The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-25
MUST BE FEWER CONDITIONS.
CENTRAL WILL NOT AGREE TO THE
PROPOSED ORDINANCE.

| ing Tomorrow. nut II the Grant Is
Hardened With ProvisOs, 1t VIII
Not Re AcceDted-Vice President
Egan Says the Only Acceptable
Conditions Are Those That Now
PrevaiI-The Board May Also Con-
slider the Southern Section Side
walk Ordinance.
A special meeting of Council will DO
held tomorrow night to again consider
the River street franchise, and also to
take tip the southern section sidewalk or
dinapce. The indications are that both of
these matters, which have been before the
board some time, will be finally passed
upon.
Unless the ordinances 1t is proposed to
submit as reports of the joint committee
are more relenting, there is not much
doubt but the Central will decline to ac-
cept the River street grant. Enough has
been said by representatives of the road
to indicate that they will not take the
grant if it is offered them, unless the city
offers it under reasonable terms. Any
such conditions as those in the ordinances
published in the Morning News yesterday,
except that relating to the charge per
car for transferring, will not be accept
able to the Central.
Vice President Egan was seen last night
in regard to the prospective action of
Council, and was asked as to the condi-
tons under which the grant would be
accepted. His reply, in brief, was that it
would be accepted under the same condi-
tons that govern the roads present oc-
cupancy of that street, which is that
transfers will be made for 81.
I'VE are not in the unfortunate position
OF being unable to make this connection
in any other way than by the route we
ask Council for" said Mr.. Egan. There
is another way open to us, and If COM
PEELED to do So We win make the con-
nection with the Tybee road by it. In
der the city's grant of River street to
the Savannah and Western Railroad
which is now owned by the Central the
right was given to build through River
street to the Tybee road. The route is
direct from the Ogeechee to the Bilbo
canal and thence along the Bilbo canal
to the Tybee road. am advised this IS
a contract between the city and railroad,
and we understand we can make the con-
nection by this route at any time.
''But we did not wish to pursue the cir
cuitous route to the Bilbo canal" con-
tinued Mr.. Egan, (which would necessi-
tate crossing the tracks of the Plant Sys-
tenn, and then building parallel with the
canal. We decided to ask Council to grant
the right through city property. and cut
through the Lamar estates to the Tybee
depot, thereby saving considerable time
and making a more convenient route. This
will cost far more than adopting the route
we already have, for the reason there Is
so much property to condemn that the
cost VIII be immense.
THE Central viii extend its tracks I'M
4 4 III .l,
vail, TO wit: No Determinations, and the
charge of 81 per car for transfers. Moth
ing is being asked except what is beneh-
cial for the city, and If too many condi-
tons are to be attached to the grant, we
will be unable to accept it. Something has
been said about the Georgia and Alabama,
and the Florida Central and Peninsular
being designated for the privileges of
transfers. This Is unnecessary, as the
Central now has contracts with both these
roads, by which they receive these privi-
leges. And for the Central to agree to
give these privileges to any other road
that may come here is altogether out of
the question The first resolution the
board adopted Is about what the Central
will agree to- as that covers the condi-
tons under which 1t now occupies the
street."
A whole meal sack of conditions to the
grant have suggested themselves to the
aldermen since the matter has been recon-
sidered Some think the Central will
change-its terminals to Tybee, If allowed
to make the connection, and thereby form
a continuous line to the island This
seems too ridiculous to consider, however,
as the Central has just finished expendng
about 100000 on its present terminals, and
MIR. Egan says the company will not be
apt to move them soon.
1t is evident the road will make the con-
pQctiOn as soon as right fG GRAINED
provided the restrictions are not imposed.
The interests of the Central are vitality
allied with Savannah, there Is mutual
benefit from extended business, and the
policy of the road is to encourage and
promote this wherever possible. II is as
serted the present petition for right of
way through River street is not move
to gouge the city, but a sincere effort to
benefit the business men, and at the same
time secure an increased volume of BUSH
ness for the Central over Its various lines
1t has no Klondike in transfers on River
street, but the privileges 1t would be
able TO offer there would be means of
securing more business
1T is said the Central will not agree to
ship freight from points on River street
to points thereon, or from River street
to the suburbs, for dollar per car. The
road would derive no benefit from such
shipments except this short distance,
which would make it impracricable to un-
dertake such a thing. Where the ship
ments are given to the Central at Macon
or Atlanta it can we'll afford to make the
transfers, but not in cases where the
shipments are only a mile from one track
to the other.
The Council win also take up the side
walk ordinance in case Its time is not all
taken up by the railroad matter The ordi-
nance has been revised In accordance with
the wishes of southsde citizens, and Is now
ready for dts passage. There are a number
OF amendments, however, proposed by
some of the aldermen, which win not be
adopted Some of these would have the eff
feet of making the ordinance about the
same as the one vetoed some time ago by
Mayor Meldrim because it required that
the work be done too soon, and included
too much territory. By the proposed
amendment of one alderman sidewalks
must be built as far out as Twelfth street,