The morning news., 1891-05-30
TRADED FOR A NEW SITE.
THE WATER wOBKS TO BE WEST
OF THE sPRINGFIELD CANAL

-
The Property Upon Which the Pres
sent deep Wells Are Sunk to be
Exchanged for a Location Farther
Out-The City Council Has a Lively
Time Authorizing the Change of
Site.
The city council wrangle6 for an hour
and a half yesterday afternoon over trade
Of Springfield plantation property for
water works site. Only seven members of
the board were at the meeting, Aldermen
Cam, Meldrim, Harris, Bailey, Carson,
O'Brien and Mcclure. Alderman Bailey
asked to be excused from voting, as he was
interested in the trade when the proposition
was first made.
Alderman Cam, chairman OF the COM
mittee on water, offered a resolution en-
powerlng the committee to exchange the
city lot first decided upoa for the water
works for portions of lots Nos. 81, 56 and
SO, west Of the Springfield canal, the city
reserving the right TO cut streets through
the former lot, so as to take In the artesian
wells, and also to widen Gwinnstt street
and cut several lanes.
In Offering the resolutions Alderman
Cam said that while the city lot was larger
In area than the others it was not SO well
suited for getting supply Of water.
OPPOSED TO GIVING IL AoREs FOR 9.
Alderman Meldrim opposed the resolu-
tion, not because he considered the judg-
ment of the water committee wrong as 60
the advantages to be derived for water
works plant, but because he was opposed on
business principles to giving up IN the aggre-
gate twelve acres for nine acres of what Is
aY aaA nia hole E1a i1R1f 70 ho
understood as an obstructionist to getting
an increased water supply, but on guess
tion Of a value he had to dissent from the
resolution and would cali for the yeas and
nays. He was willing TO have appraisers
appointed and have them value the property
and pay for It. II the city property was
worth more than the other tract let the diff
ference be paid by the owner, Mr.. Sheftall,
and vice versa IL ID proved otherwise.
AN ADVANTAGEOUS TRADE.
Alderman Cam replied to Alderman
Msldrin. He said the water committee had
thoroughly investigated the values of the
respective pieces of land, and had unani-
mously decided that the exchange would be
most advantageous to the CITY. Alderman
Meldrim's objection was that the Sheftall
tract had been excavated for clay. This
was just where the city would be benefited
considerably. as they would not have to pay
for the excavations for erecting the build
| ings. While it is true that the city tract
has not been ertificially excavated, Alder
man Cam said, nature has done its work.
There is q deep gully through the center,
which makes 1t much less valuable for the
citys purpose than the nine~acre tract.
THE WATER COMMITTEES POSITION.
The alderman did not care to have the
water committee placed in the light of Civ
ing away twelve acres OF city property
| for nine acres. Alderman Meldrim is not
willing to accept the appraisement of the
water committee. which entirely repre-
sented the city, but he Is willing to abide by
| q board of appraisers, some of whom neces-
sarily must be friendly to the party who
owns the tract.
| Alderman Mcclure said he had been over
the grounds and considered the city tract
| more valuable than the other, and, thei g.
| fore, believed Alderman Meldrim's position
was right and proper.
| Alderman Meldrim offered an amendment
to the resolution that the city appoint two
appraisers, Mr. Shefftsll two appraisers, the
four TO select a fifth, and thus secure a
valuation of both tracts. 1t was lost.
| Alderman Mcclure offered an amendment
that instead of making @ trade the city pur.
chase whatever land ID needed for water
works. This amendment was also lost.
THE TRADE AUTHORIZED.
| The question on the resolution was then
called for, and it was adopted.
Alderman Meldrim insisted on the yeas
and nays, with the following result:
Yeas-Aldermen Cam, Harris, Carson
and O'Brien.
| Nays-Aldermen Meldrim and Mcclure.
I The Sheftall tract originally belonged to
the Savannah Brick Manufacturing Com.
pany, which offered to trade some time age
with the city. Since then an option has
been given to Solomon Sheftall, which he
closed several days ago. 1t is much better
suited for the Eew water works than the
city lot. as the stratum of earth is better for
artesisn wells.