The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-10
AFTER OYSTER LANDS.
THE ISSUE BEFoRs THE COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS.

Company The Commissioners to
Hold q Special Meeting to Consider
the AppHoations-The Use of the
Louisville and Augusta Roads for
Railroad Purposes Referred - q
Future Meeting of the Commits
sioners.
The December meeting of the county
most interesting held for many months,
and was probably more largely attended by
spectators than any for several years.
The attendance was explained by the i'm
portant questions to be brought before the
board. There were representatives Of rail
roads wanting rights of way over public
roads and road commissioners to protest
against them, and Osmlsr Oyster Company
representatives, seeking leases to oyster
lands under the new law and opponents to
file objections, and representatives Of other
schemes. Five members of the bar, besides
County Attorney Saussy, were present,
looking after interests of clients.
The full board, Chairman Walker and
Commissioners Read, Meinhard, Estill and
Smart, was present.
AFTER THE OYSTER LEASES.
When Chairman Walker called the oyster
leases from the docket the representatives
of the companies and their opponents pulled
themselves together for what they ex-
pected to be lively tilt. but Commissioner
Estill disappointed and surprised them by
moving that all applications for leases
be referred to the county attorney
for examination, to be reported upon at a
special meeting. Before the motion was
acted upon r. r. Richards, Esq, stated
that he had several caveats to fiji against
leases, and desired to have them considered
at the same time. Commissioner Estill In
corporaeed Mr.. Richards request in his mo-
tion and 1t was passed. Some of the appli-
cants for leases had come with voluminous
documents aud maps to back their claims,
and looked little annoyed at not being able
to treat the board to a full and complete exe
PLANTATION Of why the leases sought for
should be granted.
DIR. FALLIGANT READY.
DIR. Fauigant was on hand, and If the
question had come up he would probably
have had something spicy to
say, judging from the contents of q
communication which be presented to
the commissioners and which was received
as information. In the letter he called the
attention of the board to the notice against
trespass on certain lands, published by him
in the MORNING NEWS of Oct. 90, and also
to certain claims as to the number of feet
he has right TO below low water mark.
DR.. Falligant also called the attention Of
the board to his article on the "Rape of the
Coast of Georgia" copy Of which ne in
closed and asked to be placed on file In
the concluding portion Of his letter he
stated that the recent oyster act Of the legiS-
lature was consummated under the beguil-
ment OF oyster pirates.
THE WEST END RAILROAD.
The consideration Of the protest of the
road commissioners against she use OF the
Louisville and Augusta roads by the Sub
urban and West End railroad created con-
siderable discussion oil around Some time
ago the board granted the use of the two
roads to the railroad company under GER
tain conditions, which were acct pied, buu
before conhrmatory action was taken the
road commissioners filed protest.
s. l.. Lazaron, ESQ.,, represented the Sub
urban aud West End and made an appeal
against taking away the privileges which
had already been granted and accepted nv
the railroad under the conditions prescribed
by the commissioners. Mr.. Lazaron cited
the fact that railroads had developed
and built up South and East Sayan-
nah and it would be an act
OF injustice, he said, to discriminate against
West Savannah. 1t should be accorded the
same privileges as other portions of Savan-
nah. The city is growing and won't be con-
fined by the Ogeeohee canal. There is room
for growth in West Savannah, he said, and
railroad Is wanted to develop it.
WORD WITH MR.. BoURoUIN.
Mr.. Lazaron said be considered IL an in
justice to the people for the road commits
sioners to oppose the Improvement 1t looks
as II they were trying to put obstacles in the
way of progress Then turning to MIR.
Bourquin, he said: 1--WE all know his pe-
culiarities, and with all due respect to him.
say he is fighting the best interests Of his
CITY,"
Mr.. Bourquin, in replying, said he fled
the protest and objected to the use of the
Augusta and Louisville roads in behalf of
the travelling pubic. The roads are only
thirty feet wide, and a railroad would take
up at least half leaving but fifteen feet for
people travelling in wagons buggies. etc.
The railroad, he said, would be q nuisance.
and it is favored by only two persons liy.
ing on the road. The legislature, Mr. Bour-
| quin said, exceeded it's authority In grant,
| ing the use of the road in question to the
Suburban and West End company. He
| declared the act unconstitutional.
QUESTION OF JURISDICTION
The state has no jurisdiction, he said, be-
| cause the roads were private property, do
mated by abutting property owners for
their own accommodation. The chairman
Of the road commissioners quoted
law ON roads freely without
referring to the Code, and
claimed that decisions of the late Judge
Charlton and the supreme court sustained
his position.
Mr.. Lazaron said he was glad Mr.. Bour-
quin had raised the point that the AUDITING
property owners had donated the land for
the roads, because it is the desire Of nearly
| every one of them that the Suburban and
West End be built. He ridiculed the idea
that the roads were beyond the jurisdiction
Of the state and county commissioners.
Messrs. Haskell and Newton, owners of
property along the road above the Smile
post, stated that the people living in their
vicinity are opposed TO a railroad being
constructed on the Louisville and Augusta
roads, because there wouldn't bs sufficient
room left to drive.
COMMISSIONER MEINHARD's POSITION.
Commissioner Meinhard didn't believe in
going back on previous action. The board
had already granted the Suburban and
| West End use of the roads, and il should
stand by its own action.
Commissioner Estll said he is in favor of
developing the country around Savannah
as much as possible and he believed rail-
roads accomplished that end. He would like.
though, to fiud out how the Suburban and
West Eud is to be constructed, whether In
the middle OF the road or on one side, He
had noticed in other cities that roads going