The Savannah morning news., 1903-02-28


templates Great Improvement.
A meeting of the County Commits
sioners which promises to be
interesting, Will be held to-day
at noon. The purpose of the
meeting is the consideration of
the petition of the Savannah Electric
Company and others for the opening
of the West End route. The condem-
nation of the land necessary for the
opening of the new route will be at
tended by considerable litigation sew
eral Of the parties owning property
in the vicinity claiming large amounts
as damages resulting therefrom. Their
claims will be filed this morning.
The largest of these claimants for
damages will be Mr.. Fletcher Exley
and Mrs. Maria T. Kirkland. The
opening of the new route means the
condemnation of a considerable portion
of the lands of Mr.. EXley. and the re-
1novaI of numerous houses from the
land, which change, he asserts, VIII
damage him several thousand dollars.
Mrs. kirkland complains that the abo-
lition of the old grade crossing, which
is contemplated, would wreak her
much wrong since she has property
situated at the crossing, the value OF
which would be apprecably decreased
byA the removal OF the crossing
Are Proceeding Illegally.
These claims will be subject to the
contention that the proceedings contefn-
plated are not in accordance with the
statute relative to the taking or con-
v
use. 1t will be cOntended that the
method employed by the County Com
missioners is not in accordance with
the revised statutes, but rather is prac-
tically obsolete, it being the method of
procedure under the old statute. on
this question there will, doubtless, be
some argument, and it is probable that
the matter viii not be finally disposed
of to-daE.
For a clearer comprehension of the
complaints for damages which will be
presented a definition of the dimen-
sions and changes in the proposed road
is necessary. The notice of intention
TO condemn defines these as follows:
The Proposed Route.
Commencing at the Louisville road at
a point just east of the fork of the
Louisville road and the Augusta road
and extending northerly to Bay street
extension, so as to connect with and
form a continuation of Schwarz ave-
nue.; also for the opening and estab-
fishing of road from the northern
end of Schwarz avenue and running
northwesUerly to stiles avenue.
The route of the Augusta road
where it crosses the tracks of the Cen
trail of Georgia Railroad for the pur-
pose of joining the Louisville road, will
be altered so that the grade crossing
-
be abolished and the Augusta road de-
1ected so as to run along the north
ern line of the right of way of the
Central of Georgia Railroad at the
grade crossing, so as TO run parallel
with the right of way, and to connect
with the new public road, all of the
Ioadways to be sixty feet wide, and
run through the land of Lowell. Cen
trail of Georgia Railway Company,
Ocean Steamship Company, F. A. Ex-
ley and city of Savannah.
1t is the abolition of this crossing,
and its removal TO a point about 1000
yards eastward. and nearer the city,
that Mrs. Kirkland contends will dam
age her. She owns a strip of land
fronting the Louisville road, the east
ern end Of which, on which is located
a store which she rents to a Mr..
Morehousc abuts on the junction of
this strip of land Mrs. Kirkland has
about thirty small houses, which are
rented 10 colored tenants who work in
the. different industries in that COM
munity.
Tenant Also Asks Damages.
Mrs. Kirkland contends in her petit
ton which will be filed this morning
that the crossing is of Importance to
the store and the tenants, and asks
that she be allowed damages for the
abolition of it. The store, she says,
derives its revenue largely by virtue
of the fact that ii is situated at the
crossing, at a place where there is now
a great deal OF travel and that when
the crossing is abolished she will be
permanently damaged. A claim for
damages will also be filed by Mr..
Morehouse, her tenant. who submits
that his trade will be greatly damaged.
The EXley property referred 10
in the notice of the commissioners is
situated on the north side of the rail-
road track on the Louisville road. On
this land there are also a great many
houses. 1t is proposed In the plan to
take a good bit of this land and to
remove the houses. The condemna-
tion of this land and the removal of
the houses Mr.. EXley contends in his
claim, will operate greatly TO his dam
age.
AbOIishes Dangerous Crossing.
The grade crossing which il is pro-
posed to abolish is just without the
city. 1t has long been considered a
dangerous one. The Central of Geor-
gia Railroad has bargained to hold the
commissioners harmless from any dam
ages resulting from the abolition of the
crossing, and to defray the expenses OF
any litigation which may result there
from. The street railway rOrOnanV
Will also defray a considerable portion
of the damages accruing. Quite num-
Der OF the property owners have offered
sufficient of their property to enable
the county to widen the road to the
desired width without cost to them for
the land.
The great good resulting from the
construction of the proposed line has
been set out in the Morning News The
construction of the new route has been
recommended by the Road Commission
ers of that district favorably passed
Upon by the Committee of Roads and
Bridges of the County Commissioners
and the intention to condemn has been
published by them. The street railway
company will be represented by Messrs.
Osborne q Lawrence, the County Com
missioners by Col. G. 7. Cam, and the
claimants by Mr.. r. r. Richards and
Judge S. B. Adams.
FOUGHT UNIFORMED MAN.