The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-14
PRICE NOT TOO HIGH
ALDERMAN THOMAS OPINION OF
NORWOOD LAND PURCHASE.
NEGOTIATIONS FOR PROPERTY
JuDGE NORWOOD CLAIMED CoUN-
Gil FIXED PRICE.

Made the furchase Made n State
ment to Council and Asked to Be
Put on Record-Tract Would Cost
Much More Under Different Condi-
tions-Hoyv Five Cents Per sauare
Foot Came to BE the Figure-May-
or Myers Answered Mr.. Thomas.
still Thinks That the Amount Is
TOO Large-BeIieves That the AL
dermen Who Favor the Purchase
Are conscientious.
Alderman D. r. Thomas, chairman
of the Council Committee on Opening
streets, made a statement to the Coun-
Gil last night as to the purchase of the
Norwood land, southwest of the city.
at 3 cents per square foot. The alder
man said he desired to put himself on
record, and asked that his statement
be placed on the minutes of the meet
ing.
Mayor Myers answered Mr.. Thomas
briefly, and held to his already ex-
pressed opinion that the price agreed
upon by the committee, which made
the purchase, is too high. The Mayor
said after Aid. Thomas had made his
statement, that it would perhaps be
proper for him to have someth3ng to
say on the subject in view of all that
has transpired since the purchase was
made.
Mayor Myers said he was not in the
city when the ordinance was brought
up, and that no word was given to
show that by the passage of the ordi-
nance there would be an expenditure
of over $4,000. He was of the oainion
that only the members of the commit
tee making the purchase understood
clearly about the amount to be ex-
pended, and he did not think the other
members of Council were aware of the
import of the ordinance.
The Mayor said that while he felt
the members of Council. and the COM
llttee, are conscientious in their opin-
ion, he honestly differed with them, and
believes that the price named in the
ordinance is a great deal too much
for the land. He said that so far as
his judgment goes, the land in the
southwestern section is not very val
liable, and certainly not worth any,
thing like cents per square foot. He
had found by paying that rate more
money would be paid for streets than
the amount at which the property is
assessed. The Mayor said that he had
made the statement that at the same
rate the extension of the limits, and
the opening of streets and lanes, would
cost over $1,000, 900. This was ques-
toned by Alderman Thomas and the
Mayor said that the figures would be
nearer 600 than $1000000. He
repeated that he is opposed to the pay
ing of any such price for the Norwood
tract, or any other land southwest Of
the city.
In placing himself on record, Alder
man Thomas said:
by the minutes of Council of Oct
3d. confirmed this evening your honor
having in my absence put yourself on
record as opposed to the purchase of
the land of Judge Norwood at 3 cents
per square foot, which purchase had
been authorized by ordinance introduce
ed by myself, it is right that 1 should
offer and ask to have spread on the
minutes of Council the following state
ment:
Early last spring one or more con-
ferences were had between the Commit
tee on City Lots and Judge Norwood
concerning the purchase of So much of
his land as might be needed by the
city for streets, without result.
L then turned the matter over to
the acting chairman and left the city
for three months. On my return home
Aug. 20, / found that Alderman Fripp
had on the oath of July introduced an
ordinance to purchase land for streets
at a price not to exceed 5 cents per
square foot. This ordinance had been
read a second time and passed Aug. 7
without opposition. AS there was no
4 exp1 ession by Council to define the To-
cation of or width of streets running
east and west, and as the manner of
payment provided in the ordinance, if
carried out. would delay the purchase
Of land within the limits of the city,
that was urgently needed, the matter
was reopened and the committee had
frequent meetings with the owner
with reference to changes of his plan,
and unsuccessfully to reduce the price.
Judge Norwood replying that Council
had already fixed the price.
The result of these conferences were
the ordinance offered in Council Oct.
? That to purchase land for a park
and streets at cents per square foot
was read the second time and unani-
mously passed Oct. Is. This was the
fourth time the question was before
Council and the second time agreed to.
the price of cents per square foot for
streets and park and nothing for land
Tor lanes, although greatly more than
that secured for land adjoining on the
west is the best the committee could
secure.
1T is better to complete the purchase
now before the property goes into
other hands, as is already the case with
portion of this tract or before its sale
IS begun under the owners plan OF
narrow streets and shallow lots, which
II concurred in by owners of adjoining
property would be a public calamity,
or if not concurred in would be no bet
Ter because of the lack of uniformity
OF plan, and the prospect of having fVe
years hence to treat with numerous
holders, paying five time cents per
loot and the cost of houses or for their
removal
council, at it's meeting of May 20, re-
lerred the claim of Judge Norwood to
portion of Forty-second street to the
committee on City Lots. and on the
-eth of June Alderman Fripp introduce
ed an ordinance, which was passed
unanimously by Council during my alb
sence, on July 10 to pay 10 cents per
1901 for a portion of the tract in ques-
uoh' Happily the claim proved to be
wrong and the trade lapses
Nay, more. the city is receiving taxes
Oh adlacant lands on an agreement OF
NO cents per foot.
The suggestion that the cost of land
~" streets by the pending act to eX-
wHQ me limits south would cost $1,000
"" Us disproved by the facts that lit
w. OF II Is more favorably located. and
p'"l by the ordinance of Oct. 16 we
te already purchased over 100000