The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-06-01
cITYS PROPOSED CEMETERY.
MUCH OPPOSITION EXPRESSED TO
PURCHASE OFF GARRARD TRACT.

and Unpopular One, he holds, and
Burden ON the Cfty's Hands-He
Would Much Prefer Avondaie
Tract and Suggests That the own
ers Make the City an oGer-Mayor
Myers and Chairman Dale Think
DifTerentIy-County Is Now Drain
ing the Tract.
Unless some of the members of the City
Council change heir minds the indica-
tions are that the move to buy the Gar
yari tract, on the Ogeeche road, for a
site fer new cemetery will be carried
through at the next meeting. nearly two
weeks hence In the discussion of the
matter in the Committee of the Whole
Wednesday night the aldermen stood six
to FIVE in favor OF the adoption of the re-
port and the matter could undoubtedly
lave be n carried then, but the majority
yleldel to the wish of the minority to
al W the matter 10 go over until another
meeting.
Aid rnian Terrell was the ony member
of the board absent from the meeting,
and his vote would not have changed
matters. AS a member of the Special
Cemetery Committee his name was at
tached to the report and his presence
would simply have served to increase the
majority in its favor. The aldermen pres
enc were divided as follows: In favor of
the report, Haas. Dixon, Schwarz, Bacon
and Horrigan; against the report Tiede-
man, Thomas, Mills, Doyle and Wells.
A- aI- LII ,.aIf
as strongly in favor of the committees
recommendation, the minority. though a
resp C able one, could not hope to ac-
complish anything fur her than a delay.
There is a very decided interest among
many citizens on this subject, however,
and it is very likely that considerable
personal influence will be brought to bear
upon members of the board in order TO
get them, either TO change their view as
to the site, or to consent to give further
time to the considera ton of such an i'm
portant question.
There is but little opposition now to tbs
purchase of a cemetery site, and the ma
jority appears to be of the opinion that it
Is well for this question to be settled
ny Council. provided this be done to the
satisfaction Of the community. Alderman
Thomas doubtless expressed the senti-
ments of many citizens in discussing this
question.
II do not wish to appear captious or ca
PRECIOUS in this matter" he said II am
not opposed to the purchase of a new
cemetery. When the subject NVas first
brought up in this Council; I was inclined
TO oppose. but after investigating the mat
ter, became convinced that Laurel Grove
was no longer sufficient for public needs
While the private lots there may ,ufice
for their owners for some years to come
the only dots for sale are those in The
nav fT9.r
especially desirable. / consider 1t advisa-
bic that the city should begin now to
make provision for the future and chat
IN doing So II should secure a large tract
Of land sufficient for all proha hlA needs
for number of years 10 come.
II do not favor hasty acton in the mat
ter While the subject has been casually
and incidentally discussed for s-me lime
the public and the land owners, where
not prepared for sudden action by Council
at this time. l do net think SUFFICIENT
time was allowed by the committee, ror
do think the committee gave sufficient
time 10 the consideration of the sites offer
ed. There are severed of these offers
which appear to be worthy of consid r.
alton. / think yet that citizens having d.
sirable tracts to offer should rot hesitate
to submit them 10 Council The Avord 7la
tract is much nearer the Y. in a rnu h
more frequented and more popular qua ter,
easier of access and much batier suited
for cemetery purposes, would like We Y
much to see an offer from the owners Of
this tract.
ITO the Garrard tract my objections are
to its inaccessibility. 1t is situated en-
the poorest of the paved roads of he
county and the least popular. The elton
is much frequented by negroes and IL wi |
be years, even with street railway line
before ii will be popularity rescrl ed to by
the citizens. 1t is in a section of the coun-
ty among the poorest drained and most
unhealthy. II will be years bs fore this Oh
lection can be removed. The higher por-
ton of the tract does not lie In ore boy.
but is scattered and much cut up BY
swamps and low places. The tract is only
partially drained and 1t Is impossible to
say whether further drainage will have
the desired effect. While the price is high
this objection might be overlooked If the
greater portion of the tract were g. cd
land, but with the amount of low land
the cost of the land acquired by the city
for cemetery purposes would be much
greater than appears.
zone important fact which should not
! he. overlooked" said Alderman Thomas,
/ sis that unless the cemetery proves pop
ulnr with the public, the city win have a
| burden on It's hands for which there will
be no relief. It will be out not only the
|
| spent in improvements. If the people
who are able to buy lots and pay for
them look with disfavor upon the new
cemetery. the city will find its investment
losing one, and this is feature which
must not be over. ooked, even in the mat.
/ ter of a cemetery"
Alderman Thomas expressed the view:
of many others, some of whom did no
care 10 be quoted. gentleman whC
owns land adjoining the Garrard trac
stated that his land cost him $3.50 al
acre ten years ago. He considers his
land worth about three times that now
His land is improved. however, while the
Garrard tract is not.
IT have had considerable experience
with farm lands in this county" he said
"and my experience is that the revenue
is not sufficient to pay the taxes. d.
not believe lands in that section Of th'
county will be worth any more fifty years
hence than they are now. From my
knowledge of the conditions in that sec
| tlon. I do NOT think the tract can b.
| successfully drained"
Chairman Dale OF 10 County Commits
soners, when spoken to on the subject