The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-29
SAT DOWN ON COMMITTEE.
COUNCIL DIsAPPROvED AID. WILL
LIAMs' DEAL WITH AER. KOPs.

narrow Bull Street Lots for En-
croaehing Property at Bull and
Fifth streets, hut the Majority OF
Council Took Another View of 1t.
AID. Thomas Objected to the Re
should BE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
May as Well Quit Work, Said Aid.
Williams, If Their Judgment Goes
for Naught with Council.
Members of the committee of Council
on city lots and opening streets are not
pleased with the manner in which their
report recommending an exchange of city
property for property belonging 10 Mr.. j.
deBruyn Hops, assistant city engineer,
was turned down at the meeting yesterday
afternoon. Alderman Williams, chairman
OF che committee, who gave considerable
time and attention 20 the deal before 1t
vas recommended, felt that the action of
Council was a soft reflection upon his
judgment, and he did not hesitate TO say
SO IN open meeting.
In its many efforts to open up Bull
street the city has at times had to buy
more property than it needed. Persons
owning AUDITING property were unwilling
Is divide it, and thereby leave small strips
upon their hands which could not be east
ly disposed of. This is the case all along
the street, and since the present commit
tee has been in office, the members have
made an effort TO UNLOAD" the city of
property which was not bringing in any
revenue, and which there was no prospect
of needing in future. Alderman Williams
mad prepared a list of this property, his
desire being to turn into cash all prop
erty that was not of value 10 the city.
The strips that remain, after the neces-
sary portions of property were appropri-
ated for the opening of Bull street, are
useless to the city.
Strips A, B. c, D, E and F, Reppard
ward, which are on Bull street. between
second and Fourth streets, it was proposed
10 sell to Mr.. deBruyn Hops. Alderman
Williams agreed to exchange this for OBJ
structng property Mr.. deBruyn Hops
owns at Bull and Fifth streets, and
which the city is anxious 10 acquire. The
understanding was to swap root for foot
but Mr.. deBruyn Hops was to
pay 80 cents foot for the
surplus he acquired from the city,
which would make a difference of about
Tee seemed to think this would be a good
trade, and accordingly joined In the recon-
mendation.
When the matter came up in Council the
aldermen began to twist in their seats.
1t was apparent there was objection to
adopting the report, while al the same
time it was not pleasant to propose to
throw it aside, when the committee was
supposed to have given the matter close
attention, and was acting for the best in
terests of the city. The fact
that Mr.. deBruyn Hops is
city employee evidently had it's effect.
Many of the aldermen later stated they
feared he was taking advantage of the
knowledge he acquires in his official posi-
ton TO buy in property which he knows
will be of early value 10 the city.
Alderman Thomas was the first to his
feet with rather salty remarks against
the adoption of the committees report
He said he was against adopting the re-
port because it was a city employe
who sought 10 acquire property that would
bottle up Bull street property owners it
faced. If the property we're sold to an in
diyidual those people would have no open
Ing TO Bull street.
u desire to say, Mr.. Mayor, that if we
buy this property from city employe,"
said Alderman Thomas, sit will place the
city at a disadvantage. My idea is the
property should be auctioned TO the high
est bidder, and that all citizens out there
should be advised of the time of the sale"
This gave Alderman Williams opportu-
nifty TO get his side of the report before
Council. He explained that the time was
ripe to proceed without doing the slight
est injustice to any of the property own
ers concerned. He stated he had had the
property in question in The hands of
well-known real estate agent for sixty
days with instructions to arrange for its
sale at any reasonable figure. Letters
We're addressed to interested owners, and
some were seen in person, but there was
a dlscouraging Indifference, and the agent
reported that he could not find any TAX
ers. He was instructed to accept notes,
but no bids We're received. Feeling that
every one entitled to notice had received
It, Alderman Williams decided he was in
position to talk to Mr.. deBruyn Hops,
who was after the city's property in ex-
change, for the purpose of erecting
building upon it, The committee seemed
SATISFIED that the proposition was an
equitable one, and it was unanimously
agreed that it should be accepted
desire 1t understood that l am acting
Tor what | consider TO be the best interests
OF the city, explained Alderman Williams
1t takes trouble to investigate these mat
ters but have looked into the case in
question, and feel that the city will be
making good trade in the proposed ex-
Change"
Alderman Haas moved that the report be
aoopted, and the motion was seconded by
Alderman Doyle.
Mayor Myers saw the turn things were
taking. While he was in favor of acqur-
ing the Fifth street property for street
open.ng purposes, he said, he was not in
favor Of any exchanges, and particularly
win city employees, when the object of
oulalnlng the property was not thoroughly
hlown 10 CounciL The Mayor did not want
" cOunlenance any steps that would lead
20 me embarrassment of property owners
poldering on these strips. He said he IA
NoIed auctoning The property. and giving
e.seIy one fair opportunity to protect
themselves,
me Mayor got a convert on the jump.
Auerman Tiedeman said that while he
favored the report when ii was considered
ny the committee, he was later inclined TO
oeAeVe with the Mayor that unfavorabie
.ohditlons might arise by the exchange
mat would ambarass property owners. He
desired TO know what the city's custom
mao been in regard to such sales. and
whether 1t was preferable to sell at auc-