The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-19
Not "A short While Since"

Offers to sell the Thunderbolt and White
Bluff shell roads are before the board OF
county commissioners in proper form. The
price asked for the one is $4,000 and the
other $1,000 Pursuing his favorite plan of
presenting public questions or issues to the
people, the spokesman of the board Of com
missioners in referring to the offer of the
owner of the White Bluff road, tells the
public that "a short while since" the price
charged for the road was 1900 while
the owner would now be glad to dispose of
il for $1,000. The inference to be drawn
from such a statement is that within a
few days or a few weeks the owner of the
property had abated his price by 1880!
Such a precipitous, horizontal tumble
would be astonishing, and if made might
put the maker in a disagreeable Hight be-
fore the public. Possibly that is why the
statement was made.
The fact Is, the first offer of sale of the
White Bluff road was made three or four
years ago, when the situation was very
materially different from what it is now
and before $4,000 of the county's money
had been spent in trying to ruin the value
of the shell road. Clearly even at Sl7 500
the property would have been cheaper
than it is now, although IL is offered for
$1,000.
Just at this point II may be well TO state
that the people who live on or near the
White Bluff shell road are. as a rule. stin
using that highway, and paying toll to do
so, in preference to going two or three
miles out of their way TO get to town and
back over the Montgomery cross road, the
Waters road and Estill avenue. These lat
ter roads are deservedly popular with BIZ
cyclists ana drivers of pleasure vehicles,
whore distance lends enchantment:" but
so far as benehting the farmers and work
ing people living in the territory of the
White Blur road is concerned, the new
and beautifully golden route is failure.
The great majority of the teams which
come over the golden roads from the W nlte
Bluf section travel at the rate of about a
mile an hour. are drawn by oxen and driv-
en- by ancient darkies. The taxpayers OF
the White Bluff road section are sim pay
Ing taxes and tolls in preference TO max
ing a long detour of the county over the
new $4,000 Investment.
The public should understand the case
as il is. The owner of the White Blum
shell road did not offer his property 20 the
county "a short while since" for 1880.
ana then offer IL again the other day"
for 5000 But even il that were the case.
what difference would il make to the peo-
pie who desire TO get rid of paying tolls
and 10 enjoy CD the benefits OF taxation es
their fellow citizens dor They wish the
privilege OF riding TO and from their farms
ANA homes like others do, free from a spe-
cial tax.
Now is the time to buy the toll roads. n
they are good CROUCH to ride over and pay
tax Tor the privilege. they are certainly
good enough 20 ride over when the prlv-
lcro costs nothing The plowing-up pro-
ecsf and the Augusta gravel trimmings.
which we have been told viii be necessary
go make the roads what thoy should Do.
can De- postponed for awhile. Possibly az
tor the Blrony Of Buckhaltor has been
dried out ana kalsomincd. the public will
submit 10 other oAtraNurnnces and permit
tho board of commissioners 90 pillow up and
l1lsomlno The shell roads. if they are
bought before tho board goes out OF office.