The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-12
TRACK LAYING PUT A STOP TO.
STREET RAILWAY USING OLD RAILS
OF LIGHT WEIGHT.

Alderman Davis Ordered the Work
stopped and the Ordinance Re
uuiring Fifty-Pound Rails Enforce
ed-The montgomery street Track
Being Put Down on AbercOrn
street-Capt. Johnston Thought
the Fifty-Pound Rule Only Applied
TO New Rails.
The work Of laying the double track of
the Savannah, Thunderbolt and Isle OF
Hope Railway on Abercorn
street from Gordon street.
north, was summarIy put stop
to yesterday by Deputy City Marshal KEEL
ly under instruction OF City Marshal Pow
er.
Alderman Davis, chairman Of the street
and lane committee of council, learned
that the old rail which is being taken up
from Montgomery street between Liberty
and Anderson streets was being used TO
double track Abercorn street. The alder
man was aware that the rail on Mont
gomery street weighed only 20 pounds to
the yard, and as the ordinance recently
adopted by council specifically requires
that rails weighing not less than 80 pounds
shall be used in relaying track or laying
new track. he saw that the company was
acting in direct violation of the ordinance.
The enforcement of the ordinance having
been placed in the hands Of the street and
lane committee, Alderman Davis called
upon Marshal Power, and instructed him
10 stop the work. Marshal Power con-
fessed that he was not an expert on the
weight of rail, but having the statement
of the chairman of the street and lane
committee as to the weight being used he
directed Deputy Marshal Kelly to notify
the foreman in charge of the work to
cease laying the light rail.
The deputy marshal had taken a good
look al the iftypound rail being laid on
Bay street and felt competent to judge if
there were any difference between it and
that laid on Abercorn street. He arrived
on the scene about 80 o'clock and first
took a view OF the work A large force
Of hands was engaged in laying the rails
and putting the new track in shape. Sew
eral hundred feet had already been laid,
the work having progressed as far as
Charlton street. It was evident at first
glance that the rails were much lighter
than those being put down on Bay street.
+.
Kelly entered into conversation with the
foreman and learned from the latter mat
he thought the rails weighed about thirty
five pounds to the yard. Mr.. Kelly then
informed the foreman of the object of his
visit and notified him to stop laying ,he
rail. The foreman hesitated for awhile,
but finally ordered the gang to quit work.
He sent one of the men TO the office of
the railway company to notify General
Manager Johnston.
The other gangs were still at work when
Capt. Johnston arrived. He at once or
dered all the work stopped, and had the
cut which had been made across Jones
street, filled in in order to restore the
crossing.
To a Morning News reporter, who had
arrived on the scene ahead of him, Capt.
Johnston said he was under the impression
that the ordinance regulating the weight
of rail applied only TO the new rail pur-
chased by the company, and that he was
at liberty to so ahead and transfer any of
the T rail from any part Of the system to
any other part. Capt. Johnston was ask
ed what he would do about the matter
Simply go ahead and put down 90
pound rail" he said, land stop taking up
any more track.
What viii you do with the rail on the
old belt and Price street lines?"
Just leave it where it is" he replied.
''What is the use of taking it up IL we
can't make use Of it?"
The weight of the rail taken from
Montgomery street and also that on the
Price street belt, Capt. johnson said is
forty pounds, and there Is a considerable
quantity of it. The rail which was being
put down on Abercorn street appeared to
be an good condition and showed little
wear. 1t was put down on Montgomery
street about four years ago when the line
there was double tracked The first line
on Montgomery street was of I rail
All the new rails purchased by the COM
pany for the work here, Capt. Johnson
said is fifty-pound rail or heavier. The
rail which has been ordered for Whitaker
street as to weigh 70 pounds to the yard.
Capt johnson will confer with the street
and lane committee on the rail question
AS the ordinance specifically states that
hfty-pound rail must be used, however, it
is difficult TO see how any of the rail of
less weight can be used without a change
In the ordinance.