The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-02

Alderman Krouskoff said that he
thought that these matters would be COW
cred by an ordinance to be presented "a
council at the time of the presentation OF
] the report.
Alderman Wylly, in speaking of the
matter yesterday, said that although not a
member of the street and lane committee
| which VIII report upon the street railway
revision tomorrow night, he has given
the subject considerable thought, and he
/ is firmly of the opinion that council should
not act hastily, but should give 1t thor
| ough consideration so that a final and
complete understanding may be reached.
/ Every opportunity should be given the
/ street railway company, he thought, 20
/ reconstruct it's system on such lines as
would be most advantageous to the com
| pany as well as to the interest of the pub
/ lie.
There should be a definite understand
| ing, however" he said, "as to the kind
/ and class of street railway service we are
/ 10 nave after the street railway company
has been granted what it asks. Council
! should not only exact conditions as TO
| fares and transfers and schedules, but
should also provide for the comfort and
convenience Of passengers and citizens.
The company, having a complete monop-
/ Oily, VIII have the public at its mercy I'M
less council sees fit to provide proper safe
guards. The company should be requir-
ed to keep its track and rolling
stock in hrst-class condition so that
there may be no unnecessary noise and
confusion in operation. The people living
on the streets along these lines have
rights which must be regarded. The com
| tort and safety of the patrons must also
! be provided for. Especially should rickety
and dirty cars be provided against. The
people Of Savannah do not care to con-
tinue their experience of the past in this
respect"
Another question of importance, con-
tinued Alderman Wylly, lis that of the
poles. There is no reason why the streets
OF the city should be dishgured by rough
wooden poles in all stages of decay. The
company should be required to substitute
iron poles In the business section of the
city al once, and il should be prohibited
from the further erection of wooden poles
anywhere. Let the present wooden poles
remain outside of the business section, but
wherever wooden pole is to be replaced
the company should be required to substi-
tute an iron pole. BY pursuing this policy
there would be no wooden poles left in a
few years, and the company would be put
to no extraordinary expense in making
the change"
Alderman Wylly is extremely anxious
that, If possible, the railway track should
be removed from Whitaker street. To Sc
cure this he is willing that council should
guarantee the exclusive use of certain
streets to the company, with a further
guarantee against the use of Whitaker
and Drayton streets as well, by any COM
peting company
Il do not believe it would be such diff
ficult matter" he said, ito get the City
and Suburban bondholders to consent TO
the removal of the track from Whitaker
street, provided they are given equally
valua bic security for their bonds else
where The bondholders are citizens of
Savannah, and are interested in its i'm
provement, and I do not believe they
would play a dog in the manger policy
With Whitaker street clear, council would
then be in a position to improve both
Whitaker and Drayton streets and to
give two solid driveways through the
heart of the city. The value of Whitaker
street property would certainly be en-
HANGED by the removal of the track. The
inconvenience to the residents of Whita-
ker street would be Slight, as the line
would be removed only one block, and I'M
der the proposed new system they will
have to take the Barnard street line any
way in going south. This is probably the
only opportunity the city will ever have
to clear Whitaker street and 1t should not
be allowed to pass
Other members of council, not members
Of the street and lane committee, have
given little thought to the street railway
ter was laid before council, but there is
no doubt that Alderman WHY'S views
will meet with hearty concurrence on the
part of other members of the board.
There is an impression that the mem
bers of council generally have not gone
thoroughly into the street railway ques-
ton with the view of securing to the pub
lie an up-to-date street railway service
Some of the aldermen think that too
many requirements should not be made of
the company, on account of the fact that
1T has a large system already in opera
ton, and to equip and operate 1t on the
plan of modern street railways would be
a hardship. The public's idea Is that the
street railway is not a philanthropic in
stitution, that it is intended wholly for the
public's convenience, and 1t should be re-
quired, instead of operating system be-
hind the age, to furnish a modern service
The present ordinances under which the
street railways are being operated are a
dead letter so for as schedules are CON
cerned. The patrons of the roads are not
provided comfortable cars in bad weather
The tracks are not kept in good condition.
These and other matters the public is anx-
ious to have thoroughly looked after by
the council.