The Savannah morning news., 1903-10-27
IN WAY OF PAVING
PART OF CASTOR STREET MAY BE
REPAVED WITH BRICK.
PLAN HAS BEEN SUGGESTED
FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF BADLY
CUT Up STREET.

street Between Drnyton and Whit
aker Streets Could Be Left in It's
Present Shape Until United States
Courts Tave Finally Passed Upon
Rights of the city and Property
Owners-FrOm whitaker to West
Broad md from DraytOn to Price
My BE Paved with Vitrifled
Brick Next Year.
Although the matter has not yet
taken any definite shape, it may be
that property owners on CASTOR street
will ask City Council to pave the street
from Whitaker TO West Broad and from
Drayton to Price.
In its present shape the street is
little short of an eyesore to most of
the residents, as we'll as to citizens
in general. Propositions and counter
propositions have been made without
avail and the case stands as it did
when it was first taken into the United
States court.
1t will be remembered that a major
ity of the property owners on the street
objected to the city putting down Wit
rihed brick and charging them for
1t. They commended that the city had
destroyed the shell pavement in the
construction of the house drainage
system and that they should not be
expected to again pay for the paw
ing of the street. Application was
made to Judge Speer for an iniunc-
ton and the city was restrained from
paving the street.
Master Was Appointed.
When the case was called in the
United States court last April it took
an unexpected turn after Judge Speer
mad listened to. testimony for a dav.
When court convened on the second
day City Attorney William Garrard
moved that the taking of testimony be
referred to a special master Judge
Speer allowed the case to take this di-
rectlon, and appointed George H.
Richter. Since that time nothing has
been done.
Judge Speer thought that all differ
ences might be amicably settled with
out the aid of the court, and Mayor
Myers was of the same opinion. The
situation was encoura ging for a time
and it looked as though, after all, the
case would be. settled without the aid
of the courts. But the city and all
OF the property owners were never
able to agree.
No Agreement Reached.
Asphalt was the only thing that some
of the property owners would agree to,
while the city remained firm in it's
determination to pave only with vitri-
fled. brick. The Mayor and Aldermen
have had a rather bitter experience
with asphalt, and during the life of the
ad fefr
will not be used for street paving. Thus
the matter has been hanging fire and
no testimony has been taken since the
appointment of master.
The city agreed to make certain con-
cessions to the property owners-that
is, to credit them with what they paid
for the shell paving-but declared that
vitrified brick, and this alone, must
be the material used in repaving the
street Council felt that if the proper
ty owners were willing to have the
street remain in its present unsightly
condition until the case could be set
tied in the courts the city could
stand it.
Insists on Asphalt.
But If the case is not settled outside
of the courts it will be a long while be-
fore the street will be made present
able. for the case would finally be taken
to the United States Supreme Court.
1t is now stated that one property
owner opposes paving the street with
brick and holds to asphalt.
plan may be arranged where
by the remainder of the street
will be paved and the two blocks in
question be left as they are at present,
until the courts pass upon the question.
This suggestion has been made by a
property owner who is anxious to have
the street put in good condition. He is
In favor of brick personally, but has
more than once expressed a willingness
to pay his share no matter what ma
terial should be used. That a street as
pretty as CASTOR should be in such bad
condition is deplored by Council and
by the property owners. and it is quite
likely that some sort of arrangement
will be made to pave that part of the
street where the property owners are
unanimous.