The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-06
SHOULD EXTEND CITY LIMITS.
MAKE PREPARATIONS NOW, SAYS
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS.

to Secure Lands for streets and
Parks and City's Charter should
BE Changed 30 Give the city the
Right to Acquire Outside Property.
over 3S3,COO square Feet of Land
Acquired for street Opening Pur-
poses Last Year at Cost of $71 900.
Only About 600 More Required
TO Complete the work.
Alderman Williams believes that the
further extension of the city limits is a
matter of brief time only, and that in
providing for future extension the city
should take time by the forelock and
make preparations accordingly arranging
beforehand with the property owners to
secure such lands as may be needed for
streets and parks.
In this connection Alderman Williams is
strongly of the opinion that in future ex-
tensions of the city's boundaries the plan
which prevails in the northern section OF
the city and the chief feature of which is
the numerous attractive parks should be
followed. In his annual report to the
Mayor as chairman of the Committee on
Opening Streets and City Lots, Alderman
Williams has the following to say on this
subject:
In order that Council may act intei-
gently in acquiring lands for street open
ing in sections that will probably be in
cluded in the city limits when again ex-
tended, I suggest that a committee be ap-
pointed by Council to investigate the mat
ter of extending the city's limits, and that
vyba
made they make their report to Council,
and that when the new boundaries are de-
cided upon that a competent engineer be
employed to submit plans for said city
extension, and that when the plans are
agreed upon that Council proceed to ac-
quire the lands necessary for opening
streets and for establishing parks and that
contracts be entered into between the
owners of the property which may be re-
quired, taking contracts for the deciding
of the same to the city, said contracts
to remain in force until the charter of the
city can be so amended as to enable the
city to acquire property outside of the
present city limits for streets and parks.
l further suggest that in view of the con-
ditions as they exist it would be well to
nave the city's charter so amended as 10
ehdple the CITY 10 own and control char
tered roadways leading out of the citv"
On the subject of immediate extension
OF the city limits Alderman Williams saws:
In view of the fact that only a few
years Will elapse before the southern and
eastern boundaries of the city will be ex-
tended, l think it wise for the CITY to
enter into negotiations with the owners of
land south of Twelfth street and north
of what will be known probably as
Eighteenth street with the view of OBJ
tanning all of the areas necessary for
street opening east from Ogeechee ave-
nue. and west from Bull street extended
and in view of the prospective early ex-
tension of the eastern boundary of the
city to Waters road, it is expedient that
the city, through its proper committees,
open up negoua tons with parties owning
lands east of East Broad street and west
of Waters road with view of arranging
to open up Tenth and Eleventh streets
to Waters road and also with view to
having Atlantic, Harmon and other streets
extended from Lovers Lane to Estiu
avenue"
Alderman Williams report shows that
the areas of land improved and unimprov-
ed, acquired by the city during 1899 for
street opening, with the location and cost
of each tract and name of party from
whom purchased. The report shows the
total area so purchased during the year
to have been 3S5,701 square feet at an
approximate cost of ST.. $3.50 the average
cost being about 1872 cents per square foot.
summary of the area of lands yet to be
acquired and description of the same for
the opening up of all unopened streets be-
tween East Broad and West Broad An
derson and Twelfth streets, shows the
total area required in this district to
amount to 1888 00S square feet. To conclude
the work OF street opening in the Col
llnsVille district $40 square feet are need
ed, making a total of 275579 square feet
which the city should acquire this year
in order to complete the work of street
opening in the territory named. These
figures do not include the land needed for
opening Burroughs street and for Flor
ence street, between Wilson and LaVinia
streets. If the width of forty feet for
Burroughs street required by the ordinance
Is adhered to, the area required to open
these two streets is 80 900 square feet. f.
however, the Old roadway on Burroughs
street is used the area required will be
only $1,000 square feet, a saving to the
city of about 5000 square feet at an aver
age valuation of 80 cents per square foot,
or about $l6 500.
Attention Is called to the petition of the
Twelfth Street Land Company, Offering
to the city lands for opening streets be-
tween Twelfth and Sixteenth street with
an area of 250X360 feet for a park on con-
dition that the city will grade and curb
the streets and underdren the land. wood
en- curbing to be used. The city engineer
estimate of the cost of the work which
would be required is $1,000 or $4,000. In
view of the past experiences of the city
in acquiring lands for street opening pur-
poses Alderman Williams recommends the
acceptance Of the proposition, the city to
be allowed three years in which to fulfil
its part of the contract.
The tract of land known as the old water
works, consisting of bout seventy acres
being at present inaccessible to the CITY.
Mr.. Williams suggests that the city CO.
operate with the County Commissioners in
opening UP q roadway, running parallel
with what is now known as River
street and bisecung the area be-
tween River street and Bav
street extended. lie also recommends
that Council petition the County Com
missioners 20 open up a roadway betws Ell
the new water works and the Georgia c
Works in order to facilitate the travel n
that section. Attention is called to the