The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-11-26

city might need the lots
Councils committee recommended .he
grant Of a strip % land running along
the eastern side OF Abercorn street. ga
feet from Tho lane south OF Liberty street.
thence eastward SIS feet so as 20 form
the northern boundary OF the negro CEN
etery. thence northwardiy 65i feet. until
the intersection OF tho said inne." which
formed the northern boundary of the
tract. IN lsA 500 was appropriated 20
assist the military IN enclosing this area.
winch 10 the resolution was termed "tho
Military Square.
The next reference 20 parade ground
reserved Tor the military d. found in Mo-
vemher. ISL. when the officers o. an the
volunteer companies pet.tioned Tor TWEEN
" acres OF the Springfield plantation
then recently purchased hy the city. for
senernl parade ground" Iu the inter.
vening years tho military had used tho
Military square on Abercorn street,
me 'huilt-up portion Of the city
nan oeen expanding. lots in this
tract nad been sold and buildings
erected thereon. greatly encroa~hinr on
me area available. and the necessity for
new parade ground was evident 10 AN
IN MAY, lAo3. Mayor Arnold ana Alderman
James +. Screven. as a committee from
IN" city government. called on tho ON
clals m Washington to buy for the civ
the site OF tho old Oglcihorpe barracks
on the outskirts OF the city Congress
was memorialized. setting forth tho uh-
eral action Of Savannah in che sale 81 tine
new site for the United states harracks
on Liberty. between Bun and Dr,vton
streets. and stating thar owing to ,he
rapid growth OF the city the commons
formerly used as a military parade
ground was now nearly built up and that
y was desired TO secure place for the
military training Of the volunteer corps 90
10y me eNertions % the Georgia senators
and representative. Congress. tn January
city
On March 10 1858 Ileu;. Col A. C.
Davenport Of the Savannah Volunteer
1uar1s. chairman % committee rrnre-
seutIng all the military companies OF The
city. p~ntonsd Council 90 grant twenty
acres OF tho land recently granted 20 the
city and known as the old cantonmeut
a. public parade ground The matter
was referred TO committee COMPOSED
OF Aldermen r u. Arnold James =
Screven and c. A. L. Lamar with IN
structions 20 have the ground surveyed n
necessary, AMI report what disposition
should be made OF ~ On July IS 1873
THIS committee reported that the old
enrichment contained Is acres and rs
perches. and recommended setting aside.
as public parade ground che mort bern
tract. having as its northern boundary
the southern line o. Gwinnctt street from
whitaker 20 Mon Eomery. as lts eastern
boundary. Whitakcr street. from Gwin-
nett 20 New Houston. as ifs western
boundary, the eastern limo or MONTGOMERY
street. from Gwinnett TO New Houston
che southern line 90 DO determined bv
Council This includes an area OF about
eight acres. The remainder Of the ola
cantoumcnt tract east % Whitaker
street and directly south OF FORSYTH
Park, was 20 D. reserved by the City ana
later 20 be divided into building lots
and sold. An ordinance was accordingly
introduced and passed Aug. II. 1888 allow
ing the use Of the section west Of Whita-
ker street. hy the military. conditioned on
rs being cleared and fence being put
around 70 within FIVE years on Nov TO-
1855. an ordinance was passed striking out
this condition The ordinance Of Aug N
provided that the control coustody and
management o. said parade ground. shall
be vested In the captains for the time be-
Ing. OF che several volunteer companies
az the city OF Savannah who shall have
exclusive charge thereof subject never
'hcless. 60 the police regulations Of So
vannah.' and that IN case they should
use or attempt to use. the parade ground
for other purposes than that for which
Il was dedicated. II should revert 10 the
city and again fan into the common pub
DC domain
The parade ground was apparentlv not
definitely outlined until 1882 freehodsrs
being appointed on June OF thar y.1-
for this purpose. and on June 10 Coun-
Ell appropriated 5000 To assist the mill
tary 20 put up a neat fence around ne
parade ground. the boundaries having
been hxed as Gwinnett 20 Now Houston
and Whitager 20 MONTGOMERY.
Before tho work or iu-losiug - had be-
gun, however the military. as well as
many citizens. decided that q change %
site would be advantageous 10 both the
military and the general public Accord
inEly. on Aug T. 1853 Col. 4. r. Tawton
and Capt John W Anderson. represent
iaS ;hc military. appeared before Council
with "A petition. requesting trat The pa
rad ground already granted b. EXCHANGED
FOR the land Immediately south OF For-
syth Park, and extending TO New Hous-
ton street. 80 that there SHOULD Soc one
large park instead OF two open places
30 near each other. The petition was re-
ferrcd 70 a committee composed OF Al
dermon Thomas H0icomhe. John NJ. Guer-
ard and Martin !. Ford. This commit
tee. on Sept ]. reported To- favor OF grant
Ing the petition, provided Han street cN-
tend through II and rot be cnclosed. The
report was adopted but the military re-
fused 20 accept % with this condition az
tached and finally. on Nov. 10. is 9.
the request as presented originally hy h
military was gran ell. ana tho Commit. ec
on city Lots was directed TO make tine
transfer. To accomplish this the city had
10 huv i've lots situated in the proposed
new parade ground. which had been sold
hv A. The contract Tor the fence 90 cu-
close the ground was for 5000, and an
additional appropriation Of 81 90 was made
hy Council Iron posts were 70 be useh
and the fence was 90 bee neat and sun
stnntial one. In the spring Of 1850.
strip Of land - feet wide. was added 20
the southern border Of the parade ground
20 bring the boundary there on line villa
New Houston street. and the old parade
ground. between whitaker and Montg0m
cry streets. was ordered laid or into lots
10 hc sold
An abstract Of disbursements on az
count OF the new parade ground was pre-
scented to Council by its committee on oct.
IT, 1850 The expenditures were given as
follows:
For land for enlarglng area OF
parade ground .+.............,...-& td-s ON
Levcing ground ..:..-............... Zl3l o.
Grading fence rallings. etc. .... 1905 go
Shells and drayage ................ 1885 %
Total d.. ............................S34 5s a
Approximate value OF land belong
Ing 70 city and given 90 military
bon exchange Tor Old parade