The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-05
THE STREETS TO BE OPENED.
THE PLANT SYSTEM ENTERS INTO
AN AGREEMENT WITH THE
CITY.

IL VIII BE signed To-day BY vice
President Erwin of the Plant Sys-
tenn and Ratified by Council at a
Special Mceting-EIeven Streets to
BE Opened, Including Five Be
tween Gyvinnett and Anderson and
Six south of AndersOn-NO More
Streets to Be Opened for Five
Years-The Railway Company TO
Do the work at Its own Expense.
Good Work of Alderman Hudson
and His Committee.
An agreement looking to the opening of
the streets across the Savannah, Florida
and Western railway which matter has
been so long under discussion, has been
reached at last.
a meeting of the committee OF the whole,
to be followed by a meeting Of council,
will be held this afternoon to confirm the
arrangement. The agreement was reached
yesterday afternoon by Vice President r.
G. Erwin on the part of the Plant system,
and the special committee on opening
streets, of which Alderman Hudson Is
chairman, on the part OF the city. Mayor
Myers was also present and acted as chair
man Of the meeting.
The conference was not a long one, con-
sidering the Importance of the subject I'M
der consideration. The form of agree
ment reached by the committee and Mr..
Erwin some time ago was readily agreed
to by MIR. Erwin, with some slight
changes. The agreement as it now stands
is satisfactory to both parties. Mr.. Erwin
stated his readiness to sign it, and will
do so to-day. When it is ratified by coun-
ell this afternoon, as it doubtless will be,
the deal will be settled and the work of
opening up the streets wtll begin at
Ten or eleven streets are to be opened up
in all five between Gwinnett and Ander-
son streets. and six to the south of An
derson street, including some running
north and south, and others running east
and west.
After this is done the city binds itself
rot to open any more streets across the
Plant systems right of way within the
next five years. In return for this con-
sideration and possibly other considera-
lions, the railway company agrees to per-
form all the work of opening up the
streets. including the grading to its line
on each side.
Instead of opening East Broad street,
the company gives a boulevard on each
side of its track from East Broad to Price
street, with crossings at st. Nicholas and
St. James streets. Lamar avenue is also
to be opened across the track. What
and south is not yet known. Habersham
street Will not be opened for the present,
however, on account of the street railway
bridge now crossing the Savannah, Flor
ida and Western track.
The agreement is an important one to
the city, efforts having been made in this
direction for the last FIVE years Much
credit is due to Alderman Hudson, chair
man of the special committee having this
matter in charge, who has labored per-
sistently for months to bring 1t to a sat
isfactory conclusion 1t looked at one
time as If il would be necessary to resort
to condemnation proceedings in order to
accomplish the desired object, but this
agreement renders such action unneces-
sary.
The southeastern section of the city
has been bottled up for a long time, as
the result of the refusal of the Plant
system to allow the streets to be put across
its tracks The opening up of the streets
will aid greatly in the development Of
that section.
Under the act of 1854 Incorporating the
section east of the Savannah, Florida and
Western railway as a part of the city IL
was provided that it should not be sub
tect TO taxation until the plan of the city
should be extended over it. This has been
prevented heretofore by the inability OF
the city to extend its streets across the
railroad track AS soon as the streets are
put across the track council will doubt
| less take steps to carry them on to the
! eastern limits, which will bring all of that
section under taxation.