The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-10
PARKS AND TREES PENNILESS.
COUNCIL REFUSES To MAKE ANY
FURTHER APPROPRIATION.

ed Granting Its Request, But There
Were seven Against Them-AIder-
mum Charlton said Nobody Is Re
spOnsibIe For the Commissions.
The Park and Tree Work Not to BE
AbandOned-The Commission 10
Meet To-day 10 Discuss Plans For
Its Continuance.
The city council has cut the park and
tree commission off just behind the ears
The commission is to remain in the scrap
heap during the balance OF the year, while
its work is being carried on by com
mittee OF council, provided the commits
sion viii agree to polite request to that
effect.
At a meeting Of council yesterday, call
ed especially TO consider communica-
ton from the commission in reference to
an additional appropriation, it was decid-
ed by vote of to that no additional
appropriation be granted, and resolution
was adopted that the mayor address
communication to the park and tree com
mission, inquiring if it had abandoned its
work in order that council might take
steps to carry it on.
The members of council present at the
special meeting we're Mayor Meldrim and
Aldermen Hamilton, owens, Krouskoff,
Reid, Charlton, Hull, Davis, Well and
Guckenheimer. The communication from
the park and tree commission was read by
Mayor Meldrim. The action of council
at the last meeting, at which the request
of the commission for an additional APP
preparation of 5000, with which TO con-
tinue its work for the year was refused,
was referred to and the position of the
commission was then set forth in the fol-
lowing manner:
This request had been made because it
became necessary during the early portion
of the year to expend the sum of 5000 In
grading and putting in order the grass
plats upon Oglethorpe avenue, the grad
ing, removing Of rubbish and laying OF
walks in the new portion of Colonial park
and in additional work outside the fence
line Of Forsyth park. none of which was
considered or provided for by council in
making up the budget for 1891 but all OF
which was OF the class coming under the
jurisdiction of this commission and was
necessary to be done before May /, at
which time the ordinance against upturn-
ing the soil went into effect
"Our work for the year 1897 had been
carefully planned and arranged in accord
ance with our estimates submitted to
council on Dec l. 1896 which estimates
were recognized by them in their budget
for 1897 and the money therefore appro
priated.
1.-The above extraordinary and unpro-
vided for. but necessary expenses made it
obligatory upon US to make our request
that the sum so spent be replaced by an
additional appropriation of an equivalent
amount
THE failure to appropriate the $500
which, in our opinion, is necessary for the
preservation and care of the parks,
squares, trees and grass plats placed by
law in our charge, necessitated the inn
mediate suspension from duty of the entire
force employed by us, excepting that of
Laurel Grove cemetery and Estill park
which was accordingly done on June 3.
1T is our duty to lay before you the re-
suits which must follow your refusal of
our request.
I'VE are charged by law with the preser-
walton and care Of all trees, parks, squares,
grass plats and cemeteries in the city of
Savannah. and are responsible for the
performance of these duties.
The appropriation to be expended in
this work is very wisely at the discretion
of council, and it follows that the amount
of care to be given to this property de-
ponds entirely upon the size of the appro-
priation made to this commission by coun-
Gil for this purpose, the responsibility thus
being a divided one, the amount of care
being at your discretion, its proper exer-
else being at ours.
IF no further appropriation is made by
you, the following unfortunate results
must follow:
Il The flowers planted In Forsyth and
Colonial parks and the Bull street squares
will become a source of discredit and nui-
sance to the city, instead of ornamenting
these public grounds as intended.
-. Unless we have plentiful rains, the
several hundred trees set out during the
past year viii either die or be so injured
as TO become worthless, this will notably
be the case with the many handsome and
costly live oaks planted on the Oglethorpe
avenue grass plats and now growing so
finely.
"3. The grass and weeds. with one week
of summer rains, will produce a rank I'M
slightly growth in all of the public
squares and will become a nuisance aud an
eye-sore.
"a. The litter of paper In the squares
ana parks, which has with the past few
days neglect already become most un-
slightly and disagreeable. will continue to
grow worse, until with the rubbish Of fall
ing leaves and decaying vegetation, a con-
dition dangerous to public health may be
brought about.
IS The well-organized trained and ef-
ficient force of expert labor selected dur
Ing the past eighteen months by the com
mission viii be scattered the men being
thrown out Of work at a most unfortu-
nate time for the city as well as for them
selves.
&c. The work already accomplished will
be damaged TO the extent Of several thou.
sand dollars
I'VE therefore most urgently again pre-
sent the matter TO your attention, earnest.
~ requesting that you reconsider your ac-
ton before II is too late TO repair the dam.
age which will be inflicted upon the trees
flowers and grass plats. which now orna.
ment the city, and before forced neglect
has ruined their appearance. Immediat,
ana continued attention is necessary tc
prevent this, which cannot be given with.
out your favorable action"
The communication was discussed al
length. Alderman Hamilton said there
was no question that the property OF Tho
park and tree commission should be taker
care Of III no money were appropriated e
the commission IL would be necessary Il
put the work In the hands OF some on,
else Il was impossible 20 tell about IN,
finances Of the city. he said. Most OF IN,
departments are being run In excess OF