The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-29

ucular plan, except that under no con-
ditions should the canal remain an
open sewer. whether IL be for house
drainage or storm water. l personally
gave the matter a great deal of thought
and consideration while acting with a
committee from Council and a commit
tee of citizens, many of whom We're
the most representative I'm every sense
OF the word, and it was apparent to
all that the doing away with Bilho
canal was important and should be
done, but for the reasons already stated
in my previous letter. about the time
that the matter is agitated and brought
to the attention of Council changes are
brought about and the work has to all
be done over again. II is like every
other public work-different people have
different views. II the city fathers had
undertaken to have built a City Hall
to the satisfaction of every critic the
result would have been no new City Hall
This is also true of paving. Many Of
our best citizens have fought hard
against the paving OF streets. honest
ly believing that their burdens from
taxation were large enough. and yet
venture the assertion that IL would be
hard matter to find a single individual
who has had pavements laid abutting
his property but who win admit that
instead of it's being a hardship that
II was a blessing in disguise.
The municipality In dealing with a
question of this kind ought to take in
to consideration, first the expenditure
necessary, and whether or not they
would be warranted in making the ex-
penditure secondly, the health of the
city should be considered: thirdly,
what the Improvements would mean in
the way of the upbuilding of the city
and the probable revenue which would
be derived from such an improve
ment.
II is a fact well known to every OBJ
serving citizen that all important cities
in their growth follow the rivers and
waterways, and with the Increased
growth comes increased taxation,
which is always necessary TO enable
any municipality to continue public
improvements. / do not mean an in
crease in the rate of taxation, but an
increase which comes from improve
ments that are made and which are
brought about by public works, such
as the doing away with the Bilbo
canal. If any people doubt this propo-
sition, l only have to refer them to
the paving of Henry street east of
the tracks of the Atlantic Coast Line
Railroad Company. Let them drive
out Henry street and look at the inn
provements that have come with the
paving of that street; compare values
since the paying with the values prior
to the paving of the street, and no
further argument will be necessary,
even to the most skeptlcal.
DR.. LeHardy's reply reminds me
very much of a statement / heard
made by two able lawyers who We're
presenting their case and used the same
decision of the Supreme Court in sup
porting their positions. They were re-
minded by that able Judge, Thomas
N. Norwood, that they reminded him
very much of two countrymen who
had come to the city to go to a circus,
or for some other purpose, and who
saw sign over a barber shop which
read; What do you think, a shave
and a drink for 10 cents" One of the
countrymen entered the barber shop,
was shaved and in due course of time
rendered his 10 cents in payment there
for and the barber proceeded to serve
the other customer, whereupon the
countryman asked for his drink and
the barber replied: What do you
think! shave and a drink for 10
eentsl" And so with the Doctors opin-
ion. He may use the same decision
in support of his arguments that l may
use in support of mine, but the fact
! remains that the people of this COM
munity want to get rid OF Bilbo canal
irrespective of the doctors opinion or
IAtAlC 40 W AllC DS6l IltlUOu. Inc CITY
fathers who do this public work will
build monument to their memory
which will stand for all time to come
and do for the community a public
work for which every taxpayer will
be only too glad to contribute their
fair share.
In conclusion permit me to say that
this is not matter in which only the
people of Collinsville are interested,
hut to ft1,. L.. .s,I. n.
community has an interest, and it must
not be lost sight Of that Collinsville
is very small portion of the south
eastern portion of Savannah. All OF
that section lying between Habersham
street and Waters avenue on the east
ard west, and Estill avenue and Whea-
ton street on the north and south are
without house drainage, saving and
excepting a few pipes laid and paid
for by the company of which / was
the president, and II Is a fact that
privy vaults are being built and main
tanned. greatly to the detriment of the
health OF the entire community, and
which must continue until that por-
ton of Savannah Is given that which
II Is entitled to-a house drainage sys-
tenn, and ! want to say for myself and
the people whom / represent that we
are willing now as we have always
Deen 10 make COilIleCtlOI WITH the mousse
drainage system and will be glad of
an opportunity 10 do so; but when
the statement was made by commit
tee from Council that the outlay was
greater than the city felt justified in
making at the time when the previous
house drainage system was inaugural
ed, in good faith acquiesced believ-
ing as / did that the city was not in
position TO give to the southeast
ern portion of the city house drain
age system; but with the understand
ing that this matter would be taken
up later
There is no answer TO the PROPOSE
ton that Bilbo Canal Is a nuisance that
ought to be abated, and / sincerely
believe that our city fathers viii give
IL attention at as early date as is
practicable. and assure you that / have
but one idea In view namely 20 as
sist the city fathers I'm any way that
I can to abate this nuisance and at
the same slime to be reasonable in my
demands and without the slightest de-
sire to differ with my good friend, DR..
LeHardy, or any one else as to what
is the best method. The agitation Of
this question can do no harm, but will
ultimately result In good.
Jacob S. Collins.
~ ANO lTaalnn