The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-29
PROPERTY OWNERS PROTEST.
THEY OBJECT TO A RAILROAD or
INDIAN STREET.

A Petition Being Circulated to Re
Presented TO COunciI-Threat Made
That the Matter VIII Be Taken
Into the Courts If Council Grants
the FFanchise-Supt. Mcguire Does
Not Like the Idea of "a Railroad in
Front of Fire NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
mittee of the Whole TO Meet To-
morrow Afternoon to Consider the
Railroad Petitions.
Mayor Myers has instructed Clerk of
| Council Bailey to notify the aldermen that
a meeting of the Committee of the Whole
will be held tomorrow afternoon for the
purpose of considering the petitions Of the
! Central of Georgia and the Georgia and
Alabama Railways for permission to lay
tracks on Bay street and such other streets
as may be necessary in reaching The Bay.
The representatives of both railway COM
panies have been notified and a notice will
be published inviting all parties interested
| to be present and express their views. 1t
is likely that the meeting win be largely
attended and that ii will be practically
a public meeting.
Opposition to the Bay street track pro-
ject has developed from an unexpected
quarter during the last day or two. The
property owners on Indian and williamson
streets are very much dissatisfied with the
prospect of having a railroad track on
those streets. A petition was in circulation
yesterday which is said to have been
numerously signed by the property owners
on the streets named, which protests
strongly against the granting of right of
way for tracks on Indian and Williamson
streets. This petition will probably be fill
ed with the clerk of Council before the
meeting Of the Committee of the Whole
tomorrow afternoon.
An Indian street property owner. In
speaking of the matter, said that he and
other property owners on that street were
very determined in their opposition. and
that should the city undertake to grant
the right of way for a railroad there, that
me property owners would secure an in
Junction and fight the matter in the courts
There is already a street railway track
on Indian street" he said "and 10 place
steam railway track there would mean
that the two tracks would practically take
up the whole street This is not the chief
opJectlon, however Indian street is almost
entirely a residence street the residents
means. Many of these people own their
own houses, however. The roaring ana
rumbling Of passing trains and the Shrek
OF engines at all hours of the night would
make sleep almost impossible and would
destroy the value Of their property for
residence purposes. The houses on the
street are for the most part of cheap con-
strucuon and the brick work espec ally is
not built to Withstand the shaking and
rafting resulting from the frequent pass
ing of heavy freight trains"
1t is understood that the petition is sign
ed by several large property owners on the
two streets as well a number of the res
tdents and smaller property owners
Superintendent Mcguire of the fire de-
partment does not view the proposed track
on Indian street with favor II am not
disposed to stand in the way of anything
intended to benefit the business interests
of the city, said Superintendent Mcguire
but l do not like the idea of having a
railroad track directly in front of fire
headquarters. The heaviest fire engine in
the city a large hook and ladder truck
and chemical engine are located at the
headquarters at Bay and Indian streets.
Should train of ears be standing in front
of the engine house at the same time with
an alarm of fire coming in the work of the
department would be seriously inter ferrel
with and the delay might prove costly, es-
pecially in case of large fire in the bus
mess district. Council might require that
no cars or trains should be allowed 10 step
in front of the engine house, but there
would still be the danger of interference
from passing trains at the time of sound
ing an alarm"
1t is understood that many property
owners on West Broad street are also op-
posed to the use of that street by rail-
road track so that it is evident that
whichever company Council decides TO ia
vor will have obstacles to overcome in
reaching Bay street So far as known no
property owner on Bay street has express
ed any opposition to the proposed tracks
there.