The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-09
MAY GETA THIRD TELEPHONE.
AMERICAN COMPANY ASKS COUNCIL
FOR FRANCHISE.

SIX Ordinances. Five of which
Randolph streets and OgIethorpc
Avenue 10 Have Sidewalks within
sixty nays-DirectOr of Public
works Created in Place of Present
CONFERENCE.-The ON Ticket
scnIping Reduced From 500 to
s50-Othcr Matters That Made Up
busy Council Meeting.
Six ordinances were introduced in Coun-
Gil last night. and all We're passed with
the exception Of that granting a franchise
to the American Telephone Company TO
build an underground and overhead sys-
tenn The American is a long-distance
telephone, and is now applying for fran
chises IN Southern cities. Under the ordi-
nance the company proposes TO build the
underground system in the section the city
has previously designated. while slender
poles 10 be az least twenty-five feet high,
are allowed in the other parts of the city.
The ordinance VIII be considered by the
committee of the whole before further &c
ton is taken upon it,
The first ordinance that passed provides
for sidewalks on portions OF President and
Randolph streets and Ogiethorpe avenue,
the second creates the Office of director
Of public works, fixes his salary, duties,
and provides for an election to fill the Of
fee at the next regular meeting; the ihird
re-enac,s all the ordinances in force at
the time OF the creation Of the fire and
police commissions, which relate to the
control Of these departments; the fourth
grants certain applications touching addi-
lions and repairs TO property, and the cree
ton OF new improvements, and the hfth
amends the tax ordinance by reducing the
tax on ticket brokers from 500 to $50, and
providing tor a specific tax of $40 on up
holsterers, and $50 on dealers in bicycle
supplies and repaiTers of bicycles. The
new measures seemed to have been thor
oughly discussed in caucus. as there was
no objection to each being put on its sec
ond reading and passed. The new Coun-
Gil in fact, seems to have settled upon
the caucus plan of settling all matters
in the preliminary sessions, where poiiti-
cal secrets will not get out.
While there was voluminous batch of
petitions and other matters for the board
10 consider the prompt pace which has
been set was not departed from. The
liberauons by o'clock, and on resolving
itself in open meeting. dispatches business
so that the clerks desk is cleared as a
rule by 10 O'Clock, or shortly thereafter.
Director of public works is the title OF
the Office that will probably be filled by
Commissioner Gadsden, who is now serv-
ing as the temporary appointee of Mayor
Myers pending the passage OF the pres
ent ordinance and an election. While the
ordinance Gix
its provisions are about the same as
those creating the Office of commission OF
public works. The director receives a sal
airy of s. 100 a year aud gives bond of
81 ,000 While his clerk receives 81. 200 and
gives bond for $1,000. The director has
fun and complete control OF the execu>
ton OF all public work ON the streets
lanes, roads, or extensions Of the same,
sidewalks. walks and passages through
parks and squares, curbng, bridges cul-
vefts, sewers and drains Of the city in
Guiding spfink.ing, cleaning and lighting
OF streets, except work within the exclu-
slve cognizance of the Park and Tree
Commission. He controls the OdOrless ex-
cavating department. He has charge of
the repairing and building of all docks
and slips. the building and repairing OF
all city buildings. except those embraced
IN the water works police aud fire de-
partments, and shall also have charge of
all hVe stock, wagons. tools and machln-
cry belonging 60 the city
The new feature of the ordinance Is that
the director win not have the exclusive
right 10 employ and discharge the men
under him, as was formerly the case. He
has the power to appoint and remove. but
with the consent of the respective COM
mittees of the departments in which the
employees may be engaged. While appoint
nents viii be made by the director with
the approval Of the committee, any dis
agreement between them makes the COM
mittees decision control Both the direc-
tor and his clerk will take an oath for
duties.
Alderman Dixons sidewalk ordinance re-
cures that sidewalks be laid on portions
OIL President and Randolph streets and
oslethorpe avenue. Ii is required that
the walks be twelve feet wide on hath
sides OF President street. from East Broad
10 randolph streets, nine feet wide on
soth sides of Randolph from President TO
IIpefty streets, and seven feet wide on
both sides of Oglethorpe avenue from
East Broad TO Randolph streets. Brick is
the material specified and the enclosure
ehalt DC stone curbing. IL is also re-
CURED that the work shall be completed
Wltnlh sixty days, and in the event OF A
ialiure 10 do it, the walks shall be laid
e''O Wy dHu Collected Tor as provided
by law.
Inc intention Of requiring sidewalks in
the eastern and western parts of the city
Is 10 improve streets along which there is
moch travel The objective point ON the
eastern side of the Tybee depot. where
thousands of persons go every summer
ou' Nhch cannot be reached without get
ing head over heels in dust or mud The
laea Is TO have one or two of The main
streete heading from the heart of the civ
paved 70 randolph street, and also have
that street improved Alderman Dixon
thihks there Is pressing need for walks
leading 10 the station, as many persons
Walk IN preference TO taking the cars.
ana are forced to 80 over the unimproved
streets
My theory Of building sidewalks" said
alderman Dixon, lis 70 require property
owners to build them where they are need
ed. II seems useless TO have walks built
on streets the public seldom uses once
IS found there is heavy travel along
certain streets, it seems the city should
look 10 this as an important reason for