The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-23
AGAINST EXTENSION
ARGUMENTS WE'RE MADE BY PROP
ERTY HOLDERS.
DECLARED CITY'S INTERESTS.
SHOW THAT 1T WOULD BE BEST
NOT no CARRY OUT PLAN.


the Limits-Speeches Against the
PIRn-Manufactnrin WOuld BE
Best Promoted by Offering No
Burden of City faxes, Speakers
Sandstone Want No ExtensiOn-If
There Is to Be One They Want a
LoaE Term of Tax ExemptiOn-Tel-
egram From President of Gorrte
Ice Company Says 1t Has No OBJ
lection to Extension.
A number of property owners ap-
peared before the City Council
Yesterday afternoon to express
their views upon the proposed ex-
tension of the city limits. The
meeting was held in the Long Room of
the City Exchange and was open TO
any who were interested. Mayor N.Y.
ers, Aldermen Dixon, Bacon, Fripp,
Watson. Jones, Colding, Horrigan and
Schroeder were present, while among
the property owners in attendance were
Messrs. NJ. L. Exley, H. P. Smart, G.
NJ. Ryals, Charles Heard, George s.
Brown, George w. Owens. S. X. Plat
shek, w. L. Clay. J. Randolph Ander-
son, F. c. Exley. C. E. G. Fell, c. c.
Champion, James w. McAlpin and T.
E. Youmans.
When Council assembled. Mayor
Myers directed attention to the
map of the city, showing the
present corporate limits and the
proposed limits. The property owners
gathered about it to ascertain just
where the new boundaries would TALL,
having a mind TO learn whether their
property would be included in the
branching out of the city.
After a few moments spent is dis
cussing the map. the Mayor called the
meeting to order and asked that Maj.
Smart state his views upon the pro-
posed extension. Maj. Smart respond
ed showing that he had established
his lumber manufacturing business in
Savannah in 1878 and that he had done
what he could to advance the interests
of the city. He had placed his mill be-
yond the limits of the city, but the
many employees spent their money in
the city and the city has been bene-
fitted through the enterprise having
been established. Maj. Smart thought
that the manufacturing plants should
lot be included in the extension of the
limits. but that they should be given
the encouragement of freedom from
taxation by the city.
Mr.. Heard. president of the Mill
Haven Lumber Company, also address,
ed the meeting. saying that he had but
recently established a mill that rep
resented a large expenditure, and that
had pay roll of about $1,000 a week.
practically all of which is expended
in the city. The employees of the mill,
Mr.. Heard said as had Mai. Smart, of
his plant. nearly all live in the city,
and there is a direct benefit that is de-
rived from the operation of the mill so
near the city limits that would more
than offset any immediate pecuniary
advantage that would accrue to the
city through the plant paying taxes.
Both Mr.. Heard and Maj. Smdrt
dwelt upon the argument that it is to
the interest of the city to have man.
ufacturing enterprises within or near
its borders, and that the city should
lend such enterprises encouragement.
The experience of the companies that
established their plants beyond the
present limits would not, they said, be
likely to win other enterprises, for
the reason that they would not feel
safe in erecting plants near Savannah
for fear that the city might be extended
at any time and made to include their
investments and thereby necessitate
the payment of city taxes. At one
time or another. Mai. Smart said. the
city has made efforts to promote man.
ufacturing, but that such a measure
as the extension of the city limits to
include and tax plants like the Mill
Haven ComDany's and the Pierpont
Manufacturing Company's, but just es-
tablished, would serve as an example
that would deter any who might have
in mind the institution of industries
near Savannah.
Mr.. Anderson spoke at some length,
declaring against the proposition to
extend the limits. He thought that the
lands it is contemplated to include
should not become city property. as
they are not of a character to be SO
designated. They consist largely of
farming lands and of manufacturing
sites. Mr.. Anderson said that he
sympathized with one of the objects
of the proposed extension, the in
crease of the city's population, but
that he thought 1t questionable that
there would be any benefit ACQUIRING
to the city from the taxation of the
lands that it is designed to take in
Maj. Ryals said that he had favored
the last extension of the city limits,
when they were moved further South.
There had then, he said, been a prom
Use given of electric lights, pavements,
water and other advantages, many of
which have failed in realization.
though a number of years have pass
ed. Maj. Ryals' farm lands would not
be further affected by an extension, as
large proportion of them were includ-
ed when the city was last extended. but
he holds that there is no need for the
proposed extension and that the city
would be just as we'll off and the prop
erty owners to be affected better off
without it.
Mr. w. l.. EXley said he certainly did
not want his truck farm west of the
city Incorporated. The advantages
that are reputed to come with incor-
poration he did not consider needed by
the planters, and he caused some
amusement by saying that the people
of the section west of the city stand in
no need of police, as they have no fear
until they reach the city limits of rob-
berry or violence.
Mr.. Fell. also an extensive planter.
told Council that the profits from truck
farming are not such as TO enable
planters TO pay city taxes upon the
lands they cultivate. Even with
term OF years of tax exemption there
would be the eventual payment to con-
template. He said that he considered
that, II the extension were made, a
term Of at least ten years should be
allowed, as that time might suffice for
the lands 10 attain a value greater
than thai they enjoy as producers of