The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-24
TO BE TAKEN UP LATER ON.
hay STREET TRACK FRANCHISE
TO BE Considered FRIDAY.

of the Absence of Mr.. MackaIl-Al-
dcrman Dixon Announces His OPP
position TO Granting Either of the
PctftiOns-Is Opposed to Allowing
Railroad Tracks in City streets.
Mr.. J. Randolph Anderson Dis
cusses the Matter From the Prop
erty Owners StandrOint-The
Track Is Absolutely Necessary 10
Preserve the Value of Property, lie
Say.
The City Council will not be called to-
gether to-day in Committee of the Whole
for the purpose of considering the rival
petitions of the Central Of Georgia and
Georgia and Alabama Railways for per
mission to lay tracks on Bay street.
Mayor Myers said yesterday that ne
mad received letter from Charlton,
Mackall and Anderson, attorneys for The
Georgia and Alabama, requesting a post
ponement of the consideration of the
question on account of the absence from
the city of Mr.. Mackal The Mayor
said that the request would be complied
with and that the question will be taken
up Friday, at which time it is desired
that all Interested should be present and
express their views.
At the office of Charlton, Mackall & An
derson IT was learned that Mr.. Mackau
mad intended returning TO the city last
night He has been in conference with
President John Shelton Williams in New
York in reference to the Bay street track
and other railway matters. but was TO
leave New York yesterday for Alexan-
dria, Va, where his son, Charles Mackall
who is attending the Episcopal Institute
al that city, is ill.,
While the majority of the aldermen APP
pear to favor the granting of the franchise
desired to one or the other of the rail-
roads applying for il, it is likely that
there will be some opposition to the grant
Alderman James Nj. Dixon, chairman of
the Street and Lane Committee, an
nounced himself yesterday as opposed to
permitting railroad tracks in the city
streets As Alderman Dixon has recently
removed his wholesale grocery business
10 the Plant System warehouses, the sup
porters Of the movement for railroad IA
ciities on Bay street are likely 10 argue
that he is prejudiced in his view of the
question.
They may argue what they like" said
Alderman Dixon, when this possibility was
mention to him. GAS a member of Council
I am entitled to my opinion in the matter,
and l do not favor the use of the cltys
streets by the railroads. The River street
track has been but very little advantage
to the business men along the north side
of Bay street and has proved a disad-
vantage IN many ways To allow the
streets to be DISTRACTED with tracks for
the benefit of a small section of the bust
ness district is hardly fair to the general
public. especially when the benefit TO be
derived, In my opinion, is very slight. l
do not think the providing of railroad IA
cillties on Bay street will prevent some of
the larger wholesale gorcery merchants
removing to the railroad warehouses. nor
do | think there will be any difficulty In
finding tenants to take their places when
they do move"
Alderman Dixon said. however, that If
the railroads were willing to pay q suffi-
GENTLY high price for the privilege he
would not oppose the grant. II am OPP
posed to the citys giving away these priv
ieges" he said. THE railroads should
be required to pave and maintain the
streets which they may be allowed to use,
and TO pay the city a bonus in addition"
MT. ]. Randolph Anderson takes just the
opposite view from Mr.. Dixon. "As an at
Lorney for the Georgia and Alabama Rail-
wav | should, of course, like to see that
companys petition granted said Mr.. An
derson. This matter is not in my charge,
however Personally, 1 am very much in
torested in securing railroad facilities for
Bay street, because of large property in
terests there, which I represent. The sit
uation is such that unless these facilities
are provided there must necessarily follow
a rapid decrease in the value of property
on the street For the last five years it
has been difficult whenever q building has
been vacated on the western half of the
street TO find new tenant, and with the
threatened movement on the part of the
wholesale grocery merchants TO the rail-
road warehouses, the prospect of num-
Der of empty buildings on West Bay street
is very imminent. 1t is certainly not to
the interest of the city to allow valuable
business property TO depreciote, to say
nothing of the duty of the city TO protect
the interests of the property owners, when
this can be done without disadvantage to
other interests. 1t is possible that the
Wholesale dealers might do just as large a
business from the railroad warehouses;
but II would have a very bad effect to
hove numbers of vacant stores on our
principal business street and would create
a bad impression on both visitors and resi-
dents alike. There is no reason why Bay
street should not be given up entirely to
heavy business, with railroad tracks and
all other facilities necessary for the
transaction of such business. With the
number of other paved streets running east
and west. it is no longer necessary for
traffic 10 use Bay street, and no one would
be iuconvenienced by Inc presence of rail-
road tracks on Bay street. 1t is very es-
sential to the business men who own their
own properties thar such facilities should
DO provided and still more essential for the
property owners who rent to others, as
Otherwise they will either be without ten
ants or will have TO accept a very low
rental"
Mayor Myers is of the opinion that the
franchise should he granted to one or the
other of the railroads under proper re-
strictions, and the strong pressure which
The business men and property owners on
the street are likely to bring to bear upon
Council in favor of providing the facilities
is very likely to have the desired result
hob BURDETTE's TRIP SOUTH.