The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-12
EXPLOSIVES OUT OF DANGER.
The City's New Magazine VIII BE Oc-
pied Monday.

pied Monday.
The city's explosives will be transferred
Monday from the old to the new maya
zine. This has just been completed. 1t
was accepted and paid for day before yes
terday, when as stated in the Morning
News. a party of officials, consisting of
Mayor Meldrm, Commissioner of Public
Works Willink, Aldermen Davis, Reid,
Charlton, Thomas and Smith drove out to
make an inspection Of the new building.
The magazine is located on the south
side of the Ogeechee road, about four
miles out The officials were greatly
pleased with all they saw and they regard
the magazine as one of the best they ever
saw. Two of the aldermen, speaking of
their inspection of the building, said they
have no doubt il is as fine a building for
its purpose as any in the state.
A cost to the city of about 5000 is rep
resented in the magazine and it's grounds.
There are over twenty acres of the tract
upon which il is built, and the city bought
this lust a short while before work on the
magazine was commenced, the, cost of the
land being about $500.
The magazine is strongly built and is
fre-proof. There is no wood about ii ex-
cept in the roof, and between that and the
explosives there is thick brick arch. The
floor consists OF a thick layer of asphalt,
and the same material is used on the
walls and ceiling 1t is said the entire
building might be placed in water and that
not drop could find entrance. The doors
are of steel and are very heavy. BY the
strength of the structure and other pre-
cautions that have been taken 1t is belev-
ed that it would be impossible for an ex-
plosion to take place through any ordinary
accident.
A dwelling house for Keeper Umbach
has also been built. This stands near the
magazine and both are within the same
enclosure. He is given the use of the
house and also of the twenty acres in the
tract His pay for his services comes in
the way of fees, these being paid by de-
positors in the magazine whenever any ex-
plosives are drawn out. The fee system is
not a very remunerative one, the keeper
finds and he would be pleased to see the
city government make his place salaried
one, even though the pay should be but
small
The ordinance for the building of the
new magazine was introduced into Council
some months ago by Alderman Smith, and
about three months ago work on the
structure was begun. The need of new
magazine had become urgent, as it was
considered that the further use of the old
one, which is located near the water
works. would be dangerous. Its proximity
to this valuable property was regarded as
enough to call for its removal, and there
were other considerations to show that
new magazine should be built.
The old magazine stands not far from
the railroad tracks, and passing engines
send sparks in its direction. The doors are
of wood, and the building is not entirely
fireproof.
This is the second change that citizens
will remember as having been made in the
storage of explosives. Some thirty years
ago the magazine was located on RAN
dolph street, between President and
Broughton. 1t was moved to the location
out beyond Laurel Grove cemetery which
was then some distance out in the coun-
try. 1t will probably be some time before
the tide of progress will sweep it still
further out into the county.
There is always large quantity Of ex-
plosives stored in the magazine Three
car loads will be transferred Monday to
the new building. The powder and dyna-
mite is kept In the magazine by the deal
ers in the city there being a law requir-
ing their storage In a safe place. This
place the city has TO furnish, but IL can
pass ordinances governing the storage and
compelling dealers to place all explosives
beyond immediate need in their business
in the magazine.
Some of the merchants on the Bay have
special permission to keep certain quanti-
ties of their explosives in their own lit
tie magazines in the city. AS the stock
in these run low they draw on their larger
supplies in the magazine. These small
magazines may be seen in the shape of
iron boxes along the side walk on the
north side of Bay street.