The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-20
WANT THE MAGAZINE MOVED.
Tons of Explosives Within 300 Yards
of the Water Works.

of the Water Works.
The announcement that the council com
mittee on city lots has under consideration
the securing of a new site for the city
powder magazine meets with the hearty
Endorsement of all who have any knowl-
edge Of the subject
The magazine is within 800 yards of the
wafer works. and within less than a mile
Of the western side of the city. There are
several tons of high explosives stored
there, the explosion of which would pos
sibly not only wreck the water works ard
do tremendous damage to the railroad
property on the western side of the city,
but would do more damage within the
city itself than has been done by all the
storms of recent years combined.
Those who have had experience with
such explosions elsewhere say that the
proximity of the magazine is such that
scarcely a building in the city would es-
cape the effects of the explosion.
The loss of life would depend chiefly upon
the contingent accidents within the city,
resulting from the explosion. Figuratively
speaking. the people of Savannah are
sleeping over a mine which may be eXplod-
ed at any moment. other councils have
the advisability of changing the location Of
the magazine, but il has been left to the
present council to act.
If all the members of the board view the
matter in the same light as does Alderman
Smith, there viii be no doubt of prompt
action.
Mr. James NJ. Dixon, chairman of the
water commission, was especially wen
pleased to hear of the intentions of the
committee in this matter. Mr.. Dixon has
the largest store of explosives in the maya
zine, including abut 5000 pounds of dyna-
mite and l,2G0 kegs of powder, and the re-
moVal of the magazine would probably
prove an Inconvenience to him in busi-
ness way.
THE magazine should be moved to
safe distance from the city" said Mr..
Dixon when spoken TO about the matter
yesterday 1T is within 800 yards of the
waterworks and within less than mile of
the city, and an explosion there would do
terrific damage. The roof was blown off
during the storm last year and was replac-
ed with a felt roof, which is liable to catch
fire at any time There was a fire in a
held near the magazine the other day and
the keeper Mr. Umbach, protected the
building at the risk of his life, getting up
on top the building and knocking off the
sparks as they fell.
number of other merchants besides
myself have quantities of explosives in the
magazine and if there should be an eXplo-
sion there there would not be a building
over two stories high left standing in the
city"
Superintendent Lotion of the water
works was also seen, and expressed him
self in a similar manner.
The magazine is only $50 yards in the
rear of the water works." said Supt. Lof-
ton. what the damage would be in the city
in case of an EXPLOSION, l cannot say, but
I am satisfied tF--,--sr -MoELs. would get
the worst effects of thess2 lhe shak-
ing down of the .buildnSs would
almost certainly occur, woi = s&2 he
most serious damage. The R-sninery at
the water works is all built upon sepa-
rate foundations, and these would be so
shaken and twisted by the shock that the
machinery would be rendered practically
worthless. The water mains leading into
the city would probably be broken At any
rate, the citys water supply would be
shut off for weeks, perhaps months.
The main leading 60 the old works and
the river would doubtless be broken also,
and the city cut off from securing water
from this source, as well"
II is evident that the damage which
would result from an explosion at the
powder magazine are 700 tremendous and
too far-reaching 70 be risked longer than
is absolutely necessary to provide secure
Judgment for the explosives elsewhere.