The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-28
MAY STOP THE BONFIRES
A CITIZENS PETITION TO TIE CITY
COUNCIL

The Aldermen willing for the Boys to
Have Their Fun Even If It Does Ruin
the qusres, But They Want Barrel
Stealing stoppsd-The Police to Take
the Matter in Hand.
The boys Of the city may DO given a
warning about stealing barrels and boxes
and other articles Of household use pro-
mlscuously for their Xmas boafires. Unless
the general thisvinE is stopped they may be
| deprived OF their annual privilege Of
/ bonfres ia the parks and squares during
! Xmas week.
There are number OF citizens who are
ready to rise up In arms because OF the in
discriminate de relations. IL the boys
would confine themselves to taking empty
barrels and boxes from the reets and
lanes, which are not Of any particular
value, there would not be
30 much fault found with them.
In the nelghborhood Of each square. how
ever, they are formed into gan g, and there
is great rivalry among them as to which
SO lare shall have the largest amount OF
bonfire material on hand They not only
raid the whole neighborhood for material,
but are always looking for q chance TO steal
| each others stores. Every gang is con-
stantly on the alert to prevent its sccumuia-
tions from being stolen by some other crowd.
Vigilance is the price OF barrels 10 thelr
motto.
AMOUNTS TO BURGLARY.
The raids are carried to such an extent as
to break gates and break open locks 81 night
| to secure entrance to backyards ana carry
away all the bon fire material in sight.
| The boys have begun early this year, and
already many of the gangs have large stores
of barrels laid away and are eagerly await
| ing the time for their destruction.
On account of the reckless depredations
of the boys request may be
presented to the council not TO
grant them the usuaI privilege OF
| having bonfires IN the 50 1ares this year. The
amount OF damage done the grass plats in
| the soures by the fires and the tranpling Of
the ground will he urged. The cost OF re-
pairing the damage last year is said to have
been something over $500.
The aldermen are not quite agreed in their
minds az TO the steps they will take. They
are inclined TO be lenient with the boys, but
they may give them q warning. Election
time is drawing near aad the aldermen are
not disposed to antagonizs any element.
THE ALDERMEN IN IT.
The boys have a great deal Of influence
with their mammas and their mammas have
e great deal of influence with their papas,
and SO the enmity Of the boys might amount
to something.
Alderman Harmon, who is a candidate
for mayor, looks mildly upon the situation,
and as for Mayor McDonough he Is lone OF
the boys himself Xmas, aud has the big
gest bonfire in his square Of any in the
whole city.
Alderman Carson said, when spoken to
yesterday, that the stealing Of bar
rels is undoubtedly a great nuisance and
some check should be put to IL. The bon
fires also costs the city a neat little sum
annually in rsmedying the damage done the
squares He is not in favor Of depriving
the boys OF the privilege entirely, however,
but thought it might be limited to the Park
extension.
Alderman Cam said emphatically that the
boys would never lose their privileges by
his vote. The damage he said, was only
tri6ing, and the squares always need a
cleaning up after Christmas any way.
AS the present ordinance stands, however,
Alderman Cam said, all bonfres in the
streets and squares are strictly prohibited,
and it is necessary for a special ordinance to
be introduced granting the privilege to the
boys at each Christmas.