The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-09
COUNCIL is NOW FAVORABLE.
BAY STREET TRACK PETITION
LIKELY TO BE GRANTED.

Special Meeting of the Committee
Of the Whole to Consider the Mat
ter Called for Next Friday After
nOOn-If the Railroads VIII Act
Jointly Council viii Very Likely
Regard the Proposition With Fa-
Vor. Mayor Myers Says.
After a long silence Council will again
take up the Bay street track matter. A
special meeting of the Committee of the
Whole has been called for next Friday
afternoon to take the question under
consideration. The railroad officials and
the business men interested will be in
vited to be present at this meeting. The
indications are that the action of Council
viii be favorable.
For a long time the fate of the move
ment was very much in doubt Only a
few members of Council expressed them
selves as decidedly in favor of it while
there was determined opposition on the
part of as many more. This opposition
appears to have been lulled to rest and
it is stated that there is now an easy ma
jority Of the board in favor of accepting
the proposition of the railroads.
satisfied that the board would act favor
ably in the matter provided the railroads
would agree to enter into a joint con-
tract for the construction and operation
of the tracks. The route to be pursued in
reaching Bay street and the number of
tracks and spur tracks or side tracks are
matters of detail for future consideration
There are three propositions before
Council in the
The Georgia and Alabama Railway was
the first to get in its petition with the re-
quest that it be allowed to construct tracks
from its terminals TO Bay street and along
that street eastward to the City Exchange.
The Central came in with a similar prop
osition shortly after. Some time later
The Plant System made application to be
allowed to construct tracks from its ter
minals on the east side along East Broad
and Bay streets. The Georgia and Ala
bama offered to construct the track indie
pendently or conformity with other roads.
The Central asked to be allowed to con-
struct the tracks independently of any
other road.
Capt. II. c. Cunningham of the general
counsel for the Central said yesterday that
Vice President Egan had decline the prop
ostion for joint construction and opera
ton of the tracks a the general discus
sion of the question before Council some
time ago and that he had since given no
intimatiOns of any change of mind in the
matter. Joint operation would be un-
satisfactory" said Capt. Cunningham.
The Central is the only one of the three
roads making application which is prepar-
ed to undertake the work of construction
at once, and is the road which can do so
with most benefit TO the merchants"
The fact that the predicted move of the
merchants away from Bay street in case
railroad tracks were not provided is com
ing to pass, is believed to have had some
thing to do with bringing Council to view
the matter in more favorable light.
Since the agitation was begun two firms
have moved to the railroad warehouses,
two others have announced their intention
of moving, while still two others are I'M
derstood to have the move under consider
alton. Those merchants, who not so
situated as to be able to move at will are
especially anxious that railroad facilities
shoud be provided on Bay street. The
property owners, who are faced with the
imminent prospect of lack of tenants are
also very much interested. With the pres
sure that is being brought to bear it is
practically certain that, if the railroads
Will get together in the matter, that Coun-
Gil will grant them the right to place
tracks on Bay street.