The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-21
cENTRAL'S GRANT IN DOUBT.
ALDERMEN INCLINED TO TABLE
both ORDINANCES.

and for That Reason should Not
Be Transferred-SeveraI cues
fiOns StiII to BE Considered.
Concerted action is not promised by
Council on the ordinance granting the
Central Railroad a franchise on that part
of River street extending from the present
terminus of its tracks to a point where
the proposed connecting line
viii strike private property.
Much thought has been given the
matter, but the board has a prolonged
discussion in store before it win have set
tied on anything definite in regard to the
grant.
When the petition of the railroad COM
pany was first submitted, it took the
usual course, going to the railroad COM
mittee for consideration. After one or
two meetings the committee failed to
agree, the result being that two ordinance
es were submitted to Council, one being a
majority and the other a minority report.
There were several points of difference.
but the principal one is that the majority
report makes the track a continuous line
with the Central Railroad, while the 9TH
err provides that it shall be transfer road,
separate and distinct from the Central
Both ordinances are before Council, and
were to have come up for final considera-
ton at the meeting previous to the last,
but were deferred for the reason that AL
German Charlton, chairman of the COM
mittee on opening streets, expressed the
hope Of reeonciling all parties concerned,
nd for do 4
then understood the ordinances would be
considered at the meeting Wednesday
night. Alderman Charlton was out of the
city at that time, however, and his re-
quest that no action be taken was agreed
to by Council, with the understanding
a special meeting should be called as soon
as practicable after his return, and final
action taken in regard to the matter.
Alderman Charlton's return yesterday
again brought the matter up. The motion
in Council that special meeting be held
as soon as practicable after Alderman
Charlton's return naturally brought the
River street matter to the surface with
out preliminary remarks when the alder
man and Mayor Meldrim met.
Gwen, when shall we have meeting to
dispose of those River street ordinances?''
asked Mayor Meldrim.
TIn about a month, or two months, /
guess" replied Alderman Charlton jocu-
larly.
It is a known fact that certain members
of the board are not any too favorable to
the passage of either of the ordinances,
and Alderman Charlton is one of them.
His claim is that neither of the proposed
measures secure to the merchants the
rights they desire, and for that reason he
is not in favor of their passage.
Il am not for any move now looking to
| the disposition of that street to any rail-
| road" he said, last night. "As chairman
| of the street opening committee can say
| strong efforts have been made 20 open
! the street, and get things in shape so the
! city can grant the street to some corpora
| ton, and get all the privileges the mer-
| chants have been expecting since the city
commenced purchasing property for this
| purpose AS the matter now stands, IL
would be the hight of folly to continue
! treating with the railroads, as the city
| stands In the attitude OF giving away
| something it has not acquired With view
| TO opening up the way as originally pro-
| iected condemnation proceedings have
| been instituted in the courts against the
| owners of the Georgia chemical works
| tract, and the hope is TO secure this at a
| reasonable figure. The city will then con-
troll the whole situation, but II the present
! policy is followed out it will allow the
railroad TO secure this tract, and thereby
| partly own what the city should control
! absolutely. There is ample time in which
! to dispose of that street, which as a val
va BILE property and one large expenditures
have been made to acquire. My motion Is
the ordinances should go on the table, and
| remain there until the city has control of
the whole situation, and can grant the
street to the best advantage of the mer-
chants, whom it Is directly intended to
| benefit.
Mayor Meldrim was asked about the
matter. and said he thought 1t was time
consideration Is being given the ordinances.
| He said action had been deferred In defer
| ence to Chairman Charlton of the street
opening committee, but now that the al
| derman had returned and Council had
only taken recess pending his arrival, he
thinks it time to bring the matter TO
| head. He said he would call the meeting
very soon to consider the final disposition
| of both reports.
| Alderman Guckenheimer, member Of
| the railroad committee takes the same
view as Mayor Mefdrim, and believes Coun-
Gil should take prompt action one way or
the other. Fair treatment to the railroad
demands that there be no unnecessary de-
| Law as the company has signified it's in
| tention of making the connection If per-
| mitted to do so, and for Council to remain
| silent, or continue postponins the matter,
| is neither consistent nor business-like. He
himself is decided about the action he will
| take, as the matter has been thoroughly
discussed by the committee, and every
| thing for and against the city properly
weighed and considered.
Alderman Thomas will probably be with
| Alderman Charlton in the fight against
| Offering the ordinances for final passage
| Just now. When the motion was made to
| postpone action at the last meeting, AL
! derman Thomas moved as a substitute
that both measures be laid on the table,
! as there are a number of things to be
| discussed before they will be in shape
for passage. and the proper course was to
| table both of them for the present. Mayor
Meldrim apparently grasped the meaning
| of this, and reminded Alderman Thomas
thai his motion meant an indefinite post
ponement as the ordinances would re-
| main on the table until called up again.
! But 1t Is possible Alderman Thomas may
not be jealous in his support of either OF
! the ordinances just now.
1t is expected the special meeting will
.T..wHa