The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-26
OUGHT TO eETI 1T FOR NOTHING
WHAT SOME CITIZENS SAY ABOUT
THE OLD CEMETERY.

The COncensus of Opinion Appears
to He That Christ Church should
Make No Charge for "a Property
which Is of No Value to 1.-THE Re
strictIons Placed Upon the City's
Use of IL Considered Too Extensive
TO Warrant Any such Price for the
Property.
Inquiry among a number of prominent
citizens yesterday developed the fact that
there is considerable opposition to the
! citys paying Christ church 1880 for the
privilege of identifying the old South
| Broad street cemetery. The position
taken by Alderman Tiedeman with regard
to the matter seems to be pretty generally
upheld, the greater number believing that
if the city is to take the property and
keep it up according to the conditions
named, it should be turned over free of
cost.
4 cannot see on what grounds the
church claims that it ought to be recon-
pensed," Mr.. ]. A. g. Carson said THE
property has never been Of any use to the
church and never will be to it. 1t ought
at least TO keep it in a sanitary condition,
but it has not done this. If it was a
source of revenue TO the church or ever
bid fair TO be such, the question would
be an entirely different one but under the
| circumstances Christ church ought to be
willing TO give it to the city free of any
charge"
From what 1 have read of the matter"
Mr.. John Lyons said, eff the city has to
pay $500 and has no more rights in using
the property than are specified in the
! ha off 10Th all I~aa
hands off AS l understand the agreement,
the property would still almost belong to
Christ church even after the city has
taken possession. The condition in which
it now stands is a disgrace, and Mr.. Daniel
Hogan, with whom / have often talked
about it, takes the same view If the city
were released from all restrictions it would
be different matter"
According to the decree, as proposed"
Hon. F. G. duBignon said, II think the
city would be getting very little for its
money. 1 have not given the matter much
| attention, but from what l have read of
it., l am inclined very strongly to agree
with the expression of Alderman Tiede-
man."
Mr.. j. j. Dale was not inclined to talk
about the question, but he thought that
Christ church should be thankful for the
city to take the property off It's hands.
The property, as 1t stands, being a dis
grace and a nuisance, he Thought Ii pre-
posterous that Christ church should ask
such a price for its being taken OFF its
hands under the circumstances named in
| the agreement.
Il don't think the city should pay cent
| for the place, simply for the purpose of
| being allowed to keep it up as a ceme-
| terry" Mr.. f. A. We'll said. IF 1t is to be
| kept as a cemetery that might as well be
| have it, ii should have the right to make
Of It such a park as the people will be
with such restrictions put upon the
| use of the property, do not see any rea-
| son why the city should pay that price for
| i" said Mr. M. b. Lane. If the city
| has got to improve and take care of it,
| it should be allowed to do so without pay
| ing any such amount"
! IF l had my way about it, the city
| should not pay one cent for that property
| under those conditions" said a well
known citizen and large property owner
| 1t is something that is nuisance, and
| it is an expense to keep it up as it should
| be- This Christ church has not done If
il is TO be public property then the city
| should take II and make the most of IT,,
| but If not the owners should be made to
| take the proper care of it. The city
should have it without cost to the tax
| gested any other basis is unjust and I'M
| rea sonable. If the city wants to make a
| charitable donation to the church, and
the taxpayers are willing, let it go ahead
| and do it. The city should either make
| the owners of the property take care of
I
it is declared a public property, and deal
with it as would best suit the majority
of the people"
Capt Henry Blum took a somewhat diff
ferent view. The majority of the restric-
lions placed upon the city he does not
mind, but he is not in favor of the citys
paying 81 800 unless Christ church will
give it the right to straighten out AbeT-
corn street. There are too many en-
croachments on streets now" he said
land if this one is taken away l wouldn't
| mi 81 ffnlRSS
can straighten that street, however, / dc
not see why the city should do anything
! in the matter.
Alderman Kolshorn, when spoken to
about the matter said: Il agree with AL
derman Tiedeman. Cemeteries are public
| property and cannot be used for private
| purposes. Alderman Falligant's talk about
the value of the cemetery is all stuff A
| cemetery has no real estate value. The
cemetery never cost Christ church a cent
| it has never paid any taxes on it and the
| church has no right to fix a price on il
when it requires the city by the terms OF
| the transfer to maintain the place as
cemtery.
Alderman Gleason expressed himself or
the same line. Il have already placed my
self on record by my vote in council,
said he 81 do not think the deal salts
factory one, and, therefore, 1 am opposed
to it"
Col. w. w Gordon said that he woult
be glad of any arrangement which would
| remove the old eyesore. He has Away:
regarded the old cemetery as the proper
place for the location of the public build
ings. When he was in the legislator,
several years ago he had a bill passed
| leaving the question of the location of tn,
court house on the old cemetery property
to a vote of the people. The question was
decided in favor of locating il there by {
two-thirds vote. but Christ church inter
vened and prevented.
The Peculiar MacI<ays.
From the New York Press.
The Mackays are a peculiar family
Mrs. Mackay maintains an extensive Is
: adjustment in London and has a mag