The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-06-28
TO GET DEPOT FACILITIES.
The S8aboaTd Company Nay Be Given
a Piece Of HutChinSOnS Island.

IitNt vi EulInihSOn \ lSldn0.
AFTER Hearing From the Projectors OF
the New Road the Committee Of the
Whole. Of the Council Reports the
Petition for Extension of Time Back
without recommendation Why the
Bridge and Seventy-Five Miles Were
Not Built-An Alderman Says All
the Island Except a Reasonable
Terminal viii Be Taken Back.
The city council yesterday afternoon,
after listening in committee Of the
whole for over an hour to arguments
from the Seabord Company's representa-
tives as to why the city should give an
extension of time for making good the
Requirements of the Hutchinson Island
grant to the Middle Georgia and Atlantic
road, decided to report the petition back
to the council without recommendation.
Quite spirit of opposition was mani
tested to the extension, however, the
leaders being Aldermen Cam and Dixon.
The petition was discussed behind closed
doors, away from the public, but the
aldermen did not hesitate to tslk about
what transpired after the meeting ended.
REPORTERS EXCLUDED.
A MORNING News reporter sent in his
card and asked for admission, but after
objection from Mai Meldrim and presi-
dent Williams of the Seaboard Company
on the ground that there were certain
business matters which the company did
not care to make public and which prop
erly should be only heard by the council,
the request was refused on motion of
Alderman Mcmillan. Several aldermen,
however, favored admitting thenewspaper
men, but majority of the board though
the wishes of the petitioners should be
respected.
The matter which the Seaboard Com
pany did not think should get to the pub
lie ear, was mass of figures, showing
what been done in the way of raising sub
scriptions for the building of the road,
and the details of certain contracts which
the projectors of the Middle Georgia and
Atlantic hope to enter into and insure
the new line provided they can hold their
terminals at Savannah intact.
HARD TIMES RESPONSIBLE.
Maj. Meldrim made an appeal to
the aldermen to grant the petition and
give the Seaboard Company a chance to
furnish Savannah with new artery of
commerce. You may ask" said he,
"why has not the bridge been built across
the Savannah river, and why has not the
seventy-tive miles been constructed. l
might ask you why is it that almost every
industrial movement in Savannah, and in
fact throughout the county, stands on the
brink of precipice Why is it that banks
are failing all over the Country2 | know
not why, but 1t is sufficient to know such
a condition exists. 1t is the condition
which has so far prevented the carrying
out of the conditions of the require
ments."
COMMERCE. NECESSARY TO EXISTENCE.
Maj. Meldrim then briefly went over
the history of the new road to date,
showing the amount of money on hand
for the extension, and the prosperous con-
dition of that portion now being operated,
and asked the council not to undo the
good already accomplished. Savannah,
he said, is purely commercial city, with
but little manufacturing, and it is the
duty of the people to encourage every
thing which tends to develop and in
crease the commerce of the port. With
out commerce this city would be like a
fish without water, and without rail-
roads commerce cannot be attracted here.
Maj. Meldrim's argument was a strong
appeal, and seemed to make unmarked i'm
preston on some of the aldermen.
THE PUBLIC MUST HEAR THE FACTS.
After the Seaboard people retired the
aldermen discussed the situation among
themselves. Aldermen Cam and Dixon
took the ground that the council owed it
to the public that nothing should be done
in the matter except in open council meet
ing. The railroad had presented its figures
and private reasons for an extension, and
the aldermen would have ample time be-
fore the next meeting to carefully con-
slider them, but both aldermen plainly
announced their opposition to taking any
action in the premises, and then go be-
fore the public in meeting with a cut and
dried programme.
The friends of the Seaboard Company in
the board saw that no objections could be
raised to this line of reasoning, and they
agreed to have the petition reported back
without recommendation.
WILL GET PIECE OF THE ISLAND.
One of the aldermen, after the meeting,
said that the city would take back the
island with the exception of a reasonable
amount for depot facilities, and that the
original for the entire island
would hold good for the portion which
would be left to,the Seaboard Company.
This alderman was one of those who
opposed the grant two years ago, but he
does not want to appear in the light of
handicapping enterprise, and for this rea-
son he will agree to give the Middle Geor-
gia and Atlantic enough land to build its
depots and transact its business. The
balance of Hatchinson's Island, he says
must revert to the people.