The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-20
BRIDGES ARE TOO COSTLY.
OBJECTIONS MADE TO THE PLANT
SYSTEMS PROPOSITION.

for believing Il u>uttsiacNoFt
The Meeting of the Property own
ers and the street Opening Com
1nittee Not Altogether Harmonious
They Think the Committee should
Demand More of the Plant system
some Changes Suggested at the
Meeting Agreed 10 by the Conn
mittee.
The special committee ON opening
streets across the savannah Florida and
Western railway held a conference at
the mayors office yesterday afternoon,
with a number Of property holders in
terested fin the proposed Improvement.
The conference was held in order TO give
the property owners an opportunity of eX-
pressing their views on the subject. and
saying what they thought was needed for
the benefit Of the southeastern section Of
the city IL lasted for some time. Evil
IDENTITY the property owners were not in
harmony among themselves, or with the
committee and several expressed them>
selves after the conference as very much
dissatisfied with the outlook.
Among the property owners present
were Aessrs. j. s. Collins. Jacob Paulsen,
A. AlcCredmond. J. r. Anderson. John
Sullivan Schley T. NJ. Cunningham, 6.
KiesIng and others. The conference com
mittee consisted of Mayor Myers and Al
dermen Hudson. Falligant Garrard,
Tiedeman and Screven.
The plan. as outlined by the committee.
was that the city should make a propO-
sition to the railway company 10 lower
its tracks south Of Anderson street in
order that bridges might be thrown
across them at the street intersections,
and that New Houston and Henry streets
should be opened at grade north of Henry
street and Gwinnett, Bolton and Ander-
son streets, already partially opened, to
be fully opened.
Mr. Collins and the other property own
ers embraced in the extension Of the city
limits by the act of 1854 objected TO leav
ing any of the streets north of Anderson
street unopened. They contended that
Waldburg and Duffy street might just
as well be opened as the rest OF the streets
embraced in this section. They also OBJ
5ected very strenuously to the PROPOSE
ton advanced by Col. Garrard that it
was unnecessary to open any Of these
streets across the railway track at their
fun width, Col Garrard's idea being that
a roadway would be sufficient at the cross
ings. Considerable time was spent in
arguing this point and the committee
finally agreed that it was proper that
where the streets are opened across the
track they should be opened at their full
width.
1t was also agreed that If Waldburg and
DUFFY streets We're to be left unopened
that the railway company should be re-
CURED to give its right-of-way on both
sides Of its tracks for a boulevard, in order
that residents on the unopened streets
might reach the crossings at the opened
streets with the least possible trouble.
The property owners south of Anderson
street do not look with favor on the pro-
position that the railway company snail
lower its tracks in order to avoid
the grade crossings. They say
that their property would be in
jured by the railway cut, and that
the city would be put TO heavy expense in
throwing bridges across the track at each
streets crossing. Mr.. J. r. Anderson, in
q talk with a Morning News reporter after
the conference stated the objection to the
proposition OF the railway company at
..rhe Plant system" said Mr.. Ander-
son, simply proposes TO shift the trouble
and expense Of making the crossings on
the city. After fighting the extension of
the streets across its right OF way for
years the company finds that the jig is
up and that II VIII be compelled to submit
to the extension Of the streets whether or
no. 1t now comes forward with the mag
unanimous proposal 10 let the city build
bridges across its right OF way. The al
dermen seemed very much pleased with
the idea of having the city build bridges
for for, the sire street CROSSINGS; Have
the taxpayers to build and main
tain these brldges?. Temporary wood
en- structures would not be sufficient
but substantial iron bridges would be nee
essary. Why should the city be put to
an expense of thousands of dollars TO
bridge the crossings when it has the
night, or VIII have as soon as slight
change is made in the charter by the
legislature 10 condemn the right of way
and extend all the streets across at grade.
If the Plant system is anxious to AVOID
grade crossings, why should # not bear
the expenseY The railway company and
not the city pays the damages for all
accidents occurring by reason Of these
crossings. 1t is to the advantage Of the
railway company TO avoid the grade cross
3ngs, not the city The railroad should
system is so anxious to avoid these cross
ings, let it raise its tracks instead of low
ering them, and then the streets can pass
under the tracks"
THE extreme difference on the part of
the aldermen toward the Plant system"
continued Mr.. Anderson, lis difficult to
understand. That system has never
shown any disposition to aid the city or
10 encourage its growth. 1t has most
strenuously opposed the extension of the
streets across its right of way. Yet, when
the company is practically whipped out,
Il IS treated with extreme Difference as
II us interests were or the nrst con-
sideration and the city's interests merely
secondary. Why such a disposition 10
avoid grade crossings? Look at Atlanta
Augusta, Richmond, Washington, d. G.
and almost every other city that can bh
named where the streets cross the railroad
II ANS llHuLa ana lEIl, not only IN the
suburbs, but in the heart of the cities
as well. Washington City Is a conspicu-
Gus example of this. Evidently it is TO
the interest of the railway companies
TO avoid grade crossings wherever they
can, because they are saved the payment
OF damages thereby. but being to their
interest, they should bear whf tever ex-
pense attaches thereto. l thint when the
taxpayers begin 10 figure on the cost Of
building and maintaining half a dozen
iron bridges that you viii hear general
protest against such an arrangement -
Alderman Hudson to whom Mr.. Ander-
sons objections We're mentioned, said he
thought that the expenditure of few
thousand dollars was of small considera-
tiont when it is considered how many
lives would be saved by avoiding the
grade crossings.
Mayor Myers expressed himself on the
same line. Grade crossings are very OBJ
9ectionable and should be avoided where
ever possible" he said. In speaking of
the subject of street opening, Mayor Ny
ers said: Having now consulted with
the property owners and obtained their
views on the subject, the committee will
holu a meeting Tuesday afternoon for
the purpose Of going over the whole mat
ter and formulating a proposition to be
made 10 the railway company The pro-
position, / have no doubt, will be about
on the line you have already stated, the
lowering of the track south of Anderson
street and the ewFangfnu of 10