The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-18
CENTRAL WANTS BAY STREET.
1rS PETITION FILED WITH CITY
COUNCIL YESTERDAY.

Indian street, Through William
son street, to the strand North of
nav street and Then Along the Bay
IN East broad street, II So Desired.
NaNor Myers Says That Council
Will Act PrOmptly-Both Petit
.ions to BE Referred to n Commit
,.c and All Parties Interested to
Re Given "a Hearing.
As was forecasted in the Morning News
several days ago, the City Council will
have TO decide between the Central and
the Georgia and Alabama Railways in
granting the franchise for railroads on
Bay street.
The Central fled its petition with the
clerk of Council yesterday. 1t asks for
practically the same franchise as the Geor-
ola and Alabama so far as Bay street is
concerned. but it does not ask for Bay
street lane, nor does it desire to use West
Broad street. except 90 cross it from In
dian TO williamson streets The CentraPs
petiiion outlines lis plan in detail, and IS
accompanied by a blue print, showing ex
actlv where il wishes 20 place tracks, with
snurs and sidngs.
desires 10 construct in the streets of Sa-
yannah an extension of its railroad from
a point east of the Savannah and Ogeechee
canal 20 East Broad street That the
route to be used for such extension be-
Gins Immediately east of Water street,
crossing Water street south Of River street;
thence into Indian street, and along the
northern side of Indian street between the
present street railway track on said street
and the curb of the northern sidewalk
thereof: thence crossing West Broad street
INTO Williamson street and thence along
Williamson street to the Strand immedi-
ately south 70 the buildings ON the north
side of Bay street; thence with double
track along said Strand TO the west line
Of the City Exchange, crossing the slip
al the foot of Barnard street on a bridge
Immediately south of the present footway
across said slip. Thence by spur track
crossing Bay street between Barnard and
Whitaker streets to the south side of Bay
street. thence along said south side of Bay
street 10 West Broad street, with the right
TO construct a track from Barnard street
on the south side of Bay street to East
Broad street, with the understanding thar
the track viii not be constructed east OF
Whitaker street unless desired by mer-
chants located On Bay street between
Whitaker and East Broad streets All of
which is shown by the map hereto attach
ed. ii is also desired in connection with
these tracks the right to construct such
side tracks and spur tracks as may be
required by the merchants doing business
fronting on the Strand or on Williamson
street"
The petition states in conclusion that
the company desires to begin work imme-
dately and to prosecute it to completion
as soon as practicable. 1t asks, therefore,
that an ordinance be passed authorizing
and empowering it to use the streets of the
city for the purpose specified.
The application of the Central for the
same privilege already applied for is no
surprise to those who have been on the
inside of the movement TO secure track
on Bay street. The movement was taken
up about TWO weeks since At first the Off
Gals of both roads were inclined to regard
the proposition askance, but when they
saw that the property-owners were in
earnest even to the extent of proposing to
organize a terminal company and build a
track of their own, they began TO regard
the matter more seriously.
Vice President Egan of the Central was
the first to give the matter serious consid-
Grafton and it was understood that he
would take steps in the matter The
main movers in the matter were surprised
when they saw the announcement in the
Morning News that the Georgia and Ala
bama bad made application for this fran
cnse, as they understood that the local
look upon the proposition favorably. 1t
developed subsequently that President
Joh shelton Williams, when in the city
recently, heard of the movement on the
part of the property-owners and
promptly instructed his attorneys to
put IN petition to Council for
tAe franchise In this way it happened
laat the Georgia and Alabama was the
AISt to make application to Council.
III now remains 10 be seen whether the
Two reads will fight the matter out be
lore council or whether they will make
an amcable compromise by which both
VIII secure the advantages sought for. 1t
IL pretty safe to forecast that Council will
grant The franchise TO one or the other of
le TWO corporations. The property own
eis ana business men on Bay street west
=! the Exchange are pronounced in their
views that the facilities desired are abso-
iulely necessary for their continuance in
business in their present locations. Those
BUSINESS men who own their buildings are
"peeiaily anxious on this score
mayor Myers, when seen yesterday, said
UaI me Council will act promptly I'VE
sn"H give every opportunity, however for
a parties interested to be heard, " he said
The petitions will be referred by Coun-
WI, PROBABLY TO the Committee of the
"hoie' and time will be appointed for a
ngirlhg, to which the representatives of
Ie railroads., the property owners and
nay, BUSINESS men VIII be invited. ODDor-
oul4y VIII be given for full discussion in
~uer that We may obtain all the light
'59Sl1ie' If the plan be feasible 1 think
uAe-y mat Council will grant the fran
"5e' 70 which corporation l cannot say
- DJHd Will be required from the COM
,rn securing the franchise that the work
T M pe completed within a specified time
5r ne city does not propose to give away
di ,y more franchises without definite con-
0',ioaS attached"
q, Ma5oE Myers said that he believed that
oodd be better for the city for the Bay
sinoie track to be under the control of a
80 corporation, so that there might
8 bo15 PouDt as TO whom the city should
iesponsible for the condition of streets