The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-13
MAYOR TALKSPAvING
THE FINANCES OF THE CITY ALSO
DISCUSSED.
TAKES ISSUE WITH WATSON,
ASSESSMENTS DUE WOULDN'T RE-
STORE PAVING ACCOUNT.

Mayor Myers Showed That the
Paving Appropriation, Figuring
in Assessments, Is Really Over
drawn S2,6G2.43-MnyOr Has Never
Had a Deficit and VIII Strive to
Prevent One This Year-NO More
Paving This Yenr-Expccted That
Great Deal VIII De Done Next
Year-Tax Rate VIII Scarcely he
Reduced Next Year-HOuse Drain
age work over, But Notes VIII BE
Falling Due for Lands Bought for
Opening Streets.
The street paving account Of 1901 is
really overdrawn. Mayor Myers made
that statement yesterday, joining issue
with Alderman Watson, chairman of the
Streets and Lanes Committee, who. in
speaking of the amount charged against
the paving account as overdrawn, said
to a representative of the Morning News
that a balance to the credit of the ac-
count would be shown If all assessments
that have been levied against owners of
ahutting property had been paid. The
alderman said that there would in that
case NC thOhSl Acil AOi bbS lily ~ PoJ
its proportion of the cost of paving Gas
| ton street with brick.
This the Mayor denies. He secured fig
ures from the city treasurer that show
that all the city has to collect from own
ers of abutting property on streets that
| have been paved is $22,267.06. The appro-
priation for paving this year was $780,
900. The expenditure thus far has been
| &i,92949, showing that the account has
been overdrawn $24,929.49. With. accord
ing to the Mayors figures, but s22, 267.06
to come in. from property owners, the
account is actually overdrawn $2,662.43.
The Mayor called attention, too, to the
fact that assessments cannot be consid-
| cred the very best assets, the city
sometimes has to have recourse to the
| courts in order to collect. The Mayor was
struck by the showing made by the Clerk
| of Councils quarterly report last Wednes-
day, and he decided to get the figures
bearing upon street paving
This will mean said the Mayor
| that there will be no further paving this
year The public funds will not admit of
| it. 1t is possible that the brick will be
| bought for paving West Broad street, but
| the work will not be done until next year.
| The cost of the brick, in comparison, is
| but small proportion of the cost of paw
ing. The labor is the most costly item.
West Broad street, however. will be
the next the city will pave. OF that there
can scarcely be any doubt Next year too
there will be greater activity shown in
street paving than for a long while.
There are a number of streets
that need to be paved, and it
is probable that there will be a larger
appropriation made next year-how much
/ cannot say. / cannot say now what
streets will probably be paved after West
Broad. The city has been a bit back
ward about paving, however, and we will
endeavor to catch up
Castor street, though should receive
the attention of the city at an early date.
The hearing in the injunction suit brought
against the city by Mr. George w. Owens
and others will be held at Mount Airy. be-
fore Judge Speer, on July %, and it is
possible that something may then be told
as to the duration of the case in the
courts. 1t seems almost certain now.
however, that it will be good for at least
two years. and CASTOR street should not
stand without attention all that time
The city should repair it with shell, put
ing it back In good shape Then the best
thing for Council to do would be to re-
peal the ordinance for paving the street
with brick"
Reverting to the subject of expenditures
the Mayor was asked If he thought that
deficit would be shown at the close
of the year-if the expenditures would ex-
coed the appropriations for the various
departments. He replied:
Not If 1t can possibly be avoided. /
have urged upon the heads of depart
ments the necessity for watching their
expenditures closely, keeping them down
70 he. lr.rtrl
the time to do this. The expenditures
during the first six months have been
heavy. and the heads of departments and
the committees should see to ID that they
retrench."
Mayor Myers has never had a deficit
during the four years he has been in
| Office He has watched the city's reve-
nues closely. He does not want to break
the record that he has established. and
tight rein will be held. The Mayor said
that he believes that a deficit this year
can barely be avoided. II the proper care
is shown in all departments, he believes
that the expenditures will be kept within
the appropriations
In view OF the fact that the city has
spent already So 1888 this year for house
drainage construction, for which the an
preparation was $4,000. abe Mayor was
asked IL 1t were not possible that the
city tax rate next year would be re-
duced as the house drainage system has
been completed and there will be no need
Tor further appropriation save for its
maintenance.
No" the Mayor answered, ''I do not
think there will be a reduction Mayors
notes, given by the city for the purchase
of lands in the southern section for OPEN
ing streets, will be falling due in num-
bers next year, and 1t will be necessary
to provide for meeting them. An in
cSease in the paving appropriation, too
Will serve In measure to Offset the re-
lief from the house drainage payments,
though l expect that considerab BILE of the
paving done next year will be paid for
later, as arrangements whereby this can
be done may easily be made with paving