The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-15
STRAIGHT TRACK AGREED TO.
BROUGHToN STREET SWITCH WILL
BE TAKEN UP.

Alderman Davis Regards the Agree
meDt a Distinct Concession by the
Railway Company The Duffy
Street Track to Remain and Be-
come Part of the "Big BeIt'-Lit-
tie Chance for Opposition Lines to
Get in Now.
The difference between the street and
lane committee of council and the Savan-
nah. Thunderbolt and Isle of Hope rail-
way as to the Broughton street switch
was settled yesterday in favor of the COM
mittee. The railway company agrees TO
take up the switch and TO run a single
straight track down the center of the
street. 1t further agrees to pave the por-
ton of the street occupied by the switch
on both sides of the new track with as
phalt
The Water Commission is replacing the
paving between The tracks in considera-
ton of being allowed TO lay the new
water main under the track. The commits
sion is replacing the granite blocks ex
cept at the principal crossings where it
will use asphalt.
Alderman Davis is very much pleased
with the satisfactory result of his little
tilt with the railway authorities He re-
CARDS the action of the railway company
as a distinct concession on its part as the
agreement with the city specified that the
| company should have the right to relay
the Broughton street switch
In speaking of the relations of the street
and lane committee to the street railway
revision he said: "Our effort has been TO
secure the very best street railway system
that could be obtained in the interest of the
whole city. Where necessary to oppose
the street railway company in the inter
ests of the city we have done So We
have conceded nothing that was not to
| the best interests of the citizens with a
view 10 securing the harmonious working
of the new system. The work has con-
| sumed more time than was expected, but
| for good reason. The company started out
| to spend $4,000 in improvements. 1t has
| already spent between $4,000 and 100000
| and there is a great deal of work Yet to
be DONE"
Another change in the contract with the
| railway company was agreed to yesterday
| by the committee. Instead of double
tracking Anderson street for the use of
the outside belt, as was contemplated by
| the contract and tearing up the line on
Duffy street, the railway company will be
allowed to retain its track on Duffy street,
and will operate the Duffy and Anderson
streets tracks as loop of the outside belt,
running cars one way on Duffy and the
other on Anderson.
| Alderman Davis, in giving this informa-
ton to a Morning News reporter stated
that the change was made at the request
of the street and lane committee. MANY
| property owners on Duffy street want the
track there retained" said he Anderson
street is too narrow for a double track as
people who use that street are well aware.
| The track and switch on Anderson, just
east of Barnard, completely occupy the
street at that point. Under this arrange
ment the switch will be removed"
The other deviations which have been
allowed from the contract AL
derman Davis said, are entirely
minor affairs. such as putting in curves
not specified in the map, which are in the
interest of patrons of the system, by rea-
son of allowing of greater convenience in
operation.
Alderman Davis said the committee is
not inclined to press the railway company
about minor matters, while The main Wort,
OF revision is in progress, but all such mat
tiers as placing all street crossings in prop
er condition, removing unused portions OF
track, replacing paving, ETC., will receive
the attention of the committee in due time
and the railway company required to per
form its full duty in the matter.
There is a wide field for the committee
to operate in. The patchwork that has
been done by the railway company in
many places is such that people are won
sdering whether the city or the railway
company controls the streets. The work
around johnson square and in st. Julian
street west of the square to Whitaker
street is dangerous to travel.
There is considerable doubt as to the
weight of the rails on the old Price and
Duffy street belt tracks, whether they are
up to the 50-pound standard required in
the city contract. The deviations in the
contract seem to have resulted in a mum.
Der of changes in the system. The granting
of the Duffy street franchise for continu.
Ing the track on that street to be used as
a part of the belt doing away with the
necessity for double tracking Ander.
son street has never been passed upon by
Council in open session.