The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-02
THE CITY HAS GROWN
HOW ITS DEPARTMENTS HAVE En-
PANDED IN A CENTURY.
EXCHANGE FORMERLY RENTED
PUBLIC SALOON WAS IN THE BUILD
ING AT ONE TIME.

| Days That Have GOne-OnIy a
Small Part of the Building Was
Occupied by City Officers in Those
Dnys-One Man Leased All of the
Building, Except When Council
WINS Actually in Session - with
Rapid Growth of City the Depart
ments Grew in Size and Number.
After more than 100 years of useful
ness the City Exchange erected in 1893,
will be torn down and in it's stead,
will be placed a handsome and modern
| City Hall that will last for at least an
| other century. The building that was
constructed more than a century ago,
and that is now in use, was much too
large at that time. and was erected
with thought for the future.
The Exchange was built by subscrip-
ton, and most of the structure was
| leased. The city was not large in those
| days and there was no need for such
a building. The advancement, how
ever, was steady. Conditions improved
gradually and department after de-
partment was enlarged, or added to
the city government. 1t had only been
within the past ten or fifteen years
! that the citys growth has been so no.
| ticeable, so remarkable. Expanding in
every direction the departments of the
city government had to be increased
until the Savannah of to-day finds it
self cramped for room. The old Ex
change has served it's time and must
fall before this progressive twentieth
century.
Savannah of To-day.
Considering the Savannah of to-day,
with its abundant supply of the purest
artesian water its sewers, it's well
drained surroundings. and its mortuary
rate comparing favorably with that of
the most healthfu1 cities of the world,
it is difficult to comprehend the condi-
lions that existed eighty or ninety years
ago. Savannah at that time was sur
rounded with sWamps and rice fields,
surface well water was drank, the gar
bage and other waste was thrown out
on the commons not a great distance
from the city, and the fall months were
productive of much illness. Indeed, so
unhealthful was the town from July
until cool weather that the Legislature
as late as Dec. %, 1919, passed a law
prohibiting the introduction of passen-
gers who were aliens into the port of
Savannah during July, August, Sep
TENDER and October, or their landing
from any ship within fifty miles of the
city, the mortality among those strange
to the climate being extremely heavy.
When the present building was first
put up, but very small part of it was
used by the city government. Grad
udlly the expansion went on and Ellis,
Young & Co., naval stores factors was
the last firm to occupy any part of the
City Exchange. The offices of that con-
Germ were on the eastern half of the
first floor, now occupied by the direc-
tor of public works, the Board of Tax
Assessors and the Park and Tree Com
mission. 1t is interesting at this time
to review the changes that have &C.
| Cured in the city government during
the era of progress. In CANDLES His
tory of the City Government, the edi-
ton of which has been exhausted, the
improvements are shown clearly and in
regular order. An excellent sketch of
the Exchange appears in this interest
ing history of Savannah
Building Leased Out.
On Nov. II, 1912, the different apart
! ments were directed offered for rent
to the highest bidder. On June 2 1913,
! Aldermen McAllister and Harris We're
authorized to lease the portion of the
building not occupied by the city to
Samuel G. Bunch. On June IA this
was done so for five years. The lower
| partitions forming the entry were to
be taken down and the Exchange re-
paired and put in good order as we'll
| as the postottice room still reserved
| Tor that purpose, entailing an expense
of 5000, to be advanced by Bunch, The
city Hall, to-wit, the second long
room, was reserved for all public re-
| sorts appointed by Council and for the
| Mayors court, and the room used by
| council was reserved for the sttings
| OF Council, but to be at Bunch's dis
posal when not actually in use by
Council.
On May %, 1915, Bunch petitioned
| Council to be allowed to rent the room
| occupied by Council for it's sittings, in
| lieu of which he would consent to
| Councils holding its sessions in the
| long room on the same floor. Council
! agreed to this on the condition that
Bunch furnish the long room for this
purpose. The present quarters Of
! Council accordingly appear to have
been in use by it for more than eighty
| five years.
On Sept. 4, 1915, the Committee on the
Exchange was instructed to extend
! the area now constructing on the
southern front of the building" For
many years the Custom IAouse and
postoffice were located in the Ex-
change. In 1917 the building was thor
oughly overhauled and a railing was
put around it at a cost of 1928 80. IN
front was paved with free stone and
round" at a cost of $1,164.50, and the
Council room was put in good order for
the sole use of the board The lease
with Bunch expiring June 80. 1918.
the Mayor was directed to re
tain such rooms as he might deern
necessary for city offices and lease out
the others annually. On Dec. 6. 1919
two windows were ordered cut in the
west side of the building, and i'm 1922
two or more additional windows were
ordered cut in the lower tenements.
BarrOOm in Exchange,
For many years a public barroom
was located in the Exchange. The old
! Georgian office was in the building in
| the early SOS, and in it what
| was probably the first Steam
printing press in Georgia was
| erected Some of the offices
on the ground floor were rented to
business houses until 1896, when the
entire building became devoted to pub
| lie purposes.
No special accommodations appear To
have been provided for the Mayor until
1858. On March 10, of that year. Conn
ell directed that the eastern part of
the Long Room should be partitioned
OF for the Mayors Office. In the great
storm Of September. 1854 the building
was considerably damaged. Builders
I tan fssuN1 70.