The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-16

1854 and which has been exempt from
taxes since that time. ] would recon-
mend that the lands for the opening OF
streets be promptly acquired, and the
I streets opened. thereby bringing into the
/ city for taxation, real estate of the value
| Of from $500 to Sl,000O00. / would
| further recommend that all streets in the
| section south OF Anderson street. brought
| in under the act Of 1888. which have not
| yet been acquired by the city, be bought
at an early day AS possible In my judg-
ment il would be a decided economy to
| purchase all needed lands without delay
| Besides, the owners Of property. and citi-
zens living in that section, are paying
taxes, and are therefore entitled to this
! as well as other cOnVeniences. Private
! improvements would speedily follow the
| opening of streets, and greatly increase
| the city's revenues.
PAVING STREETS.
Paved streets are inseparable from mu-
| nicipal progress. Good roads are demand
| ed by all citizens Interested in the city's
| Development well as its appearance.
| The requirements Of Savannah in this di-
| rectiOn should be met as rapidly as the
| finances Of the city and the property own
! ers will permit. Little has been done com
| parativey, until recent years, and much
| remains to be accomplished before Savan-
| nah can be referred to as a well-paved
! city. The present administration has
| been in its brief tenure of office. fully
| mindful Of the citys needs, and in 1895, as
| in the preceding year has expended con-
| siderable money and given much atten-
| ton to this class of public improvement
| Some OF our important thoroughfares
have been paved in whole or in part. or
We're in the process of being paved at the
| close of the year. In all the city paid out
| $48200 in street paving during the year
| 1896. The policy of paving streets TO meet
| county roads was continued. Work of this
| character, that will prove of great benefit
| a 10 eff MA hp of str
| extended, and the Louisville road to the
| city limits, the county authorities contin-
| ung the work from there to the distance
| Of some miles IN the country. This facili-
| tates the conveyance of produce to this
| market. and Will tend to build up the sec
| ton adjacent to the city at the same time
| giving the citizens two beautiful drives,
| thereby adding to their pleasure as well
| as their business. The county in extend
| ing these highways used Augusta gravel,
| which seems to give a smooth durable
| road, free from dust. al a minimum cost.
| In my opinion this gravel is preferable to
| shells, on streets where there is a moder-
| ate traffic. and l would advocate its use on
| such thoroughfares hereafter. II is less
| expensive than shells; costs less for main
| tenance, and is more desirable from a
sanitary standpoint. For the first time in
| Savannah, Vitrited brick were used for
| paving purposes last year; portions of
| Abercorn and Habersham streets being
| paved with this material 1t seems to
| give a durable pavement; stands heavy
| traffic, is easily cleaned and repaired and
| is worthy of favorable consideration for
| future paving. South Broad street was
! in the process of paving at the close of
! the year, asphalt being the material Sc
| lected by council for that thoroughfare
| The price per square yard for this work Is
| less than for any similar work in the past
| When this street is completed, Savannah
| viii unquestionably have in it one of the
most attractive avenues in the country
| change of name to one more common
| surate with its beauty, might well mark
| the completion of this Improvement
| Bryan street, in my opinion, should be
| paved with granite blocks or some other
| substantial material, from the Market to
| Farm street, and from Farm street to
| Bay. it being of the utmost importance
that better facilities should be afforded
| for the immense traffic with the Ocean
| Steamship Company's wharves. The trav-
| ell to and from these wharves, is heavier
than to any other point in the city and all
| roadways leading to them have always
| been in a miserable condition.
| The improvement Of Drayton street the
| paving of Lincoln or Habersham street,
| the extension southwark to Twelfth street,
| the pavement on either jefferson or
| West Broad street, and the paving of Sew
enth street, should, in my opinion, be the
next work undertaken. Augusta gravel,
|
terial for this purpose with perhaps the
| exception of Drayton street. | would also
| suggest for your consideration, the advisa-
bility of paving Twelfth street from the
| western side of Bull street to the Ogee-
| chez road, with Augusta gravel. as soon
as the right of way can be procured. This
| would make a beautiful driving boulevard
for our citizens. and an avenue by which
the entire southern section of the city
could be reached by continuous paved
highways. This work could be done at
very moderate expense.
During the past year a new maintenance
contract for the asphalt streets of our city
was entered into with the Warren-Scharf
Asphalt Paving Company, and the then
existing one cancelled. l look upon the
contract as one of the most satisfactory,
from-a standpoint of permanent economy,
ever entered into in the history of the city.
BY 1t the expense of maintaining all the
asphalt streets in the city is cut down
fifty per cent. accomplishing a saving in
the present area of asphalt pavements of
$500 per annum.
THE COMMISSIONS.
The wisdom of the creation of the vari-
Gus commissions is abundantly demon
strated by a careful perusal of their re-
ports. What has already been accom-
plshed by these bodies indicates their pos
sibilties for public usefulness. The report
of the board of tax assessors and recciv-
ers showed that the alarming decline in
returns of personal property was more
than checked in its first year, returns of
this class of property in 1895 having in
creased 1850, 600.
The elaborate report of the fire commits
sioneTs show that the condition and EN-
cheney of that department has been main
tanned at high Standard; that the num-
Der of men has been increased; buildings
renovated and put in first-class repair;
equipment added to, and a considerable
| cash surplus returned to the city treas
urer. the appropriation having been no
larger than in previous years
Under the commission the police de-
partment has also done excellent work.
| This commission, like the others, adopted
a policy of gradual improvements. care
| fully studied the needs of the department,
| and met them as soon as possible. Dis
| cipline has been well maintained; the Ter-
| sonnet of the force improved and a very
| efficient and satisfactory service given to
| the public, criminals being In every in
| stance promptly apprehended
The finances of the city do not permit