The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-13
TRACKS OR NO TRACKS
THE CITY COUNCIL TO SETTLE THE
QUESTION TO-NIGaT.

as an Electric Line-The Probability
of the Coast Line Being Equipped.
The double tracking OF Abercorn streets
squares by the City and Suburban railway
will be finally disposed of at to-night's
meeting Of the city council. Mr.. Carson,
who is the leader of the aldermen IN favor
Of putting in the double tracks stated his
position plainly 70 the MORNING News yes
terday.
"On Aug. IA, 1890" said be, "the council
gave permission to the Savannah Street and
Rural Resort railroad. better known as the
Belt Line, TO construct a street railroad on
Barnard street from Bay to Anderson
street, with TIE privilege OF running
through Telfair place, Orleans, Pulaski and
Chatham squares. 1T the same meeting it
gave the privilege Of running
through Reynolds and Warren squares
TO the Electric Railway Company. The
petitions asking for these franchises were
referred to a special committee and its re-
port, recommending the granting Of the
routes asked for upon certain conditions,
was signed by Aldermen Meyers, Harmon,
Bailer and Carson.
"At this meeting the right to run through
six o. squares was given. which included
paralleling track already laid through
Tefair place and Orleans squares. The al
dermen present we're Messrs. Myers, Falli-
CANT, Bailey, Harmon, Harris, Halnes,
McDonough. Nichols, Reid and Carson.
The vote seems 10 have been unanimous,
none in the negative being on record.
PUBLIC CONVENIENCE.
II have always regarded street railways
said Alderman Carson, "of great benefit to
the public at large as well as to those pros
noting the enterprise. Rapid transit
& 80, 81
on tile outskirts of the city in better house
than he could afford in the more densely
populated districts, and less time is
lost going 10 and fro than
under the old mule poWer regime. There
fore, since | have been in council | have
favored every reasonable proposition having
in view the extension of street railway
service or the Improvement of those already
in existence.
II am not in love with the City and
Suburban but think Its request reason
able one, aud the proposed. change one
beneficial to the public at large-aud Of
course the raiir. ad company incident
ally. | think it much less
Objectionable TO double track the
squares ON Abercorn street, than to run
around them or To run around outside OF
them as has been suggested. In the latter
case but little OF the square would be left
have b be removed and it would be dam
geraus to pedestrians AMI school childreI,
especially s. t. the latter In Calhoun
square.
PROPERTY OWNERS OBJECTIONS.
"As TO the objections of Towners Of prop
erty bordering on the squares, said Alder
man Carson, II have talked with several
and they are unanimous in saying If it is to
be through OF around the squares, let it he
through. II permission is not given aud
the 70 is compelled to go around instead
OF through the squares, q person walking
from Bay 20 CASTOR street would have no
less than eight tracks to cross. II
the road is permitted to 60 through
the squares, all this Is obvi-
eted. favor giving the road
permission to run through the squares, be-
cause, IN my opinion, it is less dangerous.
The tracks would occupy less space. Two
tracks with grass growing between the rails
are not as Unsightly as one horse beaten
path. Permission has been given 10 other
roads TO run track through squares
where one WIS already laid, and the major
ity of the present members Of council, in
GLIDING the mayor, appear to have voted
for it. do not think the popularity or
unpopularity of the owners of the road
should influence action in the NATTER
PUSHING THE ELECTRIC WORK.
President Johnston is not allowing
the refusal of council to allow him
to double track the squares to de-
lay the work Of equipping the road with
electricity any more then possible.
He has had a force OF $50 men at work
for month now laying track, bonding the
rails and erecting poles, aud this work is
now more than half complete
The purpose is to complete all work re-
curing the upturning Of the soil before
May l, 50 as to avoid trouble on acc )unt of
the city ordinance against upturning the
soil during the summer months. The pros
pect is that this work will be- completed by
May with the exception Of double track
ing the squares.
-Four miles of new steel rail, 45.pound,
have been laid. replacing the old 30-pound
rail. The new rails have been laid on
Liberty, West Broad and Anderson streets
and the Ogeechee road. The fanRe rails on
Abercorn and Whitaker streets will be re-
tanned for the present. having been laid only
a few years ago and only slightly worn.
About four miles of poles have also been
erected. The poles are Of black cypress.
with a green coat OF paint, and Capt.
Johnston guar lntees them 20 last longer
than any pole in the city used for the sans
purpose.
A TRIP OVER THE LINE.
Capt Johnston went over the line yester-
day with a MORNING News reporter and
explained the work in progress.
The work Of bonding the rails is nearly
complete. By bonding is meant the con-
meeting Of the rails By wire, so as 10 afford
a continuous conductor for the return cur
rent. Instead Of having a continuous un-
derground wire between the tracks, con-
Meeting with the rails, as is the case with
the Belt Line and the Electric Railway
Company, the connection between the ad-
Joining OF contiguous rails is completed by
bonding or connecting the two rails with a
wire fastened into eacn rail. This method,
IL Is said, has been found TO be fully
satisfactory, and saves the trouble
OF tearing up the whole roadbed TO lay the
underground wire, a great saving, espe-
cially on the paved streets
A different pole is being erected on Lib
erty street from those in use on the Other
streets, and does away with the objection X
unsightly poles. 1t is large yellow pin,
pole, twenty-eigh t feet in length and twenty
two feet above the ground. eight inche
across at the butt and tapering 10 fou
inches at the top, with the sides squared aut
the edges of the sides scalIoped off givinI
it an octagonal appearance. Brackets pro
Jectlng from these poles will support tn
overhead wires.
DIAGRAM FOR THE COUNCIL
A plan has been prepared to be submitted
TO council tonight showing the disadvan
tages OF the idea proposed of CARRYING tn,
double tracks around the squares one tract
on each side, instead of through them,
is shown that with the narrow road wa,
around the squares, il the tracks are Iajc