The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-31

the Central transferred cars from its own
terminals to any point on River street, but
that transfers 10 the Plant System were
not made by that route.
Speaking Of the Bay street franchise
Mr.. Egsn said that he did not care to put
any obstruction in the way of any other
company. He was perfectly willing for
Council TO give the Georgia and Alabama
permission 10 go ahead and build the
tracks, provided that the provision be IN
cluded that the Central should be allowed
to connect with these tracks and 10 nave
It's cars handled over them by the other
company.
Mr. Barrow asked the opinion of the
railroad attorneys present as TO whether
Council had the right 20 grant the use
OF the streets 20 any railroad ompany
without the express permission of the Leg
isiatule.
Capt II, G. Cunningham replied very
promptly that this question was raised and
settled at the very inception Of the street
railway system in Savannah, the decision
being that the streets were public property
and could molly be granted by a legislative
enactment, but that the Central under its
old charter and under its present charter
granted to IL by the Legislature, had the
right 10 use city streets with the permits
sion of the local authorities, and that the
Georgia and Alabama had the same right
under its charter
Mt Barrow thought this applied only to
street railroads, but Capt Cunningham
replied very promptly that the same con-
ditions applied to all railroads.
MIR. Barrow having remarked that his
only interest in the gu stion before Coun-
ell was TO protect the interests OF the street
railway company, Capt. Cunningham re-
piled very tartly that the street railway
company needed no protection.
The learned gentleman seems very
concerned a n 1 inf &c Of ba
street railway company" said Mr.. Gun
bingham. His company has been granted
very extensive privileges by Council, some
Of which 1t has used very badly. l have
myself criticised some of its little eccen-
tricities, such as running open cars on a
day like this The street railway conf
pany is not occupying a position where it
has to ask Council to protect it. 1t mas
all the protection it Is entitled to-"
General Manager Lotion asked Capt
Cunningham if he had ridden in any open
street cars during the day, stating that the
company was running only closed cars.
MIR. A. b. Palmer urged the granting Of
the franchise for tracks on Bay street,
stating that it would be of vast benefit
to business men and property owners on
the street. The money saved in drayage
alone would amount to a very large sum,
he said. AS to Williamson street, Mr.
Palmer said that there were only a few
small residences there and that with a
railroad track this property would become
valuable for business purposes.
Mr.. w. H. W. Schley Endorsed Mr.. Pal
mer's remarks from the standpoint of the
property owners.
Capt. J. f. Cam protested in behalf of
the property owners on Williamson street
against the use of that street for a rail-
road track The street was only twenty
feet wide a its nar0West point ne said,
wi # aar 4 limo In I1a
middle of the street ii would be impossible
for vehicles TO pass on either side. Not
only would the houses be shaken by pass
ing trains, but with the tracks almost on
the sidewalks it would be impossible for
the children of the residents to even go
out In the street without endangering their
lives. The prospect of the property being
in demand for business purposes was ex-
ceedingly remote, he said, ard ne did not
believe that the property referred to
would ever be in demand for such pur-
poses. Capt. Cam reminded Council in
no uncertain terms that 1t is as much It's
duty 10 regard the interests of the small
property owners ca Indian and William
son streets as of the larger property own
ers on Bay street.
Mr.. Palmer remarked that If the Bay
street franchise was not granted, there
would soon be plenty of residence prop
erty on that street.
This closed the argument on the subject,
and Mayor Myers announced that the
public session of the committee was at an
end. After going into closed session the
committee discussed the various features
of the matter for about half an hour
mo conclusion was reached said
Mayor Myers after the meeting TT is
evident that the subject is one which will
require very careful consideration. There
are a variety of interests involved, and It
will take some time to decide upon the
proper course to be pursued for the best
interests of all. A variety of views were
advanced by members of the board. II
is a matter which deserves serious delib-
Grafton. Should Council decide to grant
the franchise every possible safeguard for
the benefit of the public will be thrown
around it,
The unwillingness of the Central TO unite
with the Georgia and Alabama in a joint
ARRANGEMENT for operation of tracks on
Bay street, and the strenuous opposition
of the property owners on Indian and WA
hanson streets complexities the situation
TO a degree which viii require consider
able tact and good management if the
business men on Bay street are TO obtain
the facilities which they desire.