The Savannah morning news., 1903-01-26
new AND OLD BOARDS
WILL HEAR ANNUAL MESSAGE OF
MAYOR MYERS.
RAPID GROWTH OF CITY.
AN ERA OF PROSPERITY HAS
BEEN MARKED.

Hall. Compensation for Aldermen.
Street Paving, Encouraging of En-
tcrprises and General Welfare of
the City viii be Discussed by
characterization of Al New Gene
terry VIII be Touched-MayOr and
Board viii be sworn i'm by Judge
harrow Chairmen of Standing
Committees to be Announced.
At noon to-day. in the Long Room at
the City Exchange, Mayor Herman My
ers and the new City Council will take
the oath of Office before Judge Pope
Barrow of the Superior Court. Five
aldermen will at that time retire to
private life
The Standing Committee of Council
will be announced by the Mayor. and
his annual message will be read. Mayor
Myers has been busy preparing his
message for several days, and it will
be an interesting document. He takes
great pains with his message to Coun-
Gil and he guards them as closely, I'M
til their delivery, and maintains as
much secrecy about them as the United
nual estimate of the cotton crop. Still
it is known that the Mayor will touch
on certain matters.
He will call attention to the
fact that the city enjoyed a full meas
ure of prosperity during 1902; that its
business conditions did not suffer by
comparison; that there was an absence
70 nd
that, all in all, it was a most successful
year. All of these facts were brought
out clearly in the reports submitted to
the Mayor by the heads of the various
city offices. These reports, compiled
with care, and showing in detail what
was done in 1902, have been comment
ed upon favorably by the Mayor, have
been a source of qualification to those
interested in the welfare of the city,
and will necessarily play an important
part in the message of Mr.. Myers.
Excellent Financial showing.
The excellent financial condition of
the city at the close of the year will
be brought forward with prominence
and the ZealOusness and efficiency of
Chairman James M. Dixon of the FL
nance Committee will be commended.
1t has been a long time since the city
treasury has been in such a healthy
condition, and the Mayor will call spe-
cial attention to this fact.
And yet with quite a surplus in the
treasury he will show in his
message that the city government has
been progressive and that many inn
provements We're made during the
year. He will speak of the advance Sa-
yannah has made in recent years, and
will say that the city will compare
favorably in every way with any other
city in the country. 1t is an era of
prosperity and progress and Savan-
nahians are in it's midst The Mayor
will suggest inspiration for even more
aggressive work for Savannah's up
building during the twelve months to
come.
For street Paving
Nothing adds more to the appearance
of a city than street paving and the
Mayor will lay particular stress on this
subject. He believes that for years
to come street paving must occupy the
attention of the municipal govern
ment." Mr.. Myers says that "a pro-
gressive city must have it's streets
paved The time has passed in the
history of Savannah, or of any other
city which is ambitious of continued
development, when it could rest con-
tent with a few paved thoroughfares
and a wilderness of sandy rcadbeds.
With no class of improvements is the
general public better satisfied than
with paving"
Mayor Myers says that few cities dur
ing the past decade have had a more
stable or better sustained growth. Its
reputation as a leading business enter
has been sustained and it's position as
one of the great ports of the country,
and the chief port of the South At
l,ne ell At,
ed. The establishing of factories in
Savannah will be discussed and it will
be urged that enterprises be invited
here and inducements be offered them.
The Mayor will dwell on this subject.
New City Hall.
The question of a new city hall will
naturally be brought to the attention
of Council. On this subject Mr.. Myers
has said, Much as we may be attach
ed to the present City Exchange by
reason of it's historic associations it
cannot but be recognized by all that
it is unsuitable and inadequate for the
purposes of a rapidly growing city. 1t
has been outgrown by the city's de-
velopment and compares unfavorably
with the municipal halls of many cities
far inferior to Savannah in population,
wealth and business Importance.
The Exchange is devoid of con-
veniences, the accommodations for Of
fetal purposes are meagre, and it APP
pears an impossibility by repairs and
works of renovation and Improvement
to make it otherwise. Either on the
site of the Exchange, or on a more
centrally located lot, a building in
keeping with the Savannah of the
twentieth century should be erected.
The present building may have reflect
ed credit on the Savannah of a half
century ago. 1t certainly does not re-
fleet credit upon the Savannah of to-
day." 1t is probable that the new
Council will take up this matter of a
new city hall and that something def
mite will be done during the present
year.
Pay for Aldermen.
Mayor Myers recognizes that the men,
bers of Council have a great deal to
do and that they are called upon to
give much of their time to the city
He thinks that they should be compen-
stated and has always thought so. Some
reference to this matter will be made
in the message and at the same time
the retiring Council will be thanked for
its Jealous work during its service OF
two years.
Some reference will be made to the
need of a new cemetery and the ad-
Visibility of the city acquiring land for
the opening of streets whenever pur-
chases can be made at reasonable fig
ures Will play a part In the message
The Mayor will cover every part of the
city government in his message and
will make such suggestions to the new
Council as he now deems pronar