The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-27
CHANGES IN THE CAR LINES.
A GENERAL, REVISION OF THE
STREET RAILWAY SYSTEM.

q
Wcek-NearIy Every Line in the
City to BE Changed-The Council
Going Slow in Granting COnces-
sions-Some of the Proposed
Changes.
The committee on streets and lanes VIII
nrohably make report at the meet
ing of council next week upon the
revision of the street railway system OF the
CITY. The important changes 10 be made
have practically been agreed upon 1t is
unders TODD. and only some minor matters
are to be decided.
The changes desired by the street rail-
way company, and which viii probably be
permitted by council. are considerable, in
volving the taking up of considerable
track and the laying of a good deal Of
new track, including double tracking some
OF the important lines.
As has been previously stated in the
Morning News. the Barnard street line is
20 be connected with the Whitaker and
Abercorn belt Cars will be run north on
Barnard street and south on Whitaker
the cars running both ways on Abercorn,
which will be double tracked for this pur-
pose and also down Whitaker street.
This will do away with delays on
switches. and will enable a much more
satisfactory schedule TO be run. 1t is pro-
posed 10 run cars at intervals of about
five minutes on this combination belt.
The changes to be made, which will af-
feet the greatest number of people proba-
bly,, are those in the Price and Montgom-
cry street belts, both of which are to be
done away with. The old big belt
which has heretofore been the chief ac-
commodation of the people in the southern
section, is to be cut off at Anderson street
and connected across the city at that point,
thus reducing the circumference of the belt
by more than one-third. To accommodate
the people in the southern section the
Whitaker and Abercorn belt will be ex-
tended south to Tenth street, thus giving
them the benefit of the quick schedules TO
be run on that line. a shuttle car will
be run down Montgomery street, con-
Meeting at Anderson street with the Bay
street belt.
Another belt is contemplated by connect
ing the Liberty street track with what is
now known as the big belt" on West
Broad street and extending the ST. Julian
street track around Franklin square into
West Broad, and building from Price
street east to East Broad. Cars would
then run from Liberty street into West
Broad down West Broad to ST. Julian,
east on St. Julian to East Broad, connect
ing with the big belt again. and running
down President street past the Tybee de-
pot, and south on Randolph to Liberty.
If this plan is not adopted the Liberty
street track will probably be taken up.
1t is the belief of those, who
have the matter in hand, that this ar
rangement will result in giving much more
satisfactory service to the public the old
cireuitous routes being done away with,
and shorter routes substituted. This will
also enable the company to operate quick
er schedules, and give better service in
every way. There are a number of other
changes TO be made, which have not been
announced as yet.
Director ]. n. Hartman, who has charge
of this matter for the Savannah, Thunder
bolt and Isle of Hope Railway Company,
said that he hoped to have the complete
plan ready in a few days now. He named
the changes mentioned above, however,
as among the most important to be made
by the company.
1.-The system will be so arranged" said
Mr.. Hartman, that practically any point
in the city can be reached from any other
point in the shortest possible time and
transfers will be given so that any point
on the line can be reached for one fare"
Under the city ordinance which prohi-
bits the upturning of the soil during GER
tain months of the year, the work of
changing the tracks cannot begin before
November. AS it will require some time
70 make the numerous changes proposed,
the patrons of the street railway may not
have the opportunity of passing judgment
on the new system until after Christmas
Some Of the aldermen are very strong
ly in favor of requiring the street rail-
way to vacate Whitaker street as one
of the conditions of the various priVf-
leges granted. They argue that the rail-
way company can well afford to give up
Whitaker street. as it would then have
belt around Abercorn and Barnard
streets, both of which streets could be
double-tracked. and the railway company
would then get the benefit of all the traf-
nc between Barnard and Abercorn streets.
In return for this concession by the rail-
way company they say that council would
undoubtedly guarantee to the company
the exclusive right to these streets and
the prohibition of any competing lines
which might desire to use them.
Tn removal of the street railway limo
from Whitaker street, the aldermen say,
would be decided improvement to that
street. With the tracks gone council
would be in the position to asphalt both
Drayton and Whitaker streets. Such an
improvement, they argue, would be one
which. would be enjoyed by the whole
city. These streets would then become
the popular boulevards for pleasure driv.
Ing, and would be an especial advantage
to the thousands of bicyclists i'm the city
The matter will be brought forcibly to the
attention of council. This question has
not been agitated among the members of
the board generally, but the suggestion
can hardly fail to meet with the favor
able consideration of the entire body
There is a good deal of interest in the
action which the city council will take. In
granting CONCESSION to the street rail-
ways. Savannah is sadly lacking in any
thing like modern street railway system.
The equipment of the present lines Is far
behind that of most cities, and with free
grants OF the streets by the city, the coun-
Gil is expected to require the company to
operate an up-to-date system. The sugges-
ton has been made that the council com
mittee look into the operation Of street
railway systems in adjoining cities before
granting important concessions
DIED FROM HIS INJURIES.
t