The Savannah morning news., 1902-08-27
WILL HOLD UP $1,000
COUNCIL TO REVOKE ITS APPRo-
PRIATI0N FOR EMMETT PARK.
CONFERENCES ONLY RESULT.
WEARING INTERESTS COULD NOT
REACH A SETTLEMENT.

AhCE aAC wv
Afraid of Courts-Hon. w. w. Os-
borne, Representing Opposing Cit
liens, Jumped on Standard OIL Co.
Went Into the History of Trespass
and Discussed the Legal Side of
Case-City Attorney Advised That
Appropriation BE Rescinded.
There was an interested gathering
at the conference of those who favor
and those who oppose a roadway in
Emmett Park yesterday. Mayor Myers
and ten aldermen were present. be-
sides Hon. j. Ferris Cam, representing
the property owners, in favor of the
roadway, and Hon. w. w. Osborne,
who represented the opposition.
The conference lasted an hour, and
both Messrs. Cam and Osborne were
heard from in support of their con-
tentions. as were several others. The
conference ended without any
thing having been accomplished, ex-
cept that the Mayor and aldermen
went into session as committee of
the whole, and agreed to rescind the
ordinance appropriating $1,000 for the
Improvement of the park.
Purpose of the Conference.
Mayor Myers stated the purpose of
the conference. which was, he said, to
hear from both sides and see if the
various interests could not be recon-
ciled. The Council. he said. is in ia
vor of improving the park. but has
been enjoined from doing so by the
courts. He concluded by saying If 1t
were possible to reconcile the differ
ent interests he would be very much
pleased. He said that he would like
to hear from those interested, includ-
ing the Park and Tree Commission.
and called on Chairman Daffin. Mr..
Datf1n said he was willing to submit
the matter to Council A map show
ing. what might be done in the way
of meeting the wishes of the property
owners was exhibited. The map outlines
a roadway in front OF the properties
on the north side of the park and gives
as approaches to this roadway inIets
as combinations of Lincoln and Price
streets. The main roadway as outlined
continues as far east as Houston
street, where a broad terminal for
turning teams is planned.
The map caused little or no com
ment and the mayor asked to hear
from the property owners Mr.. w. L.
Wakelee claimed that there had al
ways existed a roadway in front Of
the buildings on the north side of the
park and said that the Council should
see that 1t is maintained.
prOnarf~ nx~uo.s, SSdo
Mr.. Cam spoke in favor of the same
plan. He prefaced his talk by saying
that the matter had been bully gone
into at the time the Horrigan ordi-
nance was before Council, and that he
didn't want to go into it again, un-
less he knew that something was
to be done. He said that the plan lust
shown. was identical with the one that
had been submitted by the property
owners when the Horrigan ordinance
was being considered; that the proper
" owners were not antagonistic to the
making of park of the stretch of
green; that all they want is that their
property shall not be destroyed by be-
ing shut off from communication with
the street.
Already, he continued, the tenants
have told the owners of the buildings
that they will vacate the premises If
street. If Council will make a PROPOSE
ton these owners will take the matter
up in the proper spirit. He concluded
by saying that he thought Council
ought to avoid litigation.
OsbOrne's Warm speech.
Mr.. Osborne put up a pretty warm
talk. The residents in the vicinity of
the park, he said, are earnest in their
desire to prevent the destruction of the
park, which will be done If the road
way be permitted. Imagine" he said.
three or four three-horse tanks of the
Standard Oil Company standing on
the green and taking on loads Why
he, continued this corporation has
had the audacity to trespass already
to such point that it brings its
trucks on the green and loads them
by running a hose to them across
River street. and there are other peo-
pie in the neighborhood who have pro-
posed building coal lift at the corner
of the park"
He then went into the historic and
legal sides of the matter, explaining
that prior to the building of the pres
ent retaining wall Bay street had ex-
tended from the street now known by
that name across the present park and
to the doors of the property on the
north side of the park but that when
the retaining wall was built the city,
recognizing the right of the property
owners to an entrance to threir build
ings, had left a fifty-foot street. as we'll
as a footway and thus by giving them
a street on two sides and entrances
to each of the three floors of the build
ings had met all possible obligations.
Roasted standard Oil Co.
Further, he said that a park may be-
come such by two means-either it can
be specifically set apart for such a
purpose, or it may become so by being
used as such for a statutory period
Emmett Park, he said, has been used
as park and has been known as
Irish Park for fifty years.
Il seriously question" he went on
''if the property owners can get a pre-
scriptive order in the courts, and prob
ably the wisest course. for Council to
pursue is to put the people in a posi-
ton to litigate the matter and see if
these property owners have any such
rights as they claim
Mr.. Osborne. continuing. said that
the trespassing on the park had been
begun by buses which were driven
to the river front to meet incoming
steamers, but even then that this was
recognized as a trespass is proved by
the fact that these vehicles had to get
a permit to drive there at all. Gen.
eral trespass was not begun until
about eight years ago, but now the
Standard Oil Company has the brazen
cffrontery to undertake TO drive its
wagons down. the green three blocks
further than ever before. The peo-
Mo xya nj their rights and would "a thor