The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-31

been made for the payment of the contract
| price. The abest sanitary engineers in
the country are supervising the work and
| there is no reason to apprehend awning
put a successful result. I cannot refrain
from expressing the most sincere regret
| mat the able and efficient head of the
drainage committee has not been permitted
10 continue the work in which he took so
much pride and to which ne devoted so
much of his time and energy"
In reference to public health il was
recommended that an arrangement be en-
| tered into between the city and county
| whereby the lOwlands around the city may
nave the benefit of the labor of the entire
convict force of the county. The fact
that that the ensuing summer is
Iull of danger" was pointed out as reason
| tor early precautions in the interest of
healih. Attention was directed to the
| TACT mat the lines at the quarantine sta
| ton, which heretofore have prevented per-
manent improvements, are no longer an
| OBSTACLE and the suggestion made that the
| quarantine station should be placed and
Kept IN perfect order The expenditure of
$1,S00 in retaining land for an addition to
Laurel Grove Cemetery was referred to,
| but it was advised that a new location for
cemetery be provided at the earliest
convenience.
Street paving was set forth in detail.
| From the report it appears that "a very
1t will be found that in 1895, $40, 70 was
| expended and in 1896, $34, S42.2 20, making
| during those two years $5,549.99 1t will
| further appear that in 1897 $40 80 were
| spent and in 1898 $ll2, 526.16. Thus in two
| years you have expended for paving the
enormous sum of $lS2.S564S An ordinance
| has been passed providing for the paving
| of Wheaton street. This work is neces-
| sary, but when that is finished no necessi-
| ty for any further large expenditure in
the matter of street paving will not be re-
| quired, for the city has now become one
of the best paved cities in the South"
tribute to the efficient work of Alder
man Davis was paid in this connection.
| Stress was laid on the difficulty experience
| ed in keeping streets clean, owing to peo-
| pie throwing waste into them.
Much Of the energy of the present adj
| ministra ton ii was stated, was direct
| ed to the opening of the streets in the
| southern part of the city and in no spirit
! of inVidious criticism. But solely to Illus
| trate the amount of work done, 1 beg to
| call your attention to the fact that the
| amount expended in 1895 for opening streets
was $23, s47.12, in 1896 81, SO, thus MAX
| ing during the two years of 1886 $44,-
| 9O151, while in 1897 there was expended
! $39 566. 35 and in 1898 SIS ,679.04, thus making
| in the two years Sis, 2599. One million two
| hundred and fifty-one thousand two nun
! dred and ninety-three square feet of land
were acquired by the city at an average
| cost of about SIC per square foot. The
| members of the committee on opening
streets particularly Alderman Charlton,
| and Krouskoff, are entitled to the highest
| praise for the skill and energy that they
| have bestowed upon this important work.
| AS in the matter of paving streets, so in
| the matter of opening Streets" Mayor Mel
| drim asserted, there will be very little
more to be done"
In discussing sidewalks the suggestion
| was made that the police force be in
structed to report every sidewalk that
| they find in state of disrepair." 1t
| was also suggested that no Stops or piaz-
zas should be permitted to encroach on
| the sidewalks In discussing parks and
| squares it was recommended that IAN eX-
| penditure, as liberal as the finances of the
| city will permit, be made to the park and
tree commission" and that the grass
| plats in front of residences be taken
| charge of by the commission; that no
| ratings or Instructions be permitted on
| them, and that every such railing or OBJ
struction now existing be removed and
that these grass plats be made as uniform
as possible in character, put in good order
and kept in such good order"
The fact that the income from the mar
| ket sis not as large as it should be-" was
| pointed out, and the suggestion made that
| as this due to the sale of market products
| in green groceries, shops and along the
| streets, that "as far as is consistent with
the conveniences of the public the articles
| usually sold at markets should be required
| to be sold there"
Attention was called to the fact that
the poor of Savannah are absolutely with
out county or municipal aid. The fire
| department. was dismissed with a few lines,
stating that a new engine has been bought
| and the work is being satisfactorily done"
| The erection of the new police station was
mentioned in the paragraph devoted 90
the police department. This cost ST, 1886 40
In dealing with the Ocean Steamship Com
| pany force the policy has been followed
| of making no appointments, except upon
the recommendation of the authorities of
the Central Railroad Company, which
pays for their services.
The water works were discussed at some
length. The old water works have been
put in readiness for use at cost of 81, TO
The water service for the soldiers cost $12,-
09921 The pipe can be reused in the ex-
tension of the citys water supply. new
site was purchased and a new powder
| magazine erected.
During the year the acts creating the
commissions were abolished and acts
passed authorizing the condemnation of
| property for drainage purposes, giving the
| veto mower to the acting Mayor repeating
the act in reference to city elections and
providing for the election of Mayor and
aldermen.
In concluding, Mayor Meldrim said:
1.-THE bonded indebtedness of the city is
being steadily reduced. The taxable prop
erty is increasing and, Notwithstanding
| the depression that has existed and does
exist in different sections of the country,
Savannah has added $i25, $50 to her tax
list. The new year finds 81 100000 added in
the property, real and personal, that comes
TO us under the act of 1854. Our cotton re-
ceipts have been the largest in our record.
! Our bank clearances have been the great
est Our commerce, foreign and domestic.
has increased from 1896 to 1898 1862 900. An
| army has been cared for by our people.
| Good order has been preserved and har-
mony in large degree has been restored.
General prosperity has marked the city
and good health has been vouchsafed to
us. The city to-day is stronger, prouder,
and more confident than ever before in her
history. For all this we should not be I'M
mindful that we are indebted to Him
whose blessings we should continue to in
woke"