree to use any
motive power, horse or otherwise. which
council might decide upon The only reason
for waiting both sides of South Broad
street was to have double track railroad.
MR.. COLLINS CLAIM.
j. 8. Collins, president of the Savannah
Electric Railway Company, who was pres
emit, on behalf Of his road said that his COM
pany wanted to use Wheaton street, aud is
now advertising, as required by law, for four
weeks Hc did not object 10 che Enterprise
company using the same streets, aud only |
wanted the same rights and privileges |
accorded to other corporations. Mr.. Col |
Inns did not see how the petition of the |
Enterprise could be granted, however, az
the company had not complied with the |
law in regard to advertising.
MIR. Stillwel took exceptions TO Mr.. Col |
Inns remarks about the Enterprise not hav>
Ing rlght to have its petitions granted. |
The Enterprise, he said, had its petition |
before council and did all the necessary |
advertising before Mr.. Collins road ever |
thought of starting.
Mr.. Collins in reply stated that his road |
ne for ~
Stillwell's wanted the city Of Savannah.
Alderman OBrien wanted to have il m |
derstood that if a track was to be put on |
Wheaton street both roads should have its |
USE
A QUESTION FOR THE ROADS.
Mr. Collins called the attention of the |
council to the fact that if it granted the |
petition Of the Enterprise company in its |
present shape the matter Of both roads |
using the same track would be a question
between the roads and not council
Alderman Carson was In favor of the En-
terprise paying for its franchises, as the
other street railroads had doEe, The Belt
Line a;. he SAID, has given the
privileges granted to it, and the road
represented by Mr.. Collins had given the
city most valuable property In the southern
portion of the city for it's franchise. Ho
thought there might be chance OF widen
ING wheaton street III the disputed portions.
and he believed in making the Enterprise
company pey its portion. The alderman,
with this object in view, moved that the
matter be referred TO the COMMITTEES On
opening streets.
WHEATON STREET The TROUBLE
Col. ]. II. Estill stated that as he was In.
terested in the road he would like to reply
to Alderman Carson. He said that it an
peared as If the alderman did not want 30
grant the petition of the Enterprise Com
pany. No one knew better than Alderman
Carson, Col. Estill thought, that Wheaton
street could not be widened at the point in
question. The Savannah, Florida and
Western Railway Company owned one side
OF the strest and the estate of Jones the
other, and no sale could be effected, 1t
might be twenty-five years before the street
could be widened, if at all.
Alderman Carson insisted that the meet
ing had 20 authority to consider the petit
ton at all, as it never had been before il at
previous meeting.
Alderman Bailey wanted to give the
franchise 20 all streets asked for and in
Quired of Judge Adams, who was acting
city attorney, whether or not it was legal
to put in an amended petition to a commit
tee without presenting it to council after