The Savannah morning news., 1901-05-04
WILL IT Be PAVED?
PROPERTY OWNERS GUESSING
ABOUT CASTOR STREET.
ALDERMEN WATSON FOR 1T.
HE ARGUES THAT THE CITY Is
GREATLY INTERESTED.


savannah Hospital - Mr.. w. II.
wade Does Not Think This Po-
sition Tenable-MnjOrity of Alder
men, He Says. Have Told Him They
Thought the Paving Should Be of
SheII-Capt. j. Ferris Cam Has n
Petition Circulating on Behalf OF
Brick or Asphalt Pavement.
II have been assured by a majority of
the aldermen" said Mr.. W. II. Wade
yesterday, chat they do not believe that
CASTOR street should be paved with either
vitriaed brick or asphalt at the present
time. They cons1ler that the city should
restore the shell pavement. They are in
clined to yield to the wishes of the great
majority of the property owners, who
are opposed to the street being paved
with any other material than shell.
There are sixty-two property owners
along that section of CASTOR street that
it is proposed to pave. OF that number.
ffty-eight signed the protest against any
other pavement than one of shell. and
they signed willingly. In only one in
stance did the slightest persuasion have
to be employed. They were perfectly
willing to sign, as they thought the shell
more desirable, as well as more econom-
ical.
The private property fronting on Gas
ton street that would be affected by the
paving ordinance is 1890 linear feet. OF
all this, only 40 feet is owned by resi-
dents who want some other pavement
substituted for the shell. They are so
1xr tn 1.a afY,.r 1,,#1a in, h.,
portion of property they own and in
number, that the City Council cannot
take their view of the question and sup
plant the present shell pavement.
mo need exists for any other than
she'll pavement on CASTOR street. The
noise would be trying to the residents if
there were either a brick or an asphalt
pavement and there is not sufficient traf-
fic along the street to justify the use of
any other material than shell. Only be-
tween Bull and Drayton is there any
considerable traffic. and that is confined
TO pleasure vehicles, as heavy trucks and
wagons are not allowed to drive on Bull
street.
About Alderman Watson's view that
the city Is interested as property owner,
because it would have to defray the cost
OF the abutting Forsyth Park property, I
can only say that Council has no right
to squander the city's money. If the
pavement is rot needed. it is not proper
for an expenditure of the public funds to
he made"
Alderman Watson, chairman of the
Committee on Streets and Lanes, when
seen, was inclined to think that it would
be shown that the majority of the prop
erty owners along the street favored the
substitution of either brick or asphalt for
the shell pavement. Figuring upon the
basis of property fronting on the street.
Ia fF1alEl Cd 4hn ~ Il
fray the proportionate cost of public prop
erty AUDITING ON the street, Two-thrds of
the total cost, excluding the deduction
that would have to be made by the city
for that portion of the street that was
torn up for the house drainage work and
that will have to be relaid at the cty's
expense, would have to be betrayed by
the city between Drayton and Whitaker
street. The city, the alderman said,
would also have to pay the proportionate
cost that would fall to the Savannah Hos
pital, so that it occupies the position of
large property owner.
II to this view of Alderman Wat
son that Mr.. Wade took exception An
other gentleman, a lawyer and CASTOR
street resident, elso considered that the
alderman's position was untenab BILE, and
that the city authorities could not rightly
include the public property when casting
up the popular sentiment as for or against
though, that the ofty wants the paving,
and that ii should have weight in the
settlement of the question.
Director of public works Gadsden relat-
ed an expression of one of the aldermen
who is disposed to vote for the ordinance
introduced by Alderman Watson for paw
ing the street. The alderman had said
that the situation is anomalous to chat
of a mother seeking to give an ailing
child dose of castor oil. The child does
not want it. but the mother knows that
it is good for the child. After the dose
has been forced upon the child and it has
restored the child to health, the child is
ready to thank the mother. SO. the al
dermnn said. it should be in the CASTOR
street matter The city should pave the
street, and the property owners object
ing would really be ready. after expert
encfng the benefit, to thank the city for
heving done so.
Alderman Watson shows every evidence
of an intention to push his ordinance. He
is convinced that paving is needed on the
street. and that brick or asphalt should
be used. 1t will be interesting to note
the result as there is a division of the
aldermanic force.
Capt. j. Ferris Cam is circulating a
petition and securing signatures from
among those OF the CASTOR street resi-
dents who desire brick or asphalt He
was seen about the matter. and 1t is quite
evident from what ne says tnat some or
abe property owners have changed their
attitude. He said that there are more
than dozen names on the petition al
ready. expressing a choice for either brick
or asphalt. II is understood that il IS
matter OF new pavement or the old and
IL they favor a new pavement. the prop
erty owners express their choice as be-
tween brick and asphalt as the material
The petition Will be presented to Council
at its next meeting.
Mr.. S. 3. Adams is one OF the prop
erty owners who is opposed to the sub
stitution of any other material for the
shell. He said that the she'll furnishes
noiseless pavement. 1t is without the
noise caused on brick or asphalt by the
wheels of traffic and without the dust
that rises from an asphalt pavement.
property owner, who was DESTROYS of
not having his name mentioned, said that
he wants the old pavement removed and
either brick or asphalt put down in its
place. His preference was for brick
though he would not cavil over the mate
rial. The gentleman expressed himself as
follows:
1T is a mistake to say that there Is
not heavy traffic on Castor street. for
there certainly Is. There may not be on
the eastern end, but between Drayton and
Whitaker streets there Is an almost con-