The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-15
NO MUSHROOM BARRooMS.
GEORGIA THREE-MILE LAW WILL
SHUT THEM OUT.

Get Within Mile of the Arm
Camps-PIantSystem Putting Down
Spur Track-COunty Commission
crs Asked 10 Build an Extension 10
the Camp - VIII Decide 1t This
Morning-StnR Officers Return to
Jacksonville - Commanding on
GERS Under the Corps BeOrgnni2a-
ton.
Among the interesting questions which
will undoubtedly come up in connection
with the establishment Of two large army
camps here for a period, will be that Of
the sale of liquor.
There is a natural tendency on the part
of the average soldier 20 drink. 1t is not
true of all, but il may be said to be so
with the majority. Soldiers have a good
deal of idle time on their hands, and
the man who has little to do at times. is
more than liable to want a drink now
and then if not frequently.
II is altogether probable, therefore, that
efforts will be made on the part of some
alleged enterprising barkeepers to put up
temporary places somewhere in the neigh
borhood Of the camps for the purpose of
dispensing ali sorts of drinks to the
thirsty soldier. As the law is construed,
however, the probability is that there
viii be very little chance of establishing
a barroom within very close range of
either of the camps.
The charter of the city of Savannah
gives 1t police jurisdiction within two
mile limit outside of the corporation line.
This includes the control of barrooms,
taverns, stores and other places Of bust
ness within that limit. According to the
charter alone. therefore, the city would
have a right to license barrooms within
two miles of the city limits, and this
might take them right up to the two
camps of the Seventh Army Corps which
will be located here
But there is another law, which, ac-
cording to the opinion of one of Savan-
nah's best known lawyers, will prevent
the establishment of any barrooms outside
the city limits. This is the state law
which provides that no liquor shall be
sold outside the corporate limits of any
city or town. within a radius of three
miles of any church or public or private
school house. 1t is the belief that this
law viii prevent the estabh shment of any
barroom outside the city limits. If any
baroom men, therefore, want to get any
nearer the troops than they are at pres
ent they cannot go beyond the city limits
according to this construction of the law
for in that event they could not get
without the three-mile radius as stated
In the law.
The nearest point to either camp within
the city limits will be more than a mile
away, or fully that distance, and the
chances are, therefore, that there will be
very little profit in putting up saloons
at that distance from the camps. The
soldiers who are inclined to drink. there
fore, viii have to do so when they are
on a leave of absence, either in the city
or at Thunderbolt.
In making provisions for handling the
troops il Is probable that a railroad track
win be constructed from the crossing OF
the Plant System and Bull street, out Es-
till avenue to the camp on Dale avenue.
The Plant System has already begun
work on a spur track, which will be
about 2,000 feet in length. This will be
used for the purpose of unloading the
troops and their supplies, which are to go
90 the camps. The staff officers of the
corps, who have been here, have petition
ed the County Commissioners to build q
track about $500 or 1000 feet in length,
connecting with the Savannah. Florida
and Western spur TO the camp on Dale
avenue
A special meeting of the County Com
missioners to consider this matter has
been called for 8 o'clock this morning.
That petition simply asks the County
Commissioners to furnish the labor for
the purpose of putting down the track
1t is understood that the old Savannah,
and Isle Of Hope Railroad, which runs
along Dale avenue, has been rendered to
the officers for the use of the camp by
President d. G.. Purse of that line, who
also furnished the men the large tract be.
longing to the Merchants and Mechanics
Land Company, upon which the camp of
the first division will be located. The
county, therefore, will not have to fur
nish any of the rail or crossties, but sim
ply lay the track. Whether they will do
il or not will be decided at this morning S
meeting
The laying of the water pipe from Elev-
enth and Abercorn streets to the camp
on Dale avenue has already begun and
Will be completed by the time the troops
get here, so that they will have a plenti-
full supply of water from the start An
other main will be run across from the
Dale avenue camp to the camp on the
Thunderbolt shell road at once, and thus
both camps viii be supplied
The officers have definitely decided to
take the flOrida central and PeninSular
and Central Railroad depots offered as de-
pots for the commissary and quartermas-
ter's departments. The work of putting
electric lights in these depots on West
Broad street and New street will begin at
once.
So far as is known there is nothing to in
terfere with the movement of the troops
from Jacksonville to Savannah at the time
stated II will depend largely on the VISIT
of the army investigation commission
which will reach Jacksonville on Monday
and witness a review of the CORPS that
afternoon. If the commission completes
its work there on that day. the movement
of the troops is practically sure TO begin
on Tuesday. Otherwise it may be post
poned until Wednesday. There is little
doubt, however, that the movement of the
troops Will start at that time.
All of the staff officers of the corps. who
have been here making arrangements and
looking over the situation left the city
yesterday to return to Jacksonville and
be present there on the arrival of the
army investigation commission Some oil
them will return to Savannah Monda,
night and others Tuesday for the purpose
Of cOrnplptinw The arrauUerDapfe fo. -,