The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-14
HEARD THREE PETITIONS.
co,rNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE
WHOLE HAD A BUSY SESSION.

want to Build to New Harbor
Lines. and Plumbing Inspector
cosrrove Wants to BE Retained.
rive inspectors in Water Depart
.Dt said to Have Some Bearing
with Fight on Plumbing Depart
v,eut-PoIitician Intimated Some
,biug Must BE Done to Keep Them
pusv-Wharf Owners May Move
ont From East to West Broad
Streets.
The city Council must have reached
come important conclusions yesterday,
.,dqinr from the time the committee of
,be whole spent in hearing testimony on
r4nding petitions. Superintendent Lotion
ras heard on his petition for a modifica-
tion of the law taxing the street railway
s1oo a mile on its track, aside from the ad
vaIorem tax paid the city and county.
Wharf owners who desire to extend their
ybarves to the newly established harbor
lines we're heard, and the ordinance con-
solidating the offices of plumbing inspec-
tor and inspector Of the water department
was considered.
As result of the interest the public has
taken in the plumbing ordinance. several
of those who advocate its passage were on
the alert for any who might try to
"switch" it. Two or three plumbers who
have been fighting for its passage were at
the exchange, and their attorney was also
present. Grave doubts have now arisen
as TO the probable passage of the measure,
especially in view of the fact that citizens
generally have interested themselves in it.
and have filed protests, either by petitions
now at the exchange or through the pa
pers.
Inspector Cosgrove, who realizes that the
politicians and a few dissatisfied plumb
ers are trying TO GUST him, was permitted
by Mayor Myers to appear before the COM
mittee. He desired TO make a clear state
ment to the board of the duties he is ex-
pected to perform, so that the aldermen
would have full information, as to the
workings of the plumbing department. He
had several books containing records of
the department transactions, produced
data concerning the conduct of similar
departments in other cities, and answered
such questions as were propounded to him
by the aldermen. All this information has
appeared from time TO time in the Morn
ing News j is said the committee did
not vote on the ordinance, but took it I'M
der consideration, and will probably be
ready TO act at the next meeting.
A leader in the fight on the plumbing
department let the cat out of the bag yes
terday. The administration has filled the
water department with inspectors, which
necessitates more work to keep them en-
gagged, or the dismissal of some who
stood pat during the election. There
are five inspectors In the department,
which includes Mr.. Campos, chief inspec-
tor. With this force it is proposed to COM
bine the plumbing department with the
office of Inspector Campos, and give that
official an assistant. which would make
SIX inspectors for the water department.
The only excuse offered for the consolida-
ton is saving to the city, but if this
programme is carried out, il would prob
ably take magnifying glass to find the
balance to the city's credit after the pay
rolls have been signed.
There Is much comment as to how az
dermen stand. but they decline 20 express
themselves, saying they have not fully
made up their minds and will not do so
until the ordinance is considered again.
what makes the matter interesting is the
TACT the property owners have arraigned
themselves on one side, and are waiting
10 see how things are going. 1t was
asserted yesterday that there would be
no trouble in getting hundreds of property
owners to sign petition opposing the pro-
posed change. With the exception Of
me plumbers favoring the consolidation,
tlete are no property owners on record
asking Council to pass the ordinance.
nose VINO, 1t is Claimed, are willing 10
sA mat the ordinance be passed have
iot yet been heard from so far as the pub
lie knows. F0N
capt c. e. Gillette, corps Of engineers.
was before the committee to give his opin-
'oh ds 10 the advisa blity of granting
Pelmits 10 wharf owners to extend their
,"hdrVes 10 the newly established harbor
tIhes. While Capt. Gillette was comforting
win the board a number of interested
pe'sohs were present, among them MIR. S.
-Ie,thah' who recently leased the old rice
"'4i property, at the foot of East Broad
street The committee was told that the
sdily extension of the wharves was desired
y the government, as it will be help in
'he work of deepening the channel. A
.esoiution granting the permission was
not adopted, but 1t is understood it will
Ue at the next meeting
Ing new harbor line Is uniform curva-
tule from East TO West Broad streets,
Notwithstanding the intention was not to
interfere with the present lines any more
'iau Was absolutely necessary. Under
we present establishment the channel is
an average width of 500 feet, while the
INES established by Capt Carter made il
oW Ieet wide. 1t is said the present lines
HdAe the channel at least 400 feet wide
at all points.
1here are three points where the lines
WIZ De extended as soon as Council grants
tne permission. The Herman Coal and
Woou Company will go out fifty feet at
We east and about twenty feet at the
west end Of the old rice mill wharves;
=. H. Dixon & Co. will probably run their
INES out about eighteen feet; from the
DlAoh Wharves TO the exchange dock little
Tnahge will be made; from Whitaker to
barnard street the lines jump out about
NlHY feet; the last change of conse-
guence will be the wharves of d. r.
Inotas q Son. at the foot of West Broad
sueet where they will be extended about
tto-P-lve feet at the east, and twenty
'IIee feet at the west end.
strict conformity with the clty's plan
iol "harves will be one of the conditions
UIoer which the permission will be grant
eu' A Well-braced wharf is required, such
as VIII stand the severest tests At the