The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-05
FIGHTS ON PARADE GROUND.
..r, NOT BARRED FROM BUILDING
NEW WALKS.

,,torney Adams Says the Park
I'D Tree Commission Has Power
+, Keen Park Extension in Proper
,.,Aition-WaIl<s Need Improving
Naxv ones May De Built With
gucroachinG on Rights of the
Military.
Tre growing need for improved walks
.., park extension gives rise to
..a,a agltated in 1896 as to the rights
r,,es of the Park and Tree Commits
a,.r the property, which was condi-
....u,- bequeathed TO the military COM
.. of savannah. The commissioners
,.,. liked Council to define the city's
,-.sls fn the parade grounds, but these
,.,-,. have been long since fully set out
O., am oninion by City Attorney Adams.
Two letters were written the commits
-..,.,- ON the subject in 1896 by Mr.. Ad-
ans The first was rather broad in its
st3.fments. leaving considerable latitude
f,r reconstruction, and on this account
dtj moi get the facts exactly clear. Rec
o-n;zf0c this when later looking over his
s.,r.rs a second letter on the subject, as
follows:
.r have recently looked over a letter
rress copy of my letter to you about the
narade ground and the control of the mil
rarr The letter was, I think invoked
Inv the purpose of the Park and Tree Com
mission 10 plant trees there. My idea
a.,
terfere with the place as a parade ground
or the rights of the military therein. But
INV letter is too broad. The city has, of
course. q perfect right to keep it in proper
condition. clean it up and look after it
generally. 1t is set apart as a parade
ground, however, and this use cannot be
int5rfered with. The military cannot sell
or enclose it (without the permission of
the city, or use it except as a parade
ground The city has full jurisdiction for
all police purposes, which is a broad term.
embracing sanitation, health, good order
ana so forth"
"The expression police purposes, in le-
gal phraseOlosy, includes a great deal"
said Mr.. Adams. 1T includes public care
of the place generally, as well as the
preservation of order"
Since the necessity for Improvements
or the parade ground recently arose, the
commissioners have apparently dug up
The first letter, which is vague and far
from enightening them, and sent it to
Council with the request that specific
rights of The city, such as are set forth
in the second letter. be given them as
soon as possible. Probably with a view to
improving the parade ground in some way
the commissioners are now awaiting adj
wee from Council. The matter will not
likely be acted upon, however, further
than TO refer the commissioners to Mr.
Adams for any information desired which
IS not contained in the above letter When
seen Yesterday by d representative of the
Morning News, he stated that his letter
explained everything. and he thought re-
moved all doubt arising from the indef-
riteness of the first letter, which stated in
substance that the military owned the pa
rade grounds, and the city could exercise
ne control there except by permission.
Ii mas been many months since the spade
OF the workman has smOOthed the extern
sion walks, and the need for attention in
this regard is becoming manifest. Crum-
bed and dusty, rugged and untidy, the
walks present strikingly neglected APP
pedrance connected with the smooth sur
laced walks of the park proper. They can
hardly be contrasted, much less compared.
The extension walks are sort of compo-
Auon of shells, lime dust and gravel
screenings, which will not form into
hardened mass, but crumbles in some
places, while in others it hardens merely
etooSh TO produce a rough surface The
walks are used as much as those in the
PARK proper which makes the Importance
u Their good condition the same A Ge-
cded majority of the people walking from
ne southern part of the city take a short
CUT through the parks in place of passing
aioAs either Whitaker or Drayton streets.
IAs travel in connection with the thous-
amos VINO wander there at every opportun-
ny MAKES the necessity for the improve
Aent burning one. Moreover, what de-
udelS from one of the parks also hurts
lne other which is another reason given
LOT proper preservation
the commission makes any effort to
improve the parade ground soon, it has
pleA suggested additional walks be lid
O'I Wmen can be done without transgress-
Hs the rights the city possess there. 1t ia
UNDERSTOOD any Improvements can be made
~ long as they do not interfere with
grounds for parade purposes. A few
et"~eIut walks, laid out so as to take the
5iage OF the present paths now running In
-SIe nt directions, would add greatly to
s"1 "Ioscape, and be no drawback to the
I'iN iot parade purposes. Trees and 9TH
VI obstructive ornaments cannot be placed
@IoNs any walks in the Extension. though.
- stated, except that running through
center 1t is the general
Hel that there is room
tae development of much unique
bIu'E IA the extension, which seems to
dew S'Neted the fate of all things I'M
utr no definite control.
,o" mat there is no question about the
nus OF the commission to make any i'm
IL -'.'l5ep' Us which now appear necessary
az. ~ 'Ae expressed hope that immediate
,'" wa be taken. There may not be
NE 'Al park and tree funds to enable
ian I''''ssion to proceed, but the opin-
"oy consider request for speciaI an
Il a.i'7uon to provide benches. build
tt +'Ns ana otherwise Improve and beauty