The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-22
One OF savannah,s Needs

One thing that Savannah and Chatham
county need is a first-class public road.
Savannah has many attractions-as many.
perhaps, as any other city Of the same class
In the country-but she is lacking in good
public roads to the different parts
of the county. One flrst.class public road,
however, would lead to the building OF
others, and after the first one was built it
| would not be long before others would be.
The MORNING NEWS has repeatedly sng-
eested the ndvisability of paying more at
tention to road building In the county, aud
has succeeded In creating a strong sentiment
in that direction. An airline road to
! Isle Of Hope has been talked Of for some
time and until within the last week or two
the prospects that the road would be built
were quite promising, but the outlook for It
now Ia far from favorable. for the reason
that there is a disposition to demand too
much for the rights of way, and also that
it would cost more than the county COM
missioners are willing to appropriate for it
at this time.
The county commissioners are now think
Ing very favorably of the proposition to
complete what is known as the Meridian
road. This road is projected on line due
south from the city exchange, beginning at
or near the junction OF Anderson street and
the Savannah, Florida and Vest
ern railway track. and running
almost through the center of the tract of
land of 300 acres that is owned by the
county. The road is already partly built
through that land.
From the proper points of divergence
roads could easily be built from this road to
Isle of Hope, Beaulieu, Montgomery,
Bethesda. Pembroke, Bonabella and other
places on the salts. The main line aud its
branches would open up the land adjacent
to them and make it highly desirable for
farming purposes. Indeed, such a system
Of good highways would be Of the greatest
benefit to Savannah. 1t would certainly
contribute greatly to her prosperity.
In establishing this system Of roads ad-
vantage would be taken of all available ex-
isting roads. When completed it would
give the people Of Savannah a superb
pleasure drive, and would, besides, be of
the greatest help to the farmers Of that
section of the county penetrated by the
roads in getting their products to market.
1t would also greatly increase the value of
the tract Of land owned by the county.
There is a matter In this connection
that has as yet received no attention, but
which should have great deal. 1t is the ad-
Visibility Of setting aside 800 or 400 acres
of the county's tract of land for public
park for the benefit not only Of the present
population OF Savannah, but also, and more
especially, for the pleasure of the very large
population that Savannah is certain to have
within the next fifteen or twenty years. II
Savannah keeps on growing at its present
rate of growth the proposed park would be
in the city's limits before the close of this
century.
II such park should be made and I'M
proved and good roadway constructed to
it, in very little while it would become a
popular resort. The park project is cer-
taiuly good one and should be carefully
considered In connection with the Meridian
road project The spirit of Improvement
has taken hold Of the people Of Chatham
county, and gradually the face OF the whole
county will be changed.