The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-30

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charged their arduous duties
Under the head Of LAW and order,
he says. Il have endeavored TO enforce
every law without unnecessary triction
or oppression. and without fear. favor or
affection. The SOY system which pre-
vailed TO the disgust and ahhorrence o.
I this community Was az once abolished
! our police officials have earnestly CO.
] operated with me in the enforcement OF
law anu order. II has been ueinoIlslI at -
mat 10 Us not necessary in enlorclns tlte
law. 10 resort To Objectionable experiments
as We're formerly in use. Hereafter, the
recently created police commission VII
have fn part Che duty of enforcing the
laws and preserving order. From the per
sonnet of the board ] am satisfied that II
viii aid me IN continuing policy tnat mas
me- Win the apironatioh OF az sou .iti,
zeus. In justice TO chief McDermotts 1
deem Il hul proper 70 call your attel l
TO the marked Improvement IN the mah-
aEement and general discipline of the pO-
lice force. Under his control many re-
forms have been inaugurated that nave
materially Increased the protection aiIord-
ed 20 life and property 1 recommend, az
soon as the city income warrants IL,
an increased appropriation for this de-
partment, in order that the territory or
the southern section of the city can be
| given additional protection. The detec-
| tive force has also rendered valuable ser
vice not only in apprehending criminals
| of all classes. but in recovering and re-
storing 10 rightful owners great deal
The decrease in fires and losses during
| the year is mentioned. Attention is called
a
/ for NO. engine company.
on the subject of water meters. the
/ mayor says: THE water works depart
ment is now under the direction and con-
I troll of the board of water commissioners.
/ one of the first questions considered by
| the board was the enormous waste OF
I water throughout the city, and investiga-
| tons We're made as to the possibility OF
| discovering some remedy for this indis-
! criminate and ever-increasing waste. For
] years past reports or former superintend-
! cnts presented the same condition of af-
/ fairs as now exist, and VOluminOus recon-
| mendations have been made by them as
| TO the proper remedy-to be applied. That
| remedy, in every instance, was in the
! shape of an urgent recommendation that
| system Of water meters be introduced.
| THE board of water commissioners has
| considered the subject and while the con-
/ census of opinion is that the water meter
| system would, in great measure, pre-
! vent this unnecessary waste, still inno-
| vatiOns of this character should be care
| fully studied before being put into prac-
| tice. The general adoption of meters
| throughout the city should not be hurried.
| They should be placed only where it is
sure the desired results would accrue from
their introduction. If introduced, the
cost Of same should be borne by the city
and not be charged to individual property
owners.
while the superintendent report
shows that the supply Of water is amply
adequate for every legitimate need of the
| city, there is no doubt that the constant
waste referred to involves propOrtiOnat6
increase in the expenses Of the depart
ment Any reduction in the waste is, in
the end, direct benefit to tax payers"
Mention Is made of the river and har-
Dor improvements and the necessity OF
| appropriations by congress for main
tanning the work, ana for the construc-
ton of an extension TO the oyster Bed
training wall at Tybee Roads is dwelt
upon.
of street paving are of especial inter
est. He says: Il recommend
that the aldermen give this question a
! thorough study in order to meet the de
mands of a growing city. Sporadic paw.
ing is necessarily costly and largely un
satisfactory in results. An intelligent
and comprehensive plan for permanent
street paving should be adopted. Shells
have proved unsatisfactory where there
lis heavy traffic. DraytOn and jefferson
streets amply illustrate this. After ex
| perimenting for years with a variety Of
| materials not suitable In all particulars, i
Is eNluehJ 70 any thinking mlnd mat the
subject should receive careful attention
and a substantial pavement be adopted
one that will be durable, easily KEEP
cleaned and repaired at a minimum cost
In my Judgment il would he well fol
! council to take some definite steps to ar
: range for an extended system of paw
: ing covering a number of streets at on,
time. In this way the work could b,
done at a considerable saving to the city
5 and arrangements could be entered int
by deferred annual payments covering
81 a period of years.
Il would also call your attention t.
. / our unsightly and worn out brick side
I walks. They are a source of danger, anC
sometimes the cause of accidents, anC
| are kept up al considerable expense. The
5 time has arrived when a more substan
J tial and better material should be used
| and ] would suggest the ACCESSIBILITY
Z of requiring the use of vitrifed brick, OF
z some equally as acceptable material. The
( city should exercise a more diligent SUI
pervision of the laying of pavements anC
insist upon the work being done in Z
more uniform and workmanlike manner
On the subject of street opening thu
mayor says the committee in charge haa
; accomplished a great deal. A number o
desirable streets have been opened ant
l many encroachments have been removed
Referring to the special committee ap
pointed to negotiate with the Savannah
, Florida and Western railway for the open
, ing of streets crossing this company
right of way the mayor said: This com
mittee has labored arduously, and is appar
entity about completing a contract will
the above corporation looking to an am
! icable adjustment of this veXed question
which former councils were unable t
solve"
The city may erect its own lightin,
plant soon, judging from what the mayo
SAYS on the subject of public lighting
2 "The contracts for lighting the city," h
says, will expire Jan. ], $685. / therefor
recommend that you take into considera
ton during this year the adVisability o
l establishing and maintaining a lghtinj
l plant to furnish lights not only to tn
city but to the general public. In my opin
ion, next to water lights are essential t,
| the comfort of the masses, and therefor
the cost to the public should be brough
down to the lowest figure. In this way
vast amount of money can be saved tn
3 city and it's citizens by furnishing lights
l am Informed that we have sufficien
power now at the water works to run ;
{ plant, and certainly sufficient spac
wherein to erect it, and l trust this mat
ter will receive your careful considera
| ton. The experience of cities which haV
recently adopted this plan of furnishing
lights has been very satisfactory, and {