The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-02-19
LESTER MUST PAY
COUNCIL CHARGES HIM 81 A FOOT
FOR MONTGOMERY STREET.
CONDITIONS OF ORDINANCE.
UNDER WHICH FRANCHISE FOR
RAILWAY WILL BE GIVEN.

Committee of the whole of the City
Council Considered His Petition
Tor Use of Montgomery Strcet-Let-
tiers From the Petitioner Read-A
Curt One TO the MayOr-If Mr.. Les
ter Accepts Franchise. He Must
Pay $4,000 Within Ten Days From
His Acceptance and Balance when
Work Begins-Must Build a Line to
white BIuT-POrtiOn of white
BIuG Toll Road Must BE Given the
City.
Terms upon which a street railway
franchise will be granted Mr. d. i.
Lester were agreed upon at a meeting
of the Committee of the Whole of the
City Council yesterday. An ordinance
may be drawn to-day and submitted
to Council tonight, granting the fran
chise and naming the terms with which
Mr.. Lester must comply if he accepts it.
Only that portion of Mr.. Testers pc
tition, or of his many petitions, re-
lating to the use of Montgomery street
was considered by the Committee of
the Whole If Mr.. Lester accepts the
franchise as offered him, Council will
probably act upon his other requests
Before the consideration of the re-
street, the following letter from Mr..
Lester to the Mayor and aldermen was
read, showing rather more pacific
attitude than he has assumed in the
past toward Council
Il hope that in passing upon the
fore your body so long that you will
consider it in its entirety and let the
acts of to-day's meeting be full and
complete. l also trust that in consid-
ering this matter you will look at 1t
solely from the standpoint of our city
and county's wants.
Look at it in the light of a develop
er of real property with increased
value; look at it as an enterprise that
Will give employment to idle people;
look al it in the Light of new enter
prise that is coming to us to connect
different parts of our city and county
and bring our people in closer COM
munication with each other; look at it
in the light of a railroad that is COM
ing to us with new cars of modern type,
an all-round up-to-date electric rail-
way with good service.
"if there is any feeling in the board
against Mr.. Lester as an individual let
that play no part in deciding this inn
portant matter, but treat him as
citizen who is interested in Savannah
and Chatham county, and who only
wishes the things that will make them
prosperous and the people happy AS
1 have said before the time is short,
and if we are to have this competing
railroad we must have it now, with
out any conditions attached which will
cause further delay"
That was not the only letter from
Mr.. Lester that was read the alder
men, for the Mayox. also, had received
one, which the aldermen heard. This
was not so pacific Its import was
that Mr.. Lester had grown very tired
of delay and that, if the Mayor would
It cali Council together for the con-
sideration OF his petitions, he would
take steps himself to see that ii met
for that purpose. Some amusement
was betrayed in the meeting when this
part of the letter was read.
1t was agreed that Mr.. Lester should
be charged for the franchise, it being
the avowed policy of the present adj
rninistration to sell street franchises
for railways; not to give them away.
1t was settled, after discussion, that
the price asked of Mr.. Lester should
be 50 per running foot of the portion
of Montgomery street that he might
use, which would mean that he might
construct a double track. if he saw
fit. At this price, Montgomery street
will be granted him from Bay street
or from the City Market to the city
limits.
OF the total price of the franchise,
Mr.. Lester will be required to pay $5,
900 in cash within ten days from the
acceptance of the franchise. The ball
ance must be paid when the work of
construction begins. Bond must be
given by Mr.. Lester that railway
line must be built to White Bluff with
in eighteen months. or his franchise
and the money paid will be forfeited
to the city.
1t will be stipulated that the line
within the city limits must be con-
structed by Dec. l next, and that so
much of the White Bluff toll road with
in the city limits must be given the
city. free of cost as may be needed
for street purposes. The projected
road must enter the city at Montgom-
cry street and the city limits.
Mr.. Lester must signify his accept
ance of the franchise within thirty
days from the date of the passage of
the ordinance.