The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-22

be attached, iron posts could be used to
advantage.
Open Streets to the south.
Street opening is also of especial i'm
portance. II is probable that offers will
be made to the city to extend its street
system south of the city limits. 1t IS
a recognized fact that the growth of
Savannah is in that direction, and will
probably continue so, and but compare
lively few years must pass before what
are now farm lands or waste commons
will be occupied by residences. II is fol
the new Council, and especially for its
committee charged with such work, 10
determine whether the present is the time
to open streets beyond the city limits II
satisfactory terms are offered by property
owners there.
The city is committed to no such poll
cy. There is no precedent for It, but It is
worthy of your most careful consideration
The charge has been frequently made
that the city government erred in the
past; that. by its shortsigh tedness it
failed to secure land for opening streets
when il could have done so for little cr
/ nc thing. To limited extent only in such
charge true, the citys finances frequent
ly not permitting Council TO do what
wisdom might seem to direct. 1t is for
you to determine whether the present
/
Forty-second street for such purpose.
THE further use of the streets for
railroad purposes will also probable engage
your attention, and in this connection
you will be called on to consider whether
! the city government, representing the
tax payers, should not secure for them
remuneration for the use of thoroughfares
which have been bought, laid out and
1 improved at the peoples expense,
! Throughout the country a higher value
is to-day being placed upon franchises OF
every kind A halt has been called on
the indiscriminate bestowal of the use Of
public property for private purposes with
out compensation.
mo matter what may have been done
in the past, it is incumbent on this Coun-
ell to look at the matter solely with
view to both promoting and protecting the
pubic interests as they now stand. We
| should profit by the experience of the
past and avoid repetition of any errors
into which the municipality may then
have fallen. While encouraging private
i7dividueals and corporations in enter
pTises of public nature 1t is equally in
cumbent on Council 10 see that the public
secures fair return from the advantages
it confers upon such parties.
Should Help the Charity.
Recently the clergymen of the city
without regard to UNCONVENTIONAL differ
ences, have united to establish a union
| charity association. If the plan devised
by them is put into practical operation,
il would be well for Council to make an
appropriation to this movement, condi-
toned on the money being actually dis
! bursed for the relief of the unfortunate
and not in salaries and rents. as appears
to have been largely the case when the
city made an appropriation of this nature
several years ago. Through such a me-
dium more thorough inves tigation could
be made of individual cases and only
| those applicants who are worthy given
| financial aid.
| The number of persons in a distressed
| condition increases with each year. In
all cities public opinion calls for limit
ed assistance to this class from the mu-
nicipal treasury. If the country main
tanned a poor house an appropriation
should be made to 1t by the city. In the
absence of such an institution occasional
donations to those rendered destitute by
Illness or other misfortunes are required
| by the dictates of humanity.
"Outside Of the assistance rendered the
poor In this way, the city expends a con-
| siderable sum yearly for this class in ap-
preparations to the hospitals In the main
tenance OF the dispensary where they are
supplied with free med cincs, and in the
employment Of five phys clans. the rggre-
gate of such appropriations for the cur
rent year being 1913
sunday Concerts Advised.
AT the recent convention Of the