The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-05
THINKS CITY SHOULD GO SLOW
ALDERMAN CHARLTON ON PROPOS-
ED RIVER STREET GRANT.

lie Believes Council Has Been Hasty
in Treating to Dispose of the
Street with Condemnation Pro-
ceedings Pending to Open 1t.
Says the Matter Is still With the
Street Opening committee, and
Not in Shape to Dispose of to the
City's Advantage.
Hon. Walter G. Charlton, chairman of
the committee of the Council on opening
! streets, returned yesterday, after an ex-
| tended trip to Lake George. where he re-
celved much benefit from rest and recrea-
/ lion. During his stay in the North Mr..
Charlton set aside all business affairs, and
therefore got the benefit he sought.
on the heels of his arrival, however,
comes a meeting of Council, in which
he is particularly interested, because of
the way the board has been dealing with
the River street property, which IS still
in the hands of the committee on opening
streets. While he did not criticise Coun-
ellis action in taking up this question dur
ing his absence the fact he has given it
far more attention than any other mem
Der of the board, he thinks, entities him
TO participate in the proceedings 10 give
the street away.
The petition of the Central Railroad for
the franchise, he said, had not been filed
when Mr.. Charlton left, or if it was. he
had no idea the matter would be disposed
| of with undue haste. He passes no unjust
| criticism on his fellow aldermen for hav-
| ing taken the matter up, but believes his
long connection with it, together with the
| fact that all the lands bought for open
ing the street were mostly through his
efforts, gives him information the board
might use with profit.
ITO begin with, this matter is still with
the committee on opening Streets" said
Alderman Charlton. THE action of Coun-
Gil places us in a peculiar position, as con-
demnation proceedings have already been
| begun against The owners of the Georgia
Chemical Works tract, which the board
apparently intends to allow the railroad
to open. II strikes me the action to give
| any institution a right through the street
| is premature, as we are now striving to
open it, and viii not complete the task
| for some time to come. All other obstruct-
| ing property, with the exception of this
tract, has been obtained. or at least, I
|
| have no trouble in getting it, The COM
mittee should be allowed to proceed, al
| do not think IL timely to undertake 10
dispose of a thing until 1t is acquired.
This opening of River street, and con-
Meeting the track along 1t with other roads
east of the city," continued Alderman
Charlton, has been one of the principal
things to which have directed my atten-
| ton. do not care what railroad or other
| corporation gets the franchise, so long as
the merchants on Bay street get better
! and cheaper transfer facilities. There may
| be some trouble in coming 20 an under
standing about the conditions that should
| apply If railroad gets it, but this should
| not interfere, as a private corporation
| would doubtless be willing to build track
| along there and operate il as a transfer
| road. This may be quite an Investment
| and one a private corporation would take
| in the event there is any trouble in dis
| posing OF 1t to a railroad on proper terms
| The Central Railroad was required in
| the hrst resolution 10 acquire the property
| we are now condemnng, in consideration
! of the grant" he continued 81 think it
should do more than this, if the right is
| given away. Not only should it open this
! property, but il should also reimburse the
| city for the expenditures that have al
ready been made in opening the street
| II this Is not done, the right should have
! some cash value, aside from connecting
| the track with another road
| Since the matter viii likely be brought
| up as the feature of the Council meeting
| tonight Alderman Charlton has arranged
| 10 have a conference to-day with both
| Vice-Presdent Egan of the Central and
! Commissioner Purse of the freight bureau
with view to accurately informing him
self on their positions. The ideas of both
gentlemen will be heard, so that when the
matter is called up Alderman Charlton
win not be compelled to call for time to
! post himself
Council may be called upon soon for an
appropriation of from 5000 to s., 900 to re-
| pair the wharves a. the quarantine sta
| ton. which were pretty well torn to pieces
| by Sundays gale. 1t is stated the wind
| was so energetic ii lifted the wharves
| tore the timbers assunder and left them
| in a demolished condition From the river
| they appear to be total wreck but il Is
! understood there is about half that can
| be repaired, while the other may have 10
| be rebuilt. The wharves extend 406 feet
| and 240 feet have washed away.
City Engineer VIM was at the station
! four hours yesterday looking over the sit
! uation and found the damage was about
| as reported. Ships are unable to moor az
| the station, except to the portion of the
! wharves that stood the storm. The board
| will likely await a report and recommen-
| dation from the committee on harbor and
! wharves.
FORGOT TO PAY HIS BILL.