The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-29
TO BE SETTLED NEXT WEEK.
River Street Franchise VIII Then u,
Disposed of.

River Street Franchise VIII Then De
Disposed of.
The River street railroad franchise will
probably be finally disposed of at the next
meeting of the City Council, but the in
dcations are the conditions heretofore
mentioned viii be included in the ordI-
nance. The board has two ordinances from
which to select, one being the majority,
and the other the minority report of the
joint committee appointed to draft them.
At the meeting of Council the matter
was not discussed. The ordinances as
reports of the committee have been filed,
the first being the majority report, while
the other is a draft by Alderman Well sub
mitted as a minority report.
The gist of the ordinances has been pub
| lished, though there are few points of
difference The majority report fixes the
route the proposed road Is TO follow 10
the Tybee depot, and provides as to the
| Georgia Chemical Works property, that
| the connection may be made as soon as
| either the city or the railroad acquires the
right through it.
With reference to the transfer charge
| the report is specific, and gives the rail-
road every concession that could be asked.
1t is provided this charge shall be 81, as
| is the case now, In so far as the Central
| is ana lndI the ROAD snail nave
| the privilege of charging regular rates for
| freight shipped from point to point along
| the street. One of the conditions urged
| by the Freight Bureau was that the rail-
| road should shift cars at the regular trans
| fer rate, no difference whether the road
| received any other benefit from the ship
ment or not. The practicabiiity of this
| requirement was apparent to those who
| took a conservative view of the matter
as it was asserted the railroad could not
| be expected to load car, then shift and
| unload, probably having ii in service sew
eral hours and possibly days, for 81.
This question arose when some of the
coal companies on River street objected
| because they believed the Central charged
| them too much for shifting cars from
| their yards to the city water works The
| charge was based on so much per ton of
| coal, but the companies insisted it should
| be transported for much less. AS the
| very short haul was the only benefit the
| road got from the shipment however. The
| charge was made on a basis of the trou-
| Bile it took, and what the road considered
| reasonable compensation. 1t was to have
| this charge lowered that an effort was
| made to insert clause in the ordinance
providing that these deliveries should be
| made for the same as a transfer. But 1t
was not considered equitable, and besides
the railroad officials have asserted the
| franchise would not be accepted under
| such conditions.
The other provisions are that the rail-
| road shall keep cross streets In proper
condition, shall be responsible for personal
| injuries TO individua > and TO permit all
public work to proceed without interfer-
! ence.
Alderman Wells minority report differs
| from the above in two respects. It sets
out that the River street line shall be
| treated as a transfer track and that all
railroads that may hereafter come to Sa-
| vannah, shall have the right to connect
with the track. either east Of the Savan-
nah and Ogeechee canal, or west of the
| Rilbo canal and shall enjoy the same
| rights and benefits as the Central
If the substitute is adopted there Is
some doubt as to whether the railroad will
| accept the franchise. Vice President Egan
has been quoted in the Morning News to
| the effect that the railroad would accept
| the grant under no other conditions than
! those now in force with reference 10
charges He said the Central would not
agree to make it a transfer track" or
| consent for all roads that might come to
Savannah to connect with it. There is
| no effort to gouge the city it was stated
] but the Central does not wish to make
the connection as an achievement
Too many conditions can be attached
! to the grant to make it acceptable" said
| Acting Mayor Owens yesterday, but 1
| think there are some it is advisable for
| the city to insist upon The board gave
| little attention to the reports when sub
mitted, for the reason they were not to
| be disposed of al that time. But they will
| De considered carefully by next meeting
and such things as are unreasonable will
| likely be eliminated. 1t is certain the CITY
will tack on several ccpditions though it
cannot be told yet just what they will
| be-"