The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-24
TO CHANGE CONDUIT ROUTE.
HRUsH COMPANY WANTS TO DIG
Up BROUGHTON STREET.


ger the Foundations of Buildings.
Chairman Dixon of the street and
Lane Committee Refuses TO Grant
the Permit-The Committee APP
proves His Action.
Alderman James NJ. Dixon. chairman Of
the Council committee on streets and
lanes, has declined to grant the Brush
Electric company permission TO dig up
Broughton street The refusal may seri-
ousy interfere with the progress of the
conduit work The matter was appealed
from Chairman Dixon to the committee,
which took the same view the chairman
did Of the petition. President Baldwin had
not heard of this last night when he stat
ed that the petition had been referred TO
the committee. which would be officially
heard from to-day
The reasons given by Alderman Dixon
for not granting the permit are that the
merchants are in the midst Of their busy
season, and that the impediment of sand,
rock, scattered lumber and conduit mate
rial, will seriously interfere with trade.
The volumes of dust blown through the
street by every gust of wind would neces-
state keeping the store doors closed. and
even then it is claimed great damage
would result to goods that might be COW
cred with it. Satisfied that the digging
means a paralysis of the Easter trade of
Broughton street merchants, Alderman
Dixon declined to issue the permit In
consequence. the electric company laid off
a large number of men at work in Con-
gress street lane, where it is proposed to
relinquish the work.
AS Supt Packard expressed It, they
have been feeling their way in the dark"
Distractions almost impossible to pass
have been found in Bay and Congress
lanes, which make imperative an almost
entire change of the original plans. Be
fore the conduit it was intended to run up
Bay lane had reached Jefferson from West
Broad, many Instructions had been en-
countered, and at Montgomery street the
foundation of a brick fish house was I'M
dermined and the building may now De
considered a wreck. The contractors found
the way so impeded that they obtained
a permit to change the course by con-
tinuing east on Bay street. There was no
objection to granting this permit as there
are few but wholesale stores, and trade
would not, therefore, be affected to any
extent.
President Baldwin was advised that the
conditions in Congress street lane were
the same as in the others, and in order to
facilitate matters, he asked Alderman
Dixon for the permit to continue the dis
tributing main south on West Broad 20
Broughton, and along the north side of
Broughton to Drayton street. For the
reasons stated Alderman Dixon declined
to grant the permit. but agreed to issue
fo1. ,ffI
State street. Mr.. Baldwin didn't want
either. Broughton street lane, he said,
is as badly obstruced as Congress street
lane and an attempt 10 run the mains
through it would not improve the situa-
ton. State street is too far from the bust
ness center to insure the SER
vice the company desires to give
and he did not care to make
the sacrifice. Broughton street is the only
one that viii fin the bill, he said Every
effort was made to induce Alderman Dixon
to yield, but besides the other reasons.
he insisted that the asphalt paving could
not be replaced as it now is. There are
always rough places as result of a cut,
and no matter how much care is taken in
the repairing he had found few cases
where respectable jobs had been done. He
would not bulge in favor of Broughton
street If the company took the matter
I
! have his vote recorded against granting
| the permit.
My position in this matter should be
| clearly understood" said Alderman Dixon
! II have no personal interests whatever on
| Broughton street, and my relations with
! the electric light company are the most
! agreeable. am willing TO do anything con-
| sistent to aid 1t in the progress of a work
| calculated TO relieve the city of the veNa-
tious overhead wiring system, which has
! so long been in use. AS l distinctly told
| President Baldwin, my position in de-
! Ginning to grant the permit is not to in
! terfere in the slightest with the compa-
ny's operations.
| Il consider the interests of our retail
! business men para mount 10 the electric
! light company" said Alderman Dixon
Il do moi consider it proper to dig
| up Broughton street at this season
killing trade there, because the company
! is unable to get its conduits through the
! lane There would be no justice in this
/ TO the merchants, who look to Council
| TO protect them in these matters The
chances are the street would remain torn
! up for some time, during which no goods
| can be displayed and business generally
| will be handicapped for the reason peop.e
won't go on Broughton street to trade.
l am acting purely in the interests of the
! city and the business men"
| President Baldwin was seen by a Morn
| ing News reporter, and asked in what
/ condition the company would be If the
permit were not granted. I'VE will either
! have to quit work or build the overhead
! system he replied. 1T is absolutely i'm
! possible to continue the mains through
| Congress street lane. as the DISTINCTIONS
are TOO numerous. Not only this, but the
| depth the contractors are compelled to go
endangers the safety of buildings. whose
| foundations have already been shaken
where the work has progressed.
| All we want from the city is fair treat
ment," said Mr.. Baldwin. 1T requires
trouble and sacrifice by citizens while A
great work of this kind is being done. The
advantages of an underground system cam
| not be had without tolerating the moon
veniencea that come from digging IN the
! streets. This is the only way the con-
duits can be laid. If given a permit 70
work on Broughton street at present the
I company would push things to rapid
| completion and give as little trouble ana
inconvenience to the merchants as possi-
| HE F~-~N