The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-18
COMMITTEE EVENLY DIVIDED.
OPPONENTS OF BAY STREET TRACK
WILL HAVE A SAY.


wells With Mayor Myers, Compose
the Committee which VIII Formu-
late Conditions to BE offered the
Railroads - The Feasibility OF
Other Routes Than Indian and
Williamson Streets TO Be Looked
IntO-A Suggestion That the City
Sell the City Exchange to the Rail-
roads and Build n New City Hail
Elsewhere.
The committee which win look into the
Bay street track question and report to
Council upon what conditions the rail-
roads should be allowed to construct
tracks on Bay street was appointed yes
terday. 1t consists OF Mayor Myers and
Aldermen Dixon, Haas, Bacon and Wells
The composition of the committee is
somewhat of surprise and indicates that
the Mayor is disposed to hold an even hand
between the opponents and the supporters
of the movement. Alderman Dixon and
Bacon are outspoken in their opposition
TO allowing tracks on Bay street. while
Aldermen Wells and Haas are understood
TO view the proposition with favor. Mayor
Myers is disposed to be favorable, but
has not fully made up his mind in the
matter. AT least, he wishes to clearly
satisfy himself that the project is entirely
feasible and that it will at the same time
afford the benefits claimed for it.
THE committee will thoroughly weigh
the matter and will formulate such condi-
tons and terms as in its opinion should
be imposed by Council" said the Mayor.
Il think Council is disposed to act fav-
oraby in the matter, provided the rail-
roads win accept the franchise on the
conditions offered, The railroads appear
to be indifferent. They say they are will
ing to provide facilities on Bay street, but
they are evidently not so eager in the
matter, but that they might be easily dis
couraged should the city's conditions be
unsatisfactory to them"
The composition of the committee Is
pretty Ngood evidence that the railroads
viii not be accorded the privileges de-
sired by them and by the merchants with
out conditions attached which viii entail
considerable expense. Alderman Dixon
said In discussing the matter some time
since that he would insist, should Council
grant the Bay street franchise, that the
railroads should pave Indian street and
such other unpaved streets as may be
used by their tracks. This view is shared
by members of the board who are favor
able TO granting the franchise.
The fire headquarters at Indian and
West Broad streets is likely to prove a
stumbling block and one difficult to get
around as the objections to a track IN
front of the headquarters on the part OF
the fire department are undoubtedly well
founded. The objections of the property
owners on Williamson street viii not be
easily overcome. The street is said to be
only twenty-one feet wide, and as it IS
right upon the edge of the bluff the fears
of the property owners as to unpleasant
consequences, should it be undertaken to
operate trains on the street are not I'm
reasonable.
Because of the objections of the property
owners on Indian and Williamson streets
and the location of the fire headquar-
ters at Indian and West Broad streets.
the advisability Of a change in the routes
proposed by the Central and the Georgia
land Alabama Railways will be considered
~ the committee. Several suggestions
have been made. One is that track
kould be run up from River street at
West Broad either into Williamson or
Bay streets. The grade would be a sharp
bne, but could be used with a specially
CONSTRUCTED engine. Another suggestion
with regard to River street is tnat this
street could be used to the foot of Bar
nard street and the ascent made from
that point TO the Strand by way of the
Factors Walk or to Bay street by way OF
the Barnard street slip.
The Indian street property owners have
generously suggested that some other
street in that section should be used. pre-
sumably Bay or Mill streets. As both Of
these streets are narrower than Indian
streets, the property owners there would
have even better reason to protest against
the use of the streets by railroad tracks.
As property is cheap in Yamacraw 1t has
been suggested that the railroads. should
they decide to undertake the work, could
easily buy sufficient property in Yama-
craw to widen one Of the narrow streets
there for their especial use and that this
might be done at less expense than it
would cost them to fight the property
owners on Indian and Williamson streets.
In this case the track would probably be
run directly up Bay street from West
Broad and the object on account of OBJ
struction 10 fire headquarters would be
obviated TO a large extent.
While there are undoub teddy many ciu-
zens who strongly object to allowing rail
road tracks on Bay or any other city street
there are others who hold decidedly oppo-
site views. Let the railroads turn Bay
street into a railroad boulevard" said one
old citizen. 1T would be the best thing
that could happen to the town. Let the
city sell them the City Exchange for
good round sum sufficient TO build a new
city hall, something which is very much
needed in Savannah. The railroads could
use the building for Offices, but it would
be much better 10 remove it entirely.
Then the roads could construct their
tracks entirely on the north side OF the
street leaving Bay street for the street
cars and general traffic as at present The
slips could be bridged over and there
would be ample room for sidetracks If
desired the railroads might be allowed on
condition of their removing the old build
ing to construct a new building over the
Bull street slip in lines with the present
buildings on The north side Of the street"
The committee which has the matter in
hand might take this suggestion under
consideration.
Refres NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. The