The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-02-19
FOR NEW CITY HALL
COUNCIL DETERMINES TO HAVE
MODERN STRUCTURE.
SPECIAL APPROPRIATION
HAS BEEN MADE TO COVER THE
PRELIMINARY EXPENSES.

SDeciaI Committee Files Report
That is Accepted Unanimously by
CounciI-Handsome Building viii
he Erected Where the City EX-
change Now stands A Special
Committee of Five Has the Matter
in Charge and is Allowed $500 to
spend in Securing Plans and Bids
for the New Structure.
Plans are to be prepared at once for
"a modern city hail for Savannah. A
special appropriation Of $500 was made
by City Council last night, and steps
will be taken Immediately to provide
the city with a modern structure. on
the cite upon which the City Exchange
now stands.
The special committee that has had
the question of a new city hall under
consideration filed it's report with
Council. and the matter will not be
dropped now until a handsome and APP
propriate edfice has been erected. The
appropriation of $500 to be used in the
preliminary work was made unani-
unously. at the suggestion of Chairman
. of Council Dixon, who also moved that
the special committee be made up of
five members of Council instead of
three.
Need for New Building.
The need of a new building, and the
way in which Council feels on the sub
ject is disclosed in the following re-
port submitted by the special commit
i e1xr saA fnA
The special committee appointed to
7take into consideration the ACCESSIBILITY
of erecting a new city hall beg to re-
port after a thorough investigation of
the situation and the most careful
consideration of the city's finances,
that in it's opinion new municipal
Z building is urgently needed and steps
r'shoud at once be taken looking to the
erection of a modern and adequate
building as soon as possible. At pres
ent the city departments have not the
Sproper room in which to carry on their
work, and their operations and useful
ness are hampered as a result.
1T is impossible by the expenditure
of any reasonable sum to make the
present City Exchange suitable for the
purposes of the city government.
Money expended upon it is largely
wasted. Provisions should be made
for a building in which there will be
ample quarters for all of the depart
ments, in which the committees of
Council will have meeting rooms, in
which suitable chambers will be pro-
vided for the Mayor, and in which
, large room will be had for meetings
of Council and for public gatherings.
The Present Site Suitable.
Your committee, after studying the
situation closely, feels satisfied that the
site of the present Exchange is in eV-
eryway suitable for a new hall. 1t
is easily accessible from all parts of
the city and will remain the center of
business interests. Being the property
of the city it's use for this purpose will
save the city in the neighborhood of
100000 or almost enough to erect a
fine building.
We would accordingly recommend
that Council decide upon the erection
OF a new city hall on the site of the
present Exchange, that an appropria-
ton of $500 be made, and this commit
tee, or another committee especially
appointed for the purpose be author
lied to eNpend all or part of the same
in securing plans, specifications and
estimates for a building which will
provide ample room for the needs of
the municipality for many years to
come
Ae tCPplN was submitted DY Mayor
Meyers and Aldermen Thomas and Da-
want.
Architects to submit Plans.
proposition from Thomas II. Gig
nilliat of Gignllliat & Smith, archi-
tects. for drawing plans for a new
city hall was read and received as in
formation. The architect agrees to
draw the plans for the new building
ana make no charge, in the event that
il is decided not to erect a new build
ing, reasonable fee to be collected if
the building is put up. and a further
fee If final plans submitted are accept
ed.