The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-01
MIR. DALE's FIGURES or SPEECH
Some Reasons why the Meridian
Road Should BE Built.

Some Reasons why the Meridian
Road should BE Built.
The Meridian Road and Vernon Shell
Road. Savannah. Ga, Feb. 27.-Editor of
the Morning News.-In the Savannah
Press of to-day appear some statements
purporting TO have been uttered by Mr.
Dale concerning the Meridian road which,
l think, should also be examined In the
light of facts, that they may be properly
weighed.
Mr.. Dale is quoted as saying: "Why, we
have got enough right-of-way to buy dor
the Meridian road, from people who would
like fancy prices, to cost the county $780,
600 for that alone" Let us see; the pro-
posed length of the Meridian road is six
and three-fourth miles; it's width Of right
of way Is sixty-siX feet; this will give eight
acres to the mile, or fifty-four acres for the
whole length; of these about twenty-four
have been absolutely acquired and ] am
told that only $50 was paid, and that was
to a poor colored man, through whose
small tract the road passes, and for which
the commissioners preferred to pay rather
than ask him to donate it. Several acres
more have been promised, but not yet
formally decided to the country, but leav-
ing these out and counting only those that
have been acquired, there would be thirty
acres of right-of-way which, according to
Mr.. Dale, is ''to cost the county s200,OOO for
that alone Six thousand, six hundred
sixty-six dollars, sixty-six and two-third
cents per acre, Can it be believed? Sure
~ this must be one Of Mr.. Dale's figures
of speech" 1t evidently can be supposed
so, as he is quoted again, in another place:
ITO buy this right-of-way, build the road
which is sixty-six feet wide and shell it
would not l believe, cost less than $50
Co.," My estimate to build, complete and
shell the road in first class manner
throughout its entire length will cost from
SO, 900 to $4,000. For argument, let US take
the larger sum, $4,000; this, from Mr..
Dale's estimate Of $50, 900 would leave $2L-
900 for the right-of-way for thirty acres,
or $500 per acre. Isn't this a little steep?
Surely if land is worth that much along
the line of the Meridian road it would
be the best argument possible to build
and even macadamize it. But let us look
a little further into this matter of the re-
naming thirty acres, most of which, l be-
lieve, will be freely donated when the
people think the commissioners are
in earnest about building the
road. About sixteen acres of this
lie south of the county lands, between
the Montgomery crossroad and Bethesda,
is ii TO be supposed that this land is worth
over $3.50 per acre or $500? 1t is very
probable the owners would give the right
OF way through TO get the road built. so
county lands there are about three acres
to acquire to get the right Of way to Wat
ers road and nearly every foot Of this has
been promised. North of the Waters
road several rights of way have been
promised and there may not be much
difficulty to acquire the remainder. Only
a little energetic effort is needed.
AS to the lands Immediately contgu-
Gus 10 the road that will be benefited
the public domain Of the county and the
new city park will include nearly one
third as the road viii extend two miles
through them, thus greatly enhancing
the common property of all the citizens
AS to the relative number who would
use the Meridian road when it is built
and those who would use the Vernon
shell road IL is not necessary to dwell
upon this part of his statement. The res
idents of Fhunderbolt. isle of Hope. Cedar
Hammock, Of Bethesda and Shipyard, of
Beaulieu and Montgomery and all the
people living between these places and in
the surrounding country VIII cheerfully
answer him. There are a goodly number
now using the Vernon shell road who
will not use it when the Meridian road
is built-there are also a goodly number
who will continue to use It even after
some of whom, for instance, are those
having property on living on or near the
Buckhalter road, but these latter, in
comparison even now. are so few that /
hardly think as raany people travel that
road in a week as pass along a mile of
the Meridian road in a single day. Would
it not be ''the greatest good for the great
est number to build the Meridian road2
Observer.
Carlton-What makes Tom doubt wheth-
90. d so crfrI fc q 2 "a