The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-06
WHAT THE CITY is OFFERED.
But PIatshek & Co.'S Proposition
viii he Turned Down.

Feeling certain that the best inter-
ests of the people viii be subserved
ard that hardly a more ideal spot
could be chosen, the City Council is
unanimous in its opinion that the new
/ city hall should be built on the site of
! the present City Exchange.
| Members of Council have so ex-
pressed themselves. and SO have the
! members of the special committee
having in charge the preliminary work
/ necessary to the building of the new
home for the city officers. Although
! the offer of Platshek & Co. to make a
! swap with the city has not been Of
4 fciaIly considered, it is pretty certain
/ to be refused. This is apparent from
! the expressions already heard from the
members of the committee.
The property offered by the real es-
| tate firm is the Screven property,
owned by the Ge1mania Bank The
proposition made to the city is rather
interesting one and win be read
at the first meeting OF the special COM
mittee probably next week.
The offer is as follows:
I'VE offer you a site for the build
ing of a new City Hall, that we consld-
er, from many standpOints, equal TO
any that has been considered at all ell
gible for your purpose. 1t is situated
NJ the southeast corner of Congress and
Abercorn streets. Dimensions $50 feet
on Congress street. facing Reynolds
Square and ninety feet in depth to Con-
gress street lane. our proposition is 10
make an even trade with the city. We
offer you this plot of ground for the
present City Exchange shetland and
building. Titles to be acceptable to
attorneys of both sides All the emo1u-
ments belonging to the land of the pres
ent City Exchange site, to be part and
parcel of this transaction, and to be
transferred to our clients; costs of
deeds to be borne by either contracting
parties, as their interest will appear.
We claim for the site we offer, many
advantages:
"Such as central position, between re-
tail and wholesale districts, making it
convenient for women, children and all
business interests. Has thorough
street railway facilities; BrOughton
street, Abercorn street and Thunder
bolt Relt passing by and near it. AS
this city, to all intent and purpose, ap-
pears to be growing strongest eastward,
makes this more central position than
even Bull street suggests.
Being situated as it is. the approaches
to the building would be without risk
of life. There is but one track laid
abutting and that is on Abercorn street.
The track passing through square, go
ing eastward, is too remote from build
ing to be considered a danger factor.
Your present selected site has all these
attendant dangers and much more will
be added, in the event of a steam rail-
road, or other motive power, being used
in railroading along Bay street, which
will come positively, we believe, in the
very near future. No matter how pub
lie a building is used, as much quiet
as possible is a desired object for those
who spend the best part of their lives
in and around it's offices. We claim
this for our site, over the selected one.
Noises, such as blowing of whistles; the
laundering of many cars and the dust
and dirt from cOngested traffic, would
be rare at the site we offer.
''The government utilizing it's site at
Abercorn and York streets, with fine
building, the Seaman's Home within
block east, and the nearness of Brough-
ton street, the building of a City Hall
.on the site we offer would place it in
a central position, thereby considera-
bly, enhancing this plot of ground maxi
ing 1t more valuable city asset than
Your present one. Besides, the entire
section around this plot, which Is adapt
ed for the erection of fine buildings,
would take on a new experiences; an
cient landmarks would give way to new
structures and more modern buildings
would be restored. thereby bringing
more taxable values for the city's rev.
enues. Another feature we wish to i'm
press upon youth larger cities, the
finer and more massive structures are
not all concentrated within a certain
narrow circle, but, rather on the out
side of certain radius-such improve
ments being placed where they will
bring the city most benefits
With the broadgide of City Hall fac
ing the square, the benefit of strong
northern light is gained, and if build
ing depth of sixty feet on Abercorn
street be observed with the paving of
Congress lane, the City Hall
could be built in the center of this plot
allowing for very prettily laid out
grounds-with garden features and eff
fects-adding considerable beauty to its
general utility"