The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-19
THE CITY EXTENSION.

The raising of additional revenues by
taxation is a matter that should be
given secondary consideration in con-
nection with the proposed extension
of the city limits. The prime object is
to provide for the city's growth: to
give Savannah room in which to eX-
pand, along lines of symmetry and
beauty and at the same time utility.
It would not matter much if the addi-
tional public revenues amounted to
practically nething for several years, as
the after benefits would be so great as
to more than compensate for the wait
ing. 1t might, indeed. be an excellent
idea to extend the corporate limits
mile in three directions and provide
that the added area should come un-
der taxation on the instalment plan, so
to speak. That is, that the first quar-
ter-mile should be taxable only after
the lapse Of five years, the second
quarter mile after ten years and the
remaining half-mile after fifteen years.
The period, however, may be any other
reasonable number of years. 1t might
be made three-year, or four-year or
five-year intervals, and the time for
the coming-in of the more remote sec
ton might be made even twenty years
without injury to any interest.
To extend the city limits for a mile
to the east, west and south now, and
provide for the laying out of streets
and public parks. would save many
thousands of dollars to the taxpayers
in future. Lands in the section that
would be covered are at present to be
had cheaply as compared with the
prices that they will command as the
city grows out to them. Thus whatever
land may be needed for street open
ing can be had now for a less price
than they will be worth two years or
so hence, or will ever be worth there
after. The city has already had expe.
rience in the costliness of procrastina-
ting in this matter of acquiring land
for street opening.
To extend the limits promptly and
by a good area would put the devel-
opment of the city under official d.
rection. It's growth would be on cor
rect lines. There would be no rule-ot-
thumb or cow-path method Of deter
mining where streets should be locat-
ed; and this would have the effect OF
stimulating investment in lots in the
added section. If a prospective pur-
chaser knew precisely where Barnard,
or Jefferson. or West Broad street
would run in the added area and
where the cross streets and parks
would be located, he would be more
willing to put money in a few acres
as an investment; and every invest
ment of the sort attracts others and
hastens the development of the sec
ton. The laying out of the added area
INTO streets. lanes and parks and the
assurance that there would be no
taxation during periods of three, four
or five years. would at once attract
investors. home-seekers and builders.
And then, when the city was in a DO
sition to offer something in the way
of water service and police and fire
protection in return for the taxpayers
money, the new section would readily
and easily become contributor to the
public revenues.
The question, therefore, is not so
much one of present money as it is of
building for the future. as Oglethorpe
did when he laid out the city. And we
could do no better than to follow his
ground plans in the proposed new Sec
ton. The beautiful little parks are
missed south of CASTOR street. They
ought to be provided for in the ex-
tended limits.