The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-17
THE RAILROADS HEARD FROM.
(Continued from Eighth Page.)

lis little more Of the sense of provision,
of looking into the future. L wish / could
recall the names of the citizens who are
deserving Of credit for some of Savan-
nahs most desirable features, who first
advocated the rounding of the squares
devised the fire alarm system, brought
about the introduction of street railroads.
electric lights and other public improve
ments. There are Others whose names
should also be recalled-those who opposed
public improvements in their day. which
would have been of great benefit to u.s.
Among this number should be the mem
bers of the aldermanic board who pre-
vented the laying out of streets in the
southern section when land could have
been obtained there almost for a song,
To-day the streets of that section are a
horrible abortion upon the city map, and It
will cost the city a fortune to bring them
in keeping with the general plan. There
are too many such people in Savannah
to-day. We are approaching the greatest
period and the greatest era in the history
of civilized world and l fear Savannah
is not equipping herself for the great ad-
vance movement which win mark the
twentieth century. England Is spending
millions to-day 10 dam the river Nile n
order to turn the desert of Sahara into a
garden, but in Savannah there are people
who are trying to increase the 100 great
aridity which already exists by turning
Bay street into a desert There is not a
city on the continent of any importance
which has not railroad tracks in its
streets. In New York city the tracks run
through the heart of the city to the Grand
Central depot In Philadelphia there are
tracks on some of the principle streets.
and even Saratoga. one of the leading
pleasure resorts of the country is bisected
by a railroad. ] have heard no good rea-
son advanced why tracks should not be
allowed on Bay street If we would keep
touch with the progress of the world we
must make prepare ton for the great for
ward movement of the coming century.
Col Mercer received many hearty cen
ordinations upon his address. No one
else desired TO make any remarks and the
meeting was adjourned
When seen after the meeting Mayor
Myers said that he had been instructed
by the Committee OF the Whole to appoint
a committee 70 investigate the situation
look into the plans and formulate condi-
lions upon which the city shall grant the
railroads the right TO construct the tracks
as prayed for. The committee viii also
recommend such changes in routes as It
may see fit. 1t will report to a future
meeting of the Committee of the Whole.
IF a plan satisfactory to the city with
conditions acceptable TO the railroads can
be agreed upon | have no doubt that the
permission Will be granted" said the
Mayor. "At the same time this is a ques-
ton in which the whole community Is in
terested and / would like 10 have a more
general expression of views on the subject
1t is not simply q question of the inter-
ests OF the people on Bay street or of those
on Indian street. Council wishes to do
what is for the best interests of the great
est number OF citizens, and we would like
to know the views OF the citizens general
ly in the matter"