The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-10

| Grayson, and Hugh Logan, all of whom
l think it win be admitted are good
citizens, and such a class of men as
would not If they could sell to the city
worthless ditch for the large sum of
$4,000, thus taking advantage of the
, balance of our citizens.
1t strikes me that the alderman over
looked one very important feature in
the purchase from me and my as
sociates, viz: that he voted for the
resolution confirming the action of the
committee to make such purchase, II
he did so feeling as his interview would
indicate then he is responsible to the
community for having assisted in car
rying out q deal with the city which
he considered a poor investment, but
as a matter of fact the map attached
to the proposition made by the Ogle-
thorpe Investment Company is filed in
the City Exchange and is public prop
erty, and fully shows what was pur-
chased from the Oglethorpe Investment
Company, or 1 might say my as
sociates and myself. The so called
ten-foot ditch does not begin to make
UP the purchase, as a matter OF fact II
is only an incident to the purchase. and
l believe that the public gensraly ere
familiar with what the city secured
from the Oglethorpe Investment Com
pany, apprehend that they are pot SO
well informed as to that they are about
to secure by the Norwood deal.
l have no objection to every cltlzen
in the community knowing and fully
understanding what deal was made
with me and my associates, the facts
are that we convey to the city streets
and lanes, which would have been
good purchase at 100000 to $4,000, ana
which If purchased at the same rate
! a. L. v,rornSaH n n1IrHhASa the
Norwood lands would have amounted
to $35, 900 or 100000.
Another very important feature, and
might say very great difference is the
fact that all of the properties through
which the streets and lanes run and
| purchased from the Oglethorpe Invest
! ment Company is taxable, and has
been for several years. and 7 might add
/ is well developed.
A statement has been made that the
Streets and lanes through Collinsville
were all dedicated and had been ac-
! CURED by the city in consideration for
! the franchise given to the Electric
hallway Company. This statement is
misleading, ii is true that a certain
, proportion of the streets was to have
been conveyed TO the city in consid-
Grafton OF the franchise given to the
Electric Railway Company. and upon
other conditions and considerations
which the city failed to carry out, but
assume for the sake Of argument that
the city carried out its contract as
agreed to, they could have no possible
claim upon that portion of the streets
and lanes which the real estate COM
| pany did not own. At the time when
the franchise was given to the Electric
Railway Company.
Individually. the purchase by the city
| from the Oglethorpe Investment Com
pany means but very little to me, be-
cause l only participate to the extent
| of one-ninth the amount to be paid.
but If the entire amount came to me
would not hesitate to express my opin-
| ion about the purchase OK the lands
through the Norwood tract would
rather fail in any deal where I would
be benefited rather than establish a
precedent which, in my judgment,
would preclude the possibility OF the
early extension and opening of streets
II our city fathers should decide to
pay $4,000 for the lands necessary for
streets through the Norwood
tract 1t would mean such
an expenditure OF money as
would preclude the possibility Of
extending through more important
streets. 10 illustrate: II an acre OF
land In the extreme southwestern por-
! ton or the city, or rather IN line with
tho southwestern portion which has
upon II no improvements, and It's SUR
r0undings be such as they are Is worth
| s. 900. what would the owner or own
/ els OF the shell road which would be
I Bun street extended be Justified In
asking for their landG
notice that the alderman charges
me- with having stated that ! would
stop the Issuance Of the notes 10 pay