The Savannah morning news., 1903-01-11
MANY MILESOF ROAD
PLANS OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENT.
TO BE BUILT BY THE COUNTY.
ENOUGH WORK TO KEEP CONVICT
FORCES BUSY FOR TWO YEARS.

Resurfaced Improvements in
Western Portion of COunty-TeI-
fair Swamp to BE Drained and
age-Dean Forest Road to Be I'm
proved-GiEantic Undertaking in
Pipemaker swamp.
Few Savannahians realize the amount
of road improvement which is being
done in Chatham county. There is
perhaps no other county in the state
where as much improvement is being
made, or where as great an amount is
in contemplation as in Chatham. In
view of these improvements the Coun-
ty Commissioners have been obliged to
pass unfavorably on several applica-
tions, notably the one for the construc-
ton of a road to Wilmington.
The whole working force of county
convicts is now at work on the roads,
whereas in many counties the convicts
are worked in private camps. Camps
have been placed in such localities in
the county as have proven practicable.
1t is probable that when some of the
more recently proposed improvements
are undertaken these camps will either
be changed, or new ones established.
The work which the county has done
in the last few months in the way of
road improvement has been of great
benefit. Tourists and other visitors TO
Savannah never fail to remark on the
excellence of the roads which reach out
into the county in every direction. OF
the most notable Improvements are the
rnndG N the vicinity of Isle Of HOnn
and Montgomery.
These roads are not eXcelled in point
of beauty or utility by any in the South,
and stretching out, with never a rise
for miles, through the woods afford
alike an excellent speedway or a service
able thoroughfare for travel.
Work Planned for Two Years.
In denying the application of those
who asked for a road to Wilmington
Island, the commissioners said that
there is enough work in progress, or
| contemplation now, to keep the county
| forces busy and use up the available
funds for two years to come.
One of the most appreciated improve
| ments is LaRoche avenue. This road
has only been partly completely, there
| remaining about half of it yet to be
surfaced. A large force of county con-
| victs is now on the work, and it is
DelnS puSneQ 10 COInpleIlOn.
| Dale avenue is to be resurfaced with
cement gravel, the same that is used
| on LaRoche avenue. The roadway will
| be resurfaced from end to end. a dis
| lance of over two miles, and when COM
| pleted will be one of the prettiest roads
in the county. Two hundred and fifty
carloads of gravel are now being ad
vertised for. and as soon as the con-
| tract is awarded and the gravel Sc
cured the work will begin. This will
| probably be within the next two
months.
The widening of the old waterworks
road, Schwarz avenue and Factory
road, which will be undertaken in a
| short while, constitutes an improve
ment which will be felt by the largest
| commercial interests of the city. In
conjunction with the widening of these
| streets to a mean width of eighty feet.
| the Savannah Electric Company Will
| begin the construction of it's new West
| End line. which will make the manu-
| facturies along the river front more
| accessible.
The commissioners also contemplate
the completion of Stiles avenue to the
| Augusta road, giving all residents west
of the city an opportunity to commu-
| nicate with the factories on the river
| front without coming into the city, and
| making a much more direct route than
now exists between the business sec
lions in the western and southern
parts of the city.
To Drain Telfair Swamp.
The drainage of Telfair swamp and
the installation of complete system
of drainage has been ordered by the
| commissioners, and the superintendent
| of public works has been instructed to
| proceed with the work. For many
years this work has been contemplate
ed by the county, and in the past the
hue and cry of the grand juries mas
been for an appropriation for it.
1t is big undertaking. AS soon as
the work is well underway convict
camp will be established in the Vicin-
ity. The area which it is thought to
drain and lay with drains is known
as the Telfair and Sabine field terri
tory.
The commissioners have Just ordered
that the Dean Forest road, from the
Louisville to the Ogeechee road, be re-
paired and put in condition for public
travel. The road has long needed at
tention, and the work to be done is
| quite extensive.
Besides these roads, there are other
smaller roads which are now being at
tended to, or upon which work will be
commenced as soon as may be- A
road will be cut from the Augusta
road to the Dundee canal. Reviewers
are now deViSing plans for the change
of direction of the Causten's Bluff road.
which runs from near the Catholic
Cemetery to salt water, through the
Screven property and the golf
links. The change is being made so
that the road will conform with streets
which are hereafter to be laid out, the
land in that locality having been laid
off into building lots.
The paving of the road along the
bluff at Isle of Hope, from Demere's
Point to Wymberly, Col. Estill's place,
will constitute another Improvement
of smaller character which will af-
ford better accommodations to the res
idents of Isle of Hope. The paving
of the Parkersburg road which runs
back of the bluff, has also been I'M
dertaken. A new road is also being
constructed between LaRoche and Dale
avenues.
other Roads Contemplated
The roads named constitute a. large
majority of the contemplated and COM
pleted Improvements, but there are
others still. AS soon as the commits
sioners are able. the completion of the
paving on the Louisville, Augusta and
Ogeechee roads out to the county lines
Will be undertaken. The residents in
the neighborhood of Pooler and
Bloomingdale are especially anxious
for the extension of the paving on the
Louisville road; and it is probable that
this will be the first undertaken.