The Savannah morning news., 1900-10-19
SOME FAvoRIT. OTHERS DO NOT
PROPOSED CHANGE ~ sQtARE>
WIDELY DISCU ssED.


ItcIy Discussed siN Months ago.
The Move Find- Mans Opponents
aud Many AdVocHtc--tinn Relieve
Ne would nc n Great Improvement
and would Increase the Value ~
Property on the squares. white
Others Hold THAT the Sdunrcu Are
Good Enough a. rheS Are.
Alderman uiNon's revival ~ his move
ment 10 open ~ SOME 90 the squarce by
putting che north and south streets dircei-
~ through them was abe subject Of much
discussion yesterday. There was much di-
versly OF opillon aad 81 WAS eyi-
dont that there win De- decided oppo-
stion 10 the movement outside 81 Coun-
ell a. wei as in that holy Most ol the
aldermen seem TO be- ia favor OF The move
though al agree that tho subject is one
which should bee gtven thorough consider
alton.
Alderman Dixon does not like the idea
that he was attempting to spring some
thing upon Council. 81 FIRST aritltod this
matter about six months azo. De- said
THE Morning News Published seveml ar-
ticics about il. together with q clt OF the
proposed plan Tor Calhoun quare. so thnt
fun notice was given thc public Of ms iu-
tcutlon ln the matter AZ that time Mayor
Myers and Alderman Wells aud IhHmlE
announced their opposition ! learned
from Mr. Adams the city attorney that
there might b. legal difficulties as the city
has no right 40 give up stt,st without
the consent Of che LEGISLATURE ] am
uouncei then that would seek lesisIat on
al the next session 90. the general asssm-
bly There was no attempt go spring
the resolution on Council Moet q she ai-
dermeu were aware OF the fact that it WAS
10 be offered and had expressed their ap-
prevail"
u am perfectly satisfied 10 have the
ordinance discussed by che Committe" Of
the whole" said Alderman Dixon. "aud
viii be- glad &, hear expressions generally
from citizens. 1 have no doub there will
D. some opposition. bus 10 change is ever
made To- savannah without Opposition from
some quarter
n Wish you would make IL clear" said
the Alderman. that % IS not intended 20
have the squares opened up hy abe Legs
ioture. All thet desire By tnn' the Legis-
laturc snail confer the power upon Coun-
ell 10 make such change in the street
lines through or around tho squares. as
may DO deemed desirable for purposes Of
public Improvements just as the power
was conferred upon Council 20 pave
streets hy ordinance ID will then rest
with Council whether streets shall be-
opened up through any Of tho squares
and ca 20 case would boz considered upon
it, merits.
Ella making the selection FOR an expert
mcut" said Alderman Dixon. Calhoun
square Was chosen boeausr the change
could boz effected there without removing
any streets. and should the experiment
prove unsatisfactory we could change
back 60 the cd lines without any damage
being done The eusile work would cost
less than 500"
Aldermen Haas and FARRELL both stated
yesterday that they favored the proposed
move. but fell that a matter OF such inn
portance should he thoroughly discussed
before taking action. Alderman Horrigan
eald chat he voted for the resolution un-
der apprehension. understanding
that 30 referred only Go the square on Bur-
uard street just south OF Broushiou,
which is almost entirely surrounded by
business houses and public buildings
Il ana not lu favor OF opening through
the squares gcneraliy.' said Alderman
Horugan. "and ! md that the people ia
my section Of che city are generally op-
posed 90 such "a move
Alderman Thomas Is opposed to the
move because he is doubtful OF the effect
which such change zen the appearance
OF the squares would have and because he
thinks i would Doe greatly TO the iuconven-
fence OF the people whose houses front
upon the squares ana who would Doe prac-
tlcally shut on from access 40 che front
Of their housese, being compelled 20 make
use OF the side streets Where there are
more than two houses 10 a block fronting
the square this Inconvenience would be
very decided
''The squares are pretty and attractive
ard Ia che proper shape now" said Mayor
Myers. and the best thing 20 do Is 90
keep them just as they are. our people
take great pride IN their squares. as 81 IS
right they should and any change which
would mar their beauty would bee a very
serious loss 20 the city. 1 thlnk Alder
man Dixon WAL ind the opposition TO his
move very general
The general impression among many OF
those who oppose any change la the pres
eiit status Of the squares. seems 90 be
that the proposed change would destroy
the beauty 81 the squares and thus re-
move one Of tho distinctive features OF
the city. Alderman Dixon and those who
regard his move with favor say that th.s
impressio~ is entirely erroneous. Instead
Of injuring the squares ia any way they
say that the result would be 10 greatly
increase their attractivencss and TO make
them "A sun more distinctive feature OF
tho city than they are at present. in-
stead OF decreasing the area devoted %
the squares within each quadrangle. the
square area would DE considerably in
creased. 10 obviously requires less space
Tor one street than two. even though the
one be wider than either OF the two. AMI
the rounded corners OF the squares now
throw considerable unnecessary space in
the streets which under the new plan
would b. taken up In the squares The
plan FOR Calhoun square which has been
on exhibition IN Director Gadsden's office
Tor several months shows that by throw.
ing out the corners Of She squares 90 tho
adjacent property lines on the east and
west an, additional area 81 1909 square
feet Of space can DE obtained for park
purposes while at tho same time allowing
a street 6 feet Ia width through the cen
ter.
That the carrying out Of the plan would
make a considerable change ln the APP
pearanco OF she squares BE- not denied
hut that u g. claimed that this change
would be- considerably FOR the better In
stead OF each square containing "a mark
IN tho center oncircled by streets. th.
squares would contain two parks divides
by a wide street with sidewalks on each
side. the parks extending 20 the property