The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-03
MAY REPORT UMFAvORABLY.
CITY UNWILLING TO GIVE UP OLD
WATERVVORKS SITE.

PIerpOnt Manufacturing Company
Petition for Lease of the Old
waterwOrks Tract for Term oil
Forty Years at 800 n Year Not
, Favored by Finance and water
CommitteeS-Mr. PierPont Has An
other Site in view, However, an"
some Arrangement " Likely 10 BE
Nade-EIis Company Manufactures
Boxes. Baskets and Crates and
Employs 300 People.
The Joint Committee on Water and
Finance met yesterday morning for the
purpose of considering the petition of the
Plerpont Manufacturing Company, Of
Crescent City, Fla, fer lease OF the
old water works tract for the purpose Of
transferring there their large box and
basket factory.
The companys Petition asks for lease
of four acres, including the water front,
for a. term Of forty years at an annual
rental Of 800 a year. Acting Mayor 1iede-
man said yesterday that the committee
would be unable to report favoraUoly upon
the petition as it does not think it advis-
able to put the water works site out of
the city's control for so long a period.
The property is considered a valuable one
and likely to be in demand for number
of purposes within the next few years.
Besides the members of the water COM
mittee were of the opinion that it would
be well for the city to retain control of
the site, as in case of an emergencysuch
as might be caused by the failing of the
artesian wells it would be necessary 10
resort to river water.
Alderman Williams, " hen seen after the
meeting, expressed the hope that the COM
mittce would yet be abb to make some
arrangement with Mr.. l'ierpont which
would permit of the removal of his FAC
tory to Savannah. 1t is IN derstood that
Mr.. Pierpont has another loo alton in view
and that even if he does not obtain the
water works site there is still fair pros
pect OF the removal of his factory To Sa-
vannah.
The Pierpont company is a lar &c manu-
facturer of orange box mater iaE box
shocks and fruit and vegetable c rates oi
all kinds, and employs about 81 v men
The company has a large trade in lorida.
1t also does considerable export busl'
ness, and MIR. Perpont has selected Sa-
vannAh as point where he could not only
command his Florida trade, but would
have ample facilities for export as " ell
as for obtaining large quantities OF ra "
material at low cost. Such factor y
would not only be a great addition to tia
business of the city, but il would be u
considerable help 10 the railroads as We'll
The necessity for some concerted action
upon the part of the real estate owners
and citizens in providing sites for manu-
featuring institutions which may be at
tracted to Savannah was discussed with
interest at recent meeting of the general
committee of the Savannah Industrial
Association. The case of the Pierpont
Manufacturing Company is an illustra-
lion of the need of such action. Mr.. Pier
ponC came 10 Savannah unsolicited several
weeks ago He has made two or three
visits 10 the city, remaining about a week
each time, and has mol yet succeeded in
securing a desirable site Had there been
an organized committee to which he could
have applied for assistance, he might
have been satisfactorily located by this
time.