The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-09

than il did ten years ago. The only way
to prevent the street from drying up en-
tirely is 20 provide the facilities asked for.
No piece Of seutimcntality should be al
lowed to stand in the way of an improve
ment of benefit TO the whole city What
would become of these small property
owners If the large business interests Of
the city be allowed TO dry up? Would
not their property depreciate In value also2
II is certain that unless the people who
own the large properties prosper the peo-
pie who own the small properties cannot
thrive"
willing for the Tracks.
Mir. A. Minis said that he owned prop
erty at the southeast corner of Bay ana
Montgomery streets, but he had not in
Vestlgated the question sufficiently to say
whether the property would be improved
or injured by a railroad track on the
street If Council were of the opinion that
the interests of the city would be ad-
vanced by having a track there, he would
enter no opposition but he urged that
every restriction necessary for the pro-
lection of both residence and business
property should be imposed In making the
grant
Mr.. T. ]. Davis said that a track on
Bay street would greatly benefit his busl-
ness. and that of other grain dealers.
Alderman Thomas inquired of Mr.. Da-
Wis II he Gid not already have track In
his rear on River street, and If, in his
opinion, the River street track had not
been an injury rather than a beneht to
property owners there. This brought on
general discussion as to the River street
track and its effect upon the properties
on that street. Alderman Thomas con-
tending that it had been of little advan-
tage and a positive injury in many in
stances. He said there We're warehouses
on River street, which could not be rent
L nF h. 81 aud mo al
the opposition to the Bay street track by
Capt. Flannery, Mr.. Stoddard and others,
who are also large property owners on
River street.
Mr.. Davis, Capt. Cunningham and Mr..
Dafhn contended that the track had been
of great benefit to River street property
owners and especially to the wharf own
ers, many of whom had been unable to
rent their wharves at all until the track
was. laid. Capt. Cunningham said
that because Mr.. Thomas and
Mr.. Taggart had been inconven-
fenced by the River street track was
no reason why needed facilities should not
be provided for property owners on Bay
street. Mr.. Thomas could put the rail-
road on the docket, Capt Cunningham
said, if it blocked the streets in violation
of the ordinance.
Alderman Thomas Position.
This brought Mr.. Thomas to his feet with
statement. He said that he was chair
man of the Streets and Lanes Committee
of Inc Council which allowed the use of
River street by the Central and gave his
consent 40 this use and thus brought trou-
BILE upon himself If he complained once
to the officials of the Central about the
blocking of River and West Broad streets,
he had complained hundred times he
said, to every officials of the road from
the president to the agent. He had put
the company on the docket three times for
violating the ordinance, and each time 1t
had been excused. His experience, he
said was that the only way to hold a
railroad to anything was to fix the condi-
tons in advance and not depend upon reg
ulations to be adopted afterward Mr..
Thomas said that he was not attempting
to inject a personal issue into the ques-
ton before Council but he argued from
his own experience that railroad tracks on
other streets could be similarly operated
and those who are now clamoring for
them made to suffer
Mr. Collins agreed with Alderman
Thomas that the city was at fault in not
enforcing its ordinances for the regulation
of railroads. but said that tracks on Bav
street would relieve the congestion on
River street and thus serve to give relief
to property owners who are now incom-
NODDED there.
At 6 O'Clock several of the aldermen hal
other engagements and Mayor Myers an
nounced the meeting adjourned without
giving an opportunity for the injection OF
other issues The argument before the
meeting was too diversified to be Of a con
elusive character and the aldermen did not
stop to say whether they had been con-
WINGED one way or the other. Mayor Myers
put the committee under recess and the
consideration of the question will doubtless
be taken up again soon.
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