The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-20
CITY NEEDS STREET SIGNS.
WILL PROBABLY BE PROVIDED
FOR IN NEXT YEARS BUDGET.

ditures to Date Preclude Further
Appropriations for the Present
Yenr--Of the Various Signs In sa-
vnnnnh, the PIain Wooden Tackled
on Houses seems to Have Given
Best Satisfaction. They Are
Needed as Badly In One Part of
the city as the other.
Among the improvements by the city
next year viii probably be the erection of
street signs. They are badly needed in
Savannah, but as the present Council has
already expended more than its budget
allowance of $4,000, an appropriation for
this purpose will not be made.
The work done and which was not pro-
vided for In this years budget includes
the house drainage, Police Court building
and remodelling of prison, powder maya
zine and the purchase of twenty-seven
acres of land, paving Drayton street from
Bay to Anderson, paving around the mar
ket and on St. Julian street, paving part
of Barnard street and Meldrim avenue
with granite block, paving on New Hous-
ton street Bull street paved with gravel
from New Houston to Twelfth, Laurel
Grove cemetery drained, clearing streets
of debris after two storms, purchase of
new fire engine, and repairing quarantine
wharves, which were greatly damaged by
the storms. These extras also include a
large expenditure for pipe to carry water
to the military camps as a condition in
getting the troops to Savannah. From
this 1t will be seen the Council is not in a
position to incur much additional expense.
even though the Improvement be the much
needed street signs.
The necessity for signs has begun to
manifest itself since so many strangers
came here. AS 1t has been some time since
signs were last erected, they have nearly
all been destroyed. They are few and far
between, there probably not being more
than one to every three or four blocks.
Even old residents find it somewhat diff
cult in finding streets, especially in the
southern section, where the names are not
generally known, for the reason there is
nothing to denote them. Few persons be-
side residents of the southern section know
anything at all about the streets out there.
In the city proper ii is about the same,
with the exception of those who are ia
miar with all localities from long resi-
dence. II have lived in Savannah nearly
all my life" remarked a gentleman yes
terday, but it would be impossible for me
to locate streets, besides those we hear
mentioned prominently every day.
At the city exchange there are num-
Der of sample signs. They were submit
ted by contrac tors when the aldermen lad
an idea of designating the streets, but for
some reason did not carry out their in
tentions. A few samples are of wood,
IL. 49, ,eakN ,~f,r, with
raised letters. The background is so con-
= trasted In color with the raised letters
as to make them visible for some distance.
The names of streets can be as easily
seen from cars or other vehicles as from
the sidewalk. The iron signs seem to be
the most preferable Of the lot. The opin-
ia expressed that whether iron or wood
signs be used, they are more serviceaoie
attached to houses than to iron posts,
such as are to be seen in some portions of
the city
Nailed on the police barracks at Ogle
thorpe avenue and Habersham street is
wood sign which is said to have been
there over twenty years. 1t is well pre-
served, and the name South Broad st.
probably being as plain as 1t was the DAY
the sign was erected. Around the board.
which is of inch material, is a thin bor-
der of wood to protect it. These wooden
signs may be seen in many localities, and
in nearly every instance, they have been
remarkably well preserved. When the
time for adopting a sign comes, these
facts will speak strongly in favor of
wood as against iron, provided there is
enough difference in the cost. For dou-
BILE what wood costs, however, it is said
iron signs could be had, which would last
the city a half century.
In several places along Broughton street
copper signs have been placed in the side
walk, but they are not altogether salts
factory for the reason they cannot be seen
by persons in vehicles. Neither can they
be seen across the street 1t would be
inconvenient in always walking 20 the spot
where the sign is placed to see it, and more
expensive to pat them on every corner.
This would call for four signs TO the
block, whereas with wood or house signs,
only two are needed to be placed on oppo-
site corners.
ut strikes me the city needs signs bad
w." said Alderman Reid last night, ''but
there is no probability whatever of its pro
viding them this year. Already the expen-
ditures have been great along all lines and
the city has been called on for money it
never expected to appropriate at the be-
ginning of the present year In cleaning
streets and the improvement at the quar-
antine wharves, which We're greatly dam
aged the city was compelled to spend a
large sum. 1t may be truthfully said no
board of aldermen have made as many
improvements as the present. Most every
thing has been done at the urgent request
of property owners too. The result of this
heavy draft on the city's treasury has been
to run the finances low, and for that rea-
son there will probably be no additional ap-
preparations for any purpose, except such,
of course, as we are bound to make One
of these is an appropriation of 5000 for the
police department"
Were il not on account Of previous ex-
penditures, it is very probable the pressing
need for street signs would bring the mat
ter to the favorable attention of the Coun-
Gil without delay. An ordinance providing
for them at this time, however, would prob
ably be vetoed in the event it passed Coun-
Gil.
HUNTERS AT GEORGETOWN.