The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-23
REDUCED THE CLAIMS $4,000
CITY SETTLES THE PAVING COM
PLANTS ON BULL STREET.

TO Get the BENEFIT of the Reduction
However, They VIII Have to Pay
Their Assessments by Next We'd
nesday-OtherNvise They Will Be
Among the Unredeemed-An AL
derman Says the Lesson of the At
fair Is to Thoroughly Consult the
People in Advance.
The Bull street paving assessment COM
| plants have at last been settled, but in
order to get the benefit of the compro-
mise those against whom assessments
have been issued will have to settle by
next Wednesday. City Treasurer Hardee
sent out notices yesterday to the property
owners to settle by the time mentioned,
and as the compromise seems altogether
satisfactory to the committee represent
ing the complainants, it is likely all assess
ments will be paid at once
BY the agreement, the city reduces the
original cost of the paving 50 ,5029, which
| leaves the total cost about $1,000. This
is regarded as a pretty heavy cut in what
was supposed to have been an economi-
! Cally constructed pavement and it would
seem the city will come out loser to some
extent But the committee was actuated to
make concessions for the reason it did not
want the city to be suing for claims.
Rather than have any such feeling, it was
! decided TO make any reasonable conces-
sion. There were several joint meetings
of the committees representing all inter-
ests and the following is the resolution
| embodying their final adjustment:
The committee appointed to meet and
| confer with the committee representing
the Bull street extension property own
! ers, with reference to their petition to the
! Council requesting a reduction on the as
| sessments for paving Bull street, beg
leave TO report that they have carefully
! considered the complaints made by the pc
! titioners, and while not admitting they
| have legal defense to the claims of the
| city, yet, in view of what seems to be
their conviction about the character of
! the pavement, and in spirit of compro-
! mise, and for the purpose of avoiding It'll
! cation between the city and its citizens,
/ which is always to be deprecated, rec
| ommend that on Bull street from New
! Houston to Tenth reduction on the to-
tai cost of 81, 572.S8, from Anderson to First
street $231.54, and from First to Tenth,
| $l,69S55 be made providing that the prop
erty owners awaiting themselves of this
settlement must pay the bills reduced in
| accordance with the resolution on or be-
! fore Dec. o. 1881
The reduction as indicated will be made
on the old assessment rolls, and each
| abutting property owners assessment
| will be again computed. This win not
take a great while, and it is expected a
majority will pay between now and the
! time specified. Unless they settle by the
time provided, however, they will, of
course be too late to get onto the reduc-
| ton train, which will have gone around
the bend if the property owners fail to
pay Some of the aldermen suspicioned
for a time that the real purpose of the
| complaint was to get additional time in
which 10 pay, and now that all matters
are settled, the board intends to see how
| promptly the money can be gotten into
the treasury. and whether the people out
there will duly appreciate the concessions
by prompt settlements.
"While I still insist the city has put
down one of the best pavements that could
! be built of that kind of material" said an
alderman, I'VE had to make re-
auctions for the sake of keeping out of
lawsuits, If for no other purpose To have
the city harassed with dissatisfied proper
/ ty owners would have been a serious draw
city government in the future There
would always have been an excuse for not
/ paying, and while we did not propose to
make the complainants a. present of the
work, still we were quite willing 10 meet
them on any reasonable proposition. Now
that the matter is settled, there will be no
further trouble.
"At least one important lesson has been
4 taught the city in the proceedings JUST
| concluded" he continued. ut is that all
the people should be consulted when it is
desired TO do paving work for which they
are TO pay in part. This could have been
done in a few hours with the Bull street
people. Or the city could have stated the
| case clearly in letter to all interested |,
and in that way the understanding would
/ have been complete The present would
/ have been estopped. We were called upon
to give them a cheap pavement. We did it,
and the result is we have had to make a
big reduction. or follow them for years
in the courts. When there is always an
| understanding, and when the property
| owners have expressed themselves as TO
| their preferences, there is no reason for
them to complain, and the city has the con-
ISOLATION of knowing just how things are
TO end"
All who are interested in the complaints
seem TO be satisfied with the result which
makes ii very probable there will not be
any further trouble. They get the re-
| duction they asked for, and the city gains
an advantage in getting cash for claims
| which might have been outstanding a long
time.