The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-13
ALDERMEN NOT PLEASED.
Think Chairman Dafin Has Estab-
Hshed n bad Precedent in Tree
Trimming.

Think Chairman DafHn Has Estab-
Iished N Bad Precedent in Tree
Trimming.
Members Of Council are also protest
ing against the cutting away of limbs
of trees in order that old houses may
be moved, and those spoken to on the
subject yesterday expressed surprise
that Chairman Dafin of the Park and
Tree Commission had given permits
sion for the mutilating of the large
oak tree at Anderson and Bull
streets.
Chairman Dafin first entered a pro-
test and yesterday stated that while
it was true that he had given permits
sion to have the limb of the tree in
question hacked off, he did it because
he was poWerless to do anything else.
Aldermen who were seen on the SUBJ
Ject however, think differently. They
take issue with the chairman of the
Park and Tree Commission and say
that if cutting off a branch injured the
tree he should not have given permits
sion to have it done.
When Council was asked to permit
the moving of the old house from
Henry and Drayton streets to St. Paufs
Lutheran Church lot on Bull street,
there was strong opposition to the
plan. The petition was referred to the
Fire Committee and the Committee on
Streets and Lanes. The matter was
gone into fully by the joint committee.
The aldermen were assured that 1t
would not be necessary to cut away
anything, and that the work could be
done in a much shorter space of time
than it has taken. Upon this showing
the petition received a favorable re-
from q
the next session of Council, March 4,
permission for the removal of the house
was given.
Members of Council say that this
ended the nnatter so far as Council was
| concerned. I'VE were told distinctly
that it would not be necessary to cut
any trees or anything else" said a
member of the joint committee yester-
day. Council would not have had the
right to give permission for the cut
| ting down of trees or limbs, and of
course we never gave any such author
ity and had not suspected that it would
be given. Chairman Daff1n might just
as we'll say that because Council
granted permission for the moving of
the house the contractor who was CIV
en- the work to do had the right to pull
| down telephone and telegraph poles, or
demolish the fire station on the
street."
One of the aldermen said that while
he thought the branch that hung so
low over Bull street should have been
cut away long ago, he did not like the
| establishment of a precedent of that
sort.
Chairman Daffin did not care to dis
cuss the subject any further He said
that the limb had been cut away and
that it could not be put back by talk
ing. He had given permission to the
contractor to cut it off, because Coun-
Gil had given permission to move the
house, and either the limb had to be
cut away, or the house broken up. The
chairman of the Park and Tree Com
mission expressed the opinion that
Council should always consult his COM
mission before granting permission for
the moving of houses OF course the
members of Council differ with him,
particularly when the petition before
them specifies that no damage will be
done to any property.
Contractor Edw. Killorin, who is
moving a house on Bull street was
seen by Morning News representa-
tive in regard to cutting the limb of
the old oak at Bull and Anderson
streets. knowing that the house.
which is only one story, would not
pass under the limb of the tree tele-
| phoned Chairman Daffin of the Park
and Tree Commission Wednesday aft
| ernoon for permission to cut it, he
| said. MIR. VIM. Robertson, secretary of
| the commission, came out to see me
| in response to the message and after
| looking over the situation. went to a
| phone and communicated with Mr..
Daffin. He returned to me with per-
mission to cut it. The next morning
did so. One closely connected with
the commission told me afterward that
| they had contemplated cutting it any,
| how. 1 do not think it mars the beauty
| of the street. I think it improves it.
The old gentleman who is quoted as
thinking the value of the limb more
| than that of the house which he 'un-
derstood was sold for $780, was consid-
| erably wrong in his understanding.
| The house was sold to Mr.. Hoffman
for 500, by the contractor to build the
| new house where the old one stood.
| That was done because an old building
| is always hinderance in such cases
| and is usually given away If no one
will move it under other circumstances.
To build new house like this old one,
equipped as this one is with hot and
| cold water ana gas appliances and
| otherwise improved not long since at
a cost of $1,000, would cost $1,000. At
! a cost of $500 at the outside the old
house will be placed as good as new
| in it's new position. That is why it is
| being moved"
Mr.. ]. H. Hoffman, who bought the
house and gave it to the st. Paurs
Lutheran Church to be used as a
| parsonage, said: II do not see
that the appearance of the street is
hurt. / think it is improved. Did not
| the city authorities contemplate cut
| ting the whole tree down some time
back. have heard forty others in this
neiShborhood say the same thing to-
| day."