The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-09
TO BE A COLONIAL PARK.
ALDERMAN GARRARD SATISFIED
WITH TRE AGREEMENT.


cal Standpoint The Historic
Tombs 20 BE Carefully PRESERVED.
The Proper Place For the MOnu-
uaent 10 OEIethOrPe which saVan-
nah VIII Erect Some Day.
The announcement in the Morning News
that an agreement had finally been reach
ed by which the old south Broad street
cemtery would be taken charge Of by the
city and improved was received with gen
eral satisfaction.
The old cemetery has been an eyesore
for so long a time that the great majority
of the citizens had almost given out the
idea Of its ever being anything else. Alder
man William Garrard, as chairman Of the
committee appointed to take the matter in
hand. appears to have brought about
settlement Of a much vexed question The
Christ church people have shown through
their representatives that when approach
ed in an amicable manner they are not rs
obstinate about the matter as many people
have charged them with being because
they would not yield their claim 10 part
OF the cemetery without assurance that
the remains Of those inferred there would
be treated with proper respect
After friendly consideration Of the mat
ter the ideas Of both parties have changed.
The city no longer wants to run streets
through the cemetery and level the graves.
1t has come now to the conclusion that
the ground will be worth more 10 the city
as a colonial park. an historical spot,
which will be an object Of interest 10
residents and strangers alike, a much
more interesting spot in fact than mere
public park. differing but little from other
parks.
The matter has been left with counsel
for both sides but is not quite finally set
tled yet, although the attorneys have
about decided on an agreement. A meeting
of the parish of Christ church must be
held and the formal consent Of the cor
pOration obtained ratifying the agree
ment The agreement must then be sub
mitted to the city for ratification. This
being done a decree of the court win be
taken confirming the agreement and dis
posing of the litigation between the city
and Christ church. 1t Is also proposed
10 have an act passed by the legislature
confirming the agreement between the city
and Christ church and also the city's con-
troll OF the entire cemetery. The act viii
be intended to fix the conditions upon
which the city takes charge Of the ceme-
terry In perpetuity so that no subsequent
administration can violate the agreement
by destroying the historic character OF
the park, either by erecting public build
ings or cutting It up into lots or extending
thoroughfares through IL.
fThe idea is to make II a colonial park,
Col. Garrard said to a Morning News re-
porter. That will be the name given it in
the act OF the legislature to be introduced
at the coming session. The caption of the
act win be published for twenty days be-
fore the converting Of the legislature as
required by law so that when the agree
ment is finally ratified by the parish OF
Christ church and the city council, and
the decree obtained from the court the
act can be introduced and passed and the
whole thing fixed finally. Mr.. Charlton
has informed you correctly Of the general
outline of the agreement which has been
arrived at There are some details yet to
be agreed upon.
THE agreement will have to be ratified
by the parish OF Christ church as the
vestry cannot bind the church in the mat
ter. do not think we shall meet with any
difficulty there The city council win have
TO ratify the agreement and perhaps some
of the members of council may not APP
prove of the plan, though ! think that af-
ter the matter has been thoroughly ex-
decree Of the court IS a mere fOrmality.
an order permitting the decree in vaca-
ton having already been signed by Judge
Falligant. The act of the legislature can
be obtained without any trouble. The city
can then 90 ahead and put the park in a
proper condition as agreed upon"
Col. Garrard has some ideas as TO the
proper manner of improving the park and
making il a place of historic interest which
Will no doubt meet with the approval of
council and the citizens generally includ-
ing the parishioners Of Christ church
THE old wall viii be torn down Of
COURSE" he said, and a stone coping
placed around the entire park. The coping
Will be run out TO include the green now
lyins between the cemetery wall and the
sidewalk on South Broad street. The Gem
etery Will then be thoroughly cleaned up
and the old tombs repaired. The architec-
ture Of these old vaults is peculiar and
some thing TO be found in very few places
elsewhere in this country, which is an ad-
dtional reason for their preservation"
A walk through the cemetery will prove
10 anybody its historical interest There
are tombs there OF revolutionary heroes
and OF distinguished men who died pre-
Ytous to the revolution. The first postnas-
ter general Of the United States is buried
there, several governors Of Georgia. and
other distinguished men prominent in the
early history of the state. besides many
ancestors Of Savannahians of to-day. /
snail urge that a first class landscape
gardener, no amateur, but one of the hest
N the country, be employed TO lay out a
plan of walks and drives through the
: cemetery. There will be no thoroughfares
o. course Ny idea is that serpentine
walk and drive should be laid out begin.
nlng al the Lincoln street entrance on
South Broad street and winding down to
the Lincoln street entrance on the south
joining with a similar serpentine
drive from McDonough or Bull
street Serpentine walks could also be
run to connect with other portions OF
the park not touched by the main walks
1t is necessary that the work be done by
an artist, as il should be done artistic.
ally and at the same time so as not t
violate any Of the graves.
The plan could include the present
pound lot south of the cemetery which
is owned by the city and which in tim,
must be included in the park. The row
OF small houses on the south Of the CEN
etery, which are all owned by the city
viii be removed. When this is done tn,
Abercorn street sidewalk which now
breaks off at a right angle at the south
western corner of the park should b,
brought up to a line with the Sidewalk
along the rest of the street This vii
1-s1r.a s1fa