The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-05
PLANT SYSTEM MAY JOIN IN.
v,v ASK a SHARE IN BAY STREET
FRANCHISE.

.stJerabIe Opposition to the Grant
g.. CounciI. and by no Means Ger
cain That the Petitions of the Rail-
o,ds VIII BE Granted-In Any
c,se It VIII Be "a Joint Grant to
an Of the Railroads Desiring to
porticfpnte, With Restrictions and
coalitions Acknowledgement to
nesume consideration of the Mat
ter This Week.
THE question of the Bay street track
,-,ncbtse will come before Council again
,h,s week probably on Wednesday after
aeon. when it is likely that the Commit
zoe Of the Whole VIII meet to consider a
netition from the Georgia and Alabama
railway for certain rights-of-way which
r. needs in order to reach the site of its
troigbt terminals and the new union depot.
II is now a matter of considerable doubt
,,befber che Bay street franchise will be
granted to any of the railroads. on &C.
oornt of the determined opposition mani
tested by property owners on Indian and
Williamson streets, as well as a few of
the property owners on Bay street, 1t is
practically certain that unless the business
men and property owners on Bay street.
VINO are interested in the matter, mani
fest a more aggressive spirit that the OPP
nosition will be sufficient to defeat the
movement.
Alderman Thomas has expressed himself
as decidedly opposed to granting the fran
chise. His experience with the Central
Railway track on River street has not
been satisfactory and the opposition of the
property owners on Indian and Williamson
streets and several of those on Bay street
has convinced him that the disadvantages
outweigh the advantages in permitting the
desired tracks. He does not think the re,
sulting advantages to the business
men and property owners on
Bay street, west, would cOmpen,
safe for the injury to other property,
Alderman Dixon, as already announced,
is also opposed TO the movement. He does
not believe that the public streets should
be given up to railway tracks 1t is said
that Aldermen Williams. Doyle, Bacon
and Graham are inclined to sympathiLe
more or less with Aldermen Thomas and
Dixon, in their views ON the subject,
though they have not committed them
selves in opposition to the movement TO the
extent which the two aldermen named
have done. Supposing the other aldermen
TO favor the franchise, this would leave
Council a tie with Mayor Myers, to cast
the deciding vote. 1t is safe to say. how
ever that Council would not undertake to
grant the franchise by any such narrow
margin.
There are good reasons for believing that
the Plant System may be counted on to
ask for a share in the privilege before the
matter is decided. Although President Err
win did not authorize any statement on the
subject during his recent visit here, 1t is
known that he has given some attention
TO the matter, and that he is inclined to
think that the Plant System should have
an equal share with the other railroads,
should the city decide to grant the fran
chse In the latter case it is likely that
Alderman Dixon would propose that the
Plant System be included In the grant
Alderman Iiedeman, in speaking of the
matter Yesterday said that he thought it
lAely that the Plant System would ask
Tor the same privileges as the other roads.
You can rest assured" said Alderman
Iledeman, that the franchise will not be
granted to any one railroad and if the
franchise is TO be granted jointly see no
reason why the Plant System should not
snare in it should it desire to do so 1t
would only have TO run its tracks a short
Instance down East Broad street in order
10 make the connection on Bay street,
ana then the merchants along the entire
street would have the advantage of the
facilities afforded by all three of the large
runway systems entering the city"
q, Aluerman Iiedeman is inclined to think
that Council will act favorably upon the
teuuohs OF the railroads, provided the lat
Yer are willing to accept the grant with
ele conditions and restrictions which the
city Is certain to attach to 1t.