The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-11
SHELL ROADS NOT WANTED.
ANOTHER PETITION TO THE cow
MIssIoNERs sHELVED.

Property Owners Ask That the
Board Consider the Matter, But
the Petition Was Received ms In
fOrmatiOn-COmmittc on Roads
and Bridges Authorized to Pave
augusta Road out Beyond CherO-
kee hin Commissioners win
Look Into the Matter of Accepting
| "a Tract for n County Park.
| For the third or fourth time the County
! Commissioners yesterday sat down upon
the proposition to buy the two toll roads
of the county at the prices at which they
are offered.
A petition was placed before the board
by Mr.. Henry McAlpin, representing
about fifty or sixty property owners on
both roads. This petition urged that the
property owners felt 1t would be only jus
tioe to them for the county to purchase
these roads and make them free. They
were paying taxes. they stated to keeu
up other roads, and were practically dou-
bic taxed in having to pay toll to the COM
panies owning these roads.
Chairman Dale had The petition read
shortly after the meeting of the commits
sioners was called TO order. 1t was nearly
6 O'Clock when this was done,
as the commissioners caucused for
nearly two hours, and transacted nearly
all their business behind closed doors.
Mr.. McAlpin appeared before the board
and made a few remarks in behalf of his
clients. He spoke of the fact that toll roads
ha1 nrlr IN 5nF
that II was time for civilized communities
to do away with them. At the same time
he did not consider that these roads should
be taken without proper remunera ton to
their owners. He spoke also of the two
cemeteries on the Skidaway shell road, on
which all funeral carriages have to pay
toll lie had understood that the two roads
could be bought for $4,000
DO you think that is cheap" asked
Chairman Dale. III seems to me that
have read that one of these roads has been
almost destroyed while verdict for $265
was given against the other company for
having no road al an
Mr.. McAlpn then referred to the fact
that the Skidaway shell road company had
permitted the use of it's road by the army
for the interests of the community.
oh, il was another case of remember
the Maine, was it," Chairman Dale asked
Mr.. McAlpin said he understood that the
government authorities had agreed to put
it in good condition again. On motion the
petition was received as information.
do 1 understand thar the petition is
thus Indefinitely disposed OFF" Mr.. Meal
pin asked.
THAT is correct" MIR. Dale replied
Then you refuse to recognize the voice
of The people IN this matter?" MIR. Meal
pin asked.
"Oh, no. Mr.. Dale said 1.-THE petition
is on file and Il is liable to come up most
any time, that is when any member of
The board desires to bring 1t up We have
acted on similar petitions before"
That ended the discussion, from which 1t
is plain to see that the present board will
hardly consider the matter of purchasing
the shell roads.
Mr.. J. r. Saussy county attorney, made
a report of the suit recently brought
against the Vernon Shell Road Company,
in which il was assessed damages of $265.
The commissioners thought IL would be a
good time to put their execution into ef-
feet. The commissioners claim about $500
for work done in draining the road.
The commissioners will at once take up
the matter of paving the Augusta road
with Augusta gravel. An order was pass
ed. authorizing the committee on roads
and bridges to improve the Augusta road
by paving it with Augusta gravel from the
terminus of the present paving out to such
a point beyond Cherokee hill as may be
deemed necessary. The order also author
ICES the purchase of all too.s and materials
necessary to do this work, and the con-
struction of a couple of iron bridges along
the road.
Several bridge men were before the COM
missioners yesterday. They have submit
ted bids on the two iron bridges desired
on The Augusta road, one over Augustine
creek, and the other over a piece of
swampy land farther out, and the commit
tee on roads. and bridges will render a
decision i'm the matter this morning.
"A petition for the construction of a pub
lie road from Waters road 10 the Skid
away shell road, making an extension of
Henry street or some other open street
was on motion of Commissioner Smkins,
referred to the committee on roads and
bridges with Instructions to look into the
matter of rights of way.
party of commissioners will make trip
out 10 the seven-mile post on the Ogee-
chez road sometime the first of next week
for the purpose of examining a tract of
eighteen acres which was offered TO the
county sometime ago by Col. George s.
Owens, to be converted into a county park.
This property was given only on certain
conditions. The time for its acceptance
expires within about six months, and the
commissioners must decide what they are
going to do in the mater without delay.
The trip will be made for the purpose of
considering the tender.
Mr. e. j. Thomas qualified yesterday as
county surveyor and was sworn in for his
new term.