The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-24
A PUzzLER FOR COUNCIL.
JOINT COMMITTEE STILL wREsT-
LING WITH RIVER STREET.

Ordinances. ..-...
The River street grant to the Central
Railroad seems to be puzzling the alder
men, or at least, they are finding trouble
| in shaping an ordinance to suit themselves.
AT a meeting of the Joint committee yes
terday an ordinance was adopted as the
committees report, but some of the mem
bers did not assent to 1t, and drew another
ordinance to be submitted as a minority
report.
In the first section of this ordinance the
line the extended road will follow and the
streets it will cross are mentioned and de-
scriDed. The line runs from the eastern
end of the Georgia Chemical Company's
property, crosses Bay, Randolph and St.
Julian streets, and goes on to the Tybee
Railroad. 1t is provided in this section that
The extended road is to form continuous
| line from the present terminal of the Cen
trail to the Tybee road, by which the con-
nection with Pant System will be estab-
llshed
The two following sections set out that
| the Central shall make the connection "as
soon as River street is opened by the city
/ Of Savannah, or the right is acquired by
the railroad company, to extend its tracks
through the property of the Georgia Chem
| ical Works" II has been a question with
some OF the board as to whether it was
advisable to have the railroad open the
street through this property. 1t would
have exclusive title to the right of way
under these circumstances, whereas some
! Of the aldermen were inclined to think the
| city should acquire the property, so that
| it could be opened as a wagon road, or
! allow the fire apparatus to pass. This has
| been discussed at some length, and rs one
OF the points Of difference.
| Section four regulates the charge of
! transfers TO 81 per car, this charge 10
! include the return of empties The IAN
ruage is that the charge for transfers
Of freight destined for points beyond the
| Savannah terminal of the railroad com
| panies and corporations, including those
of the Central of Georgia Railroad, which
! may now or hereafter be established, shall
not exceed 81 per car to said connecting
! line, shipper, consignee, or company, saiG
/ charge to include the return of empties,
and the delivery of empties for return
/ loaded, aud to be the charge per car re-
| CARELESS of it weight or contents; provid-
ed however that nothing herein contain
ed shall prevent said Central Railroad
| from charging Georgia Railroad Commits
sion freight rates for freight shipped
! from any point on said River street to
any point thereon.
There are three other sections, the first
Of which requires the railroad to assume
all damage to individuals as the result of
/ its operations along the street, and fur
! Their requires it 10 permit ali public work
/ in laying pipes and sewers. The other
! sections require the railroad to keep cross
streets in proper condition, and gives the
city the right to pass such police regula-
tons as are deemed necessary.
It is, understood the ordinance as above
is the report that will be submitted by Al
dermon Davis, Smith, Thomas Reid and
! Gucl1enneiner. Alderman Krouskom was
not present, and Alderman Well, who was
at the exchange about the time the joint
committee adjourned, will submit mi
nority report
Alderman Weits substitute relieves the
railroad of keeping the cross streets in re-
| pair, but provides that the River street
| line shall "be treated as a transfer track, ="
and then proceeds the same as the above
! giving the railroad the right to charge
| regular freight rates on shipments from
point to point along River street.
Another section of Alderman Weils ordi-
nance provides that "any and all railway
companies now reaching Savannah, or thar
| may hereafter come to Savannah, shall
have the right to connect with the River
| street track, and the extension thereof
herein provided for, either east of the Sa-
vannah and OSeechee canal, or west of the
! Bi.boa canal and shall enjoy all the rights
ana benefits per cor above set out" The
final sections require the railroad to oper-
ate the line in accordance with the city
| ordinances.
Commissioner d. G. Purse Of the freight
bureau, is decidedly opposed TO the pass
age of either ordinance. and states that
the interests he represents will enjoin the
! city should il attempt to part with these
| rights. He asserts that River street is the
most valuable property the city owns, and
[ since the returns from ii are great, he
thinks a good, round consideration should
be realized. There is no question but capt.
tai would gladly make this connection, he
said and would then oHerate it more i'm
partially than a road holding 1t as mon
coory.
In speaking of the illegality of parting
with this franchise, Capt. Purse brings up
the argument he used some years ago,
when the CITY granted the Central Rail-
road and Banking Company the right to
lay its tracks on River street. He insists
the city has no right under Its charter to
give the railroad a franchise to transport
freight by steam power on any street, and
| that the legislature only can authorize
this. The brief cites a host of authorities
in support of this point. There seems to be
! 10 question: but tile proposed grant can
| only be made by consent of the legislature,
and this will be the main ground on which
a petition for an injunction would be
| based Ii is further stated that any con-
| tract between the city and the railroad, in
| which the former promises to secure the
right over any street for a railroad, as In
the present instance, would be void as
against public policy
Capt. Purse says that the grant under
which the Central now operates on River
street can be revoked regardless of the
! lapse of time, because the right TO make
il has not been obtained from the legis-
lature. For this reason he sees no him
drance to turning the property over to any
corporation willing to pay for ii. He thinks
the board should move slowly in parting
with the franchise, and get every benefit
it is possible to derive. A private eorpor-
alton would have no difficulty in operat-
| ing it, he claims as rule of the Railroad
| Commission provides that railroads
shall, without delay, switch off and de-
! 10 px - In