The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-17
COUNCIL REC0NSIDERS
RIVER STREET FRANCHISE CUES
TTON WILL BE RE-OPENED.

Vannah Freight bureau - Claimed
That Councils Resolution Does Not
Fully Protect Business Interests In
the Matter of Transfers Commas
siOner Purse Explains the Bureaus
Position.
The recent resolution of Council grant
ing rights to the Central Railroad
through a portion of River street will be
reconsidered. a motion 10 this effect was
carried al a special meeting of Council
yesterday afternoon. held to consider an
intercession by the Savannah Bureau of
Freight and Transportation.
Since the return of Commissioner d. G.
Purse of the freight bureau, new phases
of the question have been opened up, with
the result that a petition setting out the
views of the bureau, and strongly urging
that no further action be taken until the
grant and the benefits the city was to
receive. were more thoroughly defined. 1t
was also asked that special meeting of
Council be called to hear members of the
bureau on the matter, and Acting Mayor
Owens did this promptly.
After the petition was read Alderman
Krouskoff explained his reason for ap-
proving the grant. He said it had been
his object, as well as that of Alderman
Charlton, chairman of the committee on
opening streets, to acquire the property
obstructing River street for the purpose
alone of getting this connection, and there
by bringing about reduction to the mer-
chants of present high transfer charges.
He said he thought that by giving the
Central, the only road along that street
now, the right through to it's Tybee di-
vision, with proper restrictions on what
the transfer charges should be, that the
city's object would then have been ac-
complished.
The question as to the regularity of
the favorable report of Alderman Davis
as chairman of the joint committee on
the resolution, was raised by Alderman
Guckenheimer, who said he was not pres
ent at the meeting of the committee. Al
derman Davis explained, however, that
the report was made by direction of the
committee of the whole, which removed
the objection
Alderman Davis then moved that the
resolution be reconsidered giving the Cen
was no objection, Aldermen Thomas, We'll,
Krouskoff, Guckenheimer and Davis vot-
ing in favor of it. The matter will come
up again at the next regular meeting of
Council, when a committee from the
freight bureau will be present, and the
other conditions heard which they think
SHOULD be attached to the grant.
Commissioner Purse was called on for
an explanation of the position the bureau
takes in the matter He said the city
was about to part with the most valuable
franchise it has controlled in Its history,
and he thought the greatest care should
be observed in protecting the commercial
interests of Savannah, which had suffer-
ed for years on account of this question
of transfer charges He said a commit
tee of the bureau desired 10 present
clear intelligent, compact statement of
the transfer situation to Council before
further action was taken.
A part of the petition read at the OPEN
ing of the meeting, clearly defines the
position Capt. Purse and the freight bu-
reau takes in the matter. 1t is in part as
follows:
For nearly three years." the petition
says, "the Savannah Bureau of Freight
and Transportation has iabored unceasing-
ly to secure the opening of River street,
between the extremes of the city, In order
TO connect the various railways now CEN
tering here, or that may hereafter seek
outlet at Savannah by the short and In
expensive route afforded by the opening of
River street, that transfers now costing
So. 20 to 81 80 might be reduced to a max
imum of 81, and thus lift from the bust
ness energies of Savannah a most crush
ing burden that acts as a trade discrimina-
ton of the severest character building up
Charleston and Brunswick to the contin-
ued detriment of the commerce of Savan-
nah.
In making this appeal for a hearing,
this bureau would not be understood to
oppose the confirmation of the present par
tial occupancy of River street by the Cen
trail of Georgia Railway, or in the grant
ing TO them, under proper safeguards, the
right to extend their tracks to connection
| with Plant System tracks and their Sa-
! vannah and Atlantic Railway division
| tracks through the newly acquired street
! areas 1t Is no concern to this bureau who
! occupies River street, provided such occu-
patton is under conditions and limitations
! protective of Savannah's commerce against
| the world.
That three years delay in reaching the
present status in the opening of River
street has been occasioned by conditions
! beyond the control of Council, and this bu-
reau, there is no need now for too much
| haste in finishing up a matter pregnant
! with such vital concern for every business
| interest in Savannah. Your own honorable
body must be imbued with necessity for
deliberate action and thorough inVestga-
ton in so important a question, when on
both occasions, it was discussed in caucus
| previous to action in open Council, the
vote was a tie, the Mayor casting the de-
Gliding vote for immediate action,a and hence
the adoption of resolutions upon the sub
ject at last meeting of Council.
Further, Council could welf have hest
tated 70 take preciptate action upon the
| subject when the officials of the company
upOn whose DetitiOn il acted. were so wide
apart as TO what the grant to their COM
pany would accomplish for the business
| community, and, therefore, for the good
| of the city, as the two interests are in
separable and indissoluble. AT one meet
ing, rumor confidently afirms, the presi-
dent and vice president being present, the.
president stated very positively 10 men,
bers of Council present that the grant If
conceded, would not affect present transfer
/ charges. At a subsequent meeting the vice
| president only being present stated that
transfer charges would be reduced by the