The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-10-04
SAVANNAH IN LEAD
IN PARK LAND AREAS OWNED By
THE CITY.
RATIO OF EXEMPT PROPERTY
TO ASSESSED VALUE of REAL
PROPERTY is UNUSUALLY LARGE.

Many other Interesting Points
Brought Ont by Report Soon to he |
Forwarded to Census Department.. |
The Financial Management OF |
City Has Been Excellent, Says Mr.. |
More - MIR. Moore to Leave for |
Work in Charleston Tomorrow
Night.
The report being compiled by Mr. |
Fred C. More regarding the financial
standing of Savannah will show that
this city is the leading one in many
respects in the United States. The re-
port is not yet completed. but only
few of the minor details are still lack
ing, and these will be furnished by
noon tomorrow. Mr. More, who is
here representing the Census Depart
ment in the work, is preparing to leave
Savannah tomorrow night.
Mr.. More is well pleased with the re-
suit of his work here, and stated that
the impression gained from the first
cursory glance into the city affairs had
only been strengthened and confirmed
by more complete investigation. In
his opinion, Savannah, in very many
respects, will lead any other city in
the entire country. The report on the
conditions here cannot be made pub
lie until it has been regularly publish
ed by the Census Department, and no
definite figures can yet be given. Mr..
More, however, was able to give out
some of the most interesting features of
the report along general lines, and in
conversation with a representative OF
the Morning News on that subject, said,
among other things:
There are still only a few details
lacking before my report is complete,
and these will be in my hands early
Monday morning. l shall leave SaVan-
nah for Charleston Monday night. have
been very much pleased with the snow
ing made by your city in all lines ana
am confident that it cannot be equalled,
not only by any Southern city, but not
even by any city of the entire coun-
try. Especially will this be found true
in regard to the exempt lands which
are at the citys disposal
Large Park Land Area.
Savannah has a park land area
which is unedualled by any other city
of the country. If you were to take
the assessed value of the properties
of the city and compare it with a fair
value placed on the park land area,
the figures would be really astounding.
than that of any other city in the
country. l am confident that the park
land area value will be found to be
equal to between one-siXth and one
fifth of the entire real property value
in the city. This ratio is very large.
Il have not yet tabulated all the
reports that have been given me 10Y the
different officials Of the city put
believe that all this park land area
is at the disposal of the city.
The place where the Market House
now stands was once park
or SQUARE and now an enor-
NOUS income flows into the
city from this source alone. If such
value could be made from one park
there is no reason why the other park
areas could not be put to similar use
should occasion require,
"Of course, it is easy to see how the
value of these parks has increased.
When they were first set aside for
park uses they were of comparatively
small value, with the possible excep-
ton of one or two of them. AS the
value of the properties surrounding has
Increased. however, the park land
areas have increased likewise and they
now represent large sums, sums equal
to about one-sixth of the real prop
erty assessed for taxation. The re-
tanning of the parks is an evidence of
the wise mana cement which has car
ried on the work of the CITY.
Excellent Financial Methods.
I'm speaking of the MANAGEMENT of
the city affairs, said Mr.. More, L
NAV as we'll say that few cities, if
any, have been so capably managed
in the financial line as has savannah.
The method which is in vogue here
is a most excellent one and one con-
H,1x ~, a6X those used
cities which are continually calling at
tention to their modern and improved |
methods.
II am sorry that the rules of the |
department do not allow me to give |
you more exact and more definite in |
formation regarding what have learn |
ed. I have complete reports of every |
thing connected with the city, the |
property, the bonded indebtedness, the |
entire resources and liabilities, the full |
statistics regarding the police and nre |
departments, and several other minor /
details that are exceedingly interest |
ing. But 1 am unable to give them |
out until the department issues them |
in pamphlet form.
"During my stay in Savannah have !
been accorded the most courteous treat
ment on all sides, and everything has
been done on the part of the city Off
Gals and many private citizens to aid
me in completing my work For their |
mary kindnesses I wish to thank
everyone most heartily.
Mr. More expects to return to Sa-
vannah in December, two trips being
generally necessary to complete the
work. The report of the work done
thus far will be forwarded to the CEN
sus department at once and they Will
then inform Mr.. More of any addi-
tional information that they may re-
ouire. This additional work will be
done on the second trip here in De-
cember.