The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-13
CITY HAS STRUCK 1T RIGHT.
CENTRAI's RIVER STREET GRANT
NOW SATISFACTORY.

Vice President Egnn of the Central
Railroad Is Inclined to Believe the
Present Ordinance VIII he Accept
ed If Passed - Members of Council
and business Men Also Believe
e Proper Conditions Are Included In
the Draft Ordinance May GO
Through Wednesday Night, After
| Which Central VIII Have Thirty
Days to Reflect and Then Thirty to
Build Road If This Decision Is
! Reached.
The present Indications are that the Cen
| tral Railroad will soon be given the right
over River street, which it has been seek
ing some time. Ii is understood the ordi-
nance that passed first reading al the
last meeting of Council will go through
without difficulty 1t is also understood
this ordinance is acceptable to the Cen
trial. and if it passes, will bring about an
early juncture with the Tybee division.
! 1t can be said Council has considered
every point in granting the franchise, and
has endeavored to look wisely into every
thing to the city's advantage. There have
| been few matters brought before the pres
ent board in which action has been with
held longer, or a more conservative pro-
cedure has been adopted While the pur-
pose has been to get benefits the COM
mercial interests have wanted long time,
| still Council did not intend 10 proceed in
a careless manner and afterwards regret
| parting with the franchise.
Vice President John M. Egan of the Cen
| trail, was seen yesterday in reference to
the amended ordinance by Alderman Charl-
ton Mr.. Egan said he had just received
| a copy of the ordinance, and while he had
read it, he had not done so caNefully, and
is not prepared to give an opinion as 10
| Just what the Central win do about the
| matter 1t may be said the amendments
| do not include any serious objections, and
| il is very probable if the ordinance passes
| Wednesday night, the Central will accept
| it, Should the road determine to pursue
| this course 1t will be necessary to signify
| the fact within thirty days After the ac-
ceptance has been filed with the Clerk
| of Council the road will be REQUIRED to be-
| gin work within thirty days from the date
| thereof
Alderman Charlton, who has directed the
operations of the committee on opening
| streets in the opening of River street, was
! not pleased with the ordinances submitted
| to the board during his absence from the
| city and the one he submitted at the last
meeting is In lieu of all former ordinances
| Its proVAions are believed to coincide with
| the views of both the aldermen and the
| merchants on the terms the grant should
carry, so that there is slight probapllty
| of a hitch.
AS has been stated in the Morning News
the Central is required to extend its tracks
| TO the Savannah, Florida and Western
| Railroad as a condition precedent to the
| grant Until this is done, there Will nave
| been no contract with the city, notwith-
| standing the ordinance passes.
Nv another section the city reserves the
! right to regulate the speed of trains, con-
| struction of tracks and the KIND OF Iuel
| TO be used. One of the main objects OF
| he last provision is to secure to property
owners along the Bay complete protection
| IN their stores by restricting the use of
such fuel as will produce sparks There
is now an ordinance pending which Will
likely pass next meeting, and which re-
ouires all locomotives and other engines
along the Bay and river front, to have
spark arresters attached to smokestacks,
so there will be no possibility of live Goals
reaching the AUDITING buildings or
wharves. The city will also regulate the
| time trains win be allowed to blockade
crossing, as well as the length OF trains.
When the Centrals petition was filed,
| some Of the board expressed the opinion
| the road would control the river front to
| the detriment of other roads that might
want to enter Savannah. While it is
| stated such would not be the case under
ID
against il by specifying in the ordinance
| that all railroads now reaching Savannah,
or which may come hereafter, shall have
the right to connect with the River street
| track at any point. This includes the
| track between the Bilbo and Ogeechee
canals.
At the various crossings the track crosses
the street, the Contra, will be required to
maintain a suitable plank passage. When
| the crossing becomes impossible or dam
gerous for vehicles the road will be re-
| quired to repair it on twenty-four hours
| notice, and failure to do so will lay il
liable to a fine of 500 on conviction in
the Police Court
The most Objectionable requirement to
the railroad would have been that to
transfer cars from River street to the city
water works and other points, for a trans
| fer charge of 81. THIS the road considered
too eXacting, ana the pfoDdDllty rs II the
clause had been inserted, the grant would
not have been acceptable.
There are several parcels of land the
Central will need to acquire before il can
make the proposed connection. Condem-
nation proceedings have been commenced
against some of the owners, however. The
city has also instituted condemnation pro-
ceedings against the owners of the Georgia
chemical works tract, which il is intend
ed to acquire before the CentraPs track
is extended through it.
SENT HOME TO BE BURIED.