The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-13
BAY STREET TRACK FAVORED.
PROPOSITION DISCUSSED BY MER-
CHANTS AND CITY OFFICIALS.

ton by the Railroads in PrOvid-
Ing such FaciIities-CounciI VIII
BE Governed by the Interests of
the Citizens and Property Owners.
Merchants on Bay street Heartily
Endorse the PrOject-Lane Gener-
ally Considered ImpractIcabfe for
Railway Purposes.
The Georgia and Alabama Railway Com
pany's petition 10 Council to be allowed
TO construct track leading from its new
freight terminals in Robertsville by way Of
Stewart West Broad and Williamson
streets 10 the north side OF bay street
and also along Bay lane to Bul street,
was the subject of a good deal Of talk
during the day yesterday
The advisablity OF placing a track on
Bay street has been much discussed Of
late. because of the movement begun by
the wholesale grocers away from that
street to the railroad warehouses and the
certainty that the movement will assume
larger proportions unless something Is
done to provide additional facilities for the
handling of wholesale business.
The necessity for such additional facili-
ties has been the subject of serious con
sideraton by business men lately, and it is
understood that a self-constituted COM
miitee had taken up the matter privately
with Vice President Egan Of the Central.
The probabilities are that had not the
Georgia and Alabama Railway acted so
promptly in the matter a similar PROPOSE
ton would have been submitted to the CITY
from The Central 1t Is not impossible that
something of the kind may be done any
way and that Council will be confronted
with two rival petitions with the prob
ability that the two roads will be required
to act jointly in giving railway facilities
10 Bay street.
Naturally the views of the matter taken
by the members of Council end the bust
ness men chiefly affected by the propo-ed
move are of interest. 1t so happens that
some of the members of Council are among
those most largely engaged in business IN
the section affected by the proposed i'm
provement. canvass of Bay street west
revealed the fact that business men of that
section are almost unanimously in favor.
Of a track on Bay street majority pre-
ferrng that it should be on the north side
of the street. AS 10 the proposftion to
ally against it. Even the mechants on the
south side of Bay street who would be
about the only ones TO benefit by the lane
track, do not regard it favorably. The
lane Is too narrow they said and cars
could not be left on the track there with
out blocking the lane, preventing the pas
sage Of vehicles and seriously interfering
with the business OF a number Of persons
who would receive little If any benefit from
the track Several of the property owners
on Bryan street have expressed themselves
as decidedly opposed TO the lane track AMI
one large property owner said that if any
thing of the kind were attempted an in
junction would be sought In the courts
As to the Bay street track, however
opinion was almost unanimous in favor Of
It, though with many different ideas as to
the details and manner of the improve
ment Mayor Myers said the subject is
one which merits serious considerat ton. He
had expected that some move of this kind
would be made, though he had thought he
PROPOSITION would have come from the Cen
trail.
Council will not act hastily In the mat
ter said Mayor Myers. 1T will view the
subject from all standponts and Will take
such action as it believes to be to the best
interest of the city and Its citizens. As 1
view the matter now the question depends
entirely on whether the business interests
of the city would be benefited This be-
AiS dtiSNNiGu III liit dIITIndIiNe, the QueS-
ton then becomes simply an engineering
problem as to whether the desired results
can be brought about. The permission will
not be given without certain specified con-
ditions being imposed by the city. Among
these will probably be one requiring that
the tracks shall be free Of access to all
railroads entering the city. An arrange
ment might be brought about among the
roads by which all would be equally inter
ested, or If the tracks should be controlled
by one company 1t will be specified that
only nominal charge shall be made for
transferring cars for other companies"
Mayor Myers said that the proposed
tracks would offer little obs truction to
street traffic, which Is not very heavy on
Boy street. Drayage, for instance, would
be still further decreased by the construc-
ton of the tracks.
1T Is a question of business BENEFITS"
he said. IF property owners and business
men will he benefited by the change there
is no reason why 1t should not be made
Railroad tracks would not be Objectionable
on that portion of Bay street and there
is no reason why that portion of the street
should not be given up entirely to busl-
ness traffic"
Mr.. Joseph Ferst of VI. Fersts Sons &
Co. gave the project his hearty indorse-
ment. 1T is the only thing that can be
done to Keep property on Bay street from
deprecating," he said. I'VE have made
up our minds 10 move Oct. I. year hence
Drayage is costing us $4,000 or $4,000
year. With tracks at our doors the greater
part of this expense would be saved"
Mr. T. J. Davis said that he is in favor
of allowing the railroad tracks to he plac-
ed on Bay street and requiring the com
pany constructing the tracks 10 pave the
street with brick. THE street car tracks
can be moved 10 one side" said MIR. Davis.
There Is plenty of room for both"
At the Palmer Hardware COuorap,-
H. w Palmer expressed himself as decid-
ediy in favor of allowing tracks on Bay
street on the plan allowed in the petition
OF the Georgia and Alabama Railway 1T
is the best thing that could happen for the
city he said. 1T would prove Of great
advantage to us in our business and is
something chat should have been done long
ago. Williamson street is plenty wide for
a railroad track and we have no objections
to it coming right by our doors"
At Henry Solomon & Sons. Mr. Perry
Solomon gave the project his Endorsement.
fe hot