davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-17

At a meeting Of City Council last
night Mayor Myers annual message
was read.
The Mayors suggestion that the city
tax rate can be reduced in another
year and that the City Hall can be
paid for in 1904 met with the approval
of the aldermen who were spoken to
on the subject. The Mayors message
was an exhaustive article showing the
remarkable growth of the city and the
era of prosperity. 1t is as follows:
Gentlemen: The year 1903 brought
to Savannah twelve months of unln-
terrupted prosperity. Our city enjoy
ed excellent health, trade conditions
were uniformly good, our commerce
continued to grow, the increasing
wealth of our people was shown in the
building of numrous homes and the
extension of business enterprises,
Chamber of Commerce with 700 mem
bers was added to our coterie of valu-
able business organizations our rail-
roads and steamship lines continued
their policy of expansion that in the
Fast has brought such rich fruitage
to them and to Savannah, a public
library was inaugurated, our public
schools were kept upon the high plane
that has marked them in recent years,
our hospitals and charitable organiza-
lions were efficiently administered for
the alienation of suffering and the
relief of distress-in fact no matter
from what standpoint we may view
the year just closed. it must be with
thanksgiving.
Savannah has fortunately been spared
any terrible calamities and has en-
joyed complete immunity from pesti-
lence or business disaster. 1t has
pursued the even tenor Of its way
unhampered by fears. undisturbed by
local discords. and with that buoyant
feeling that springs from "a confidence
that results will be fully commensurate
with the efforts put forth. Between the
municipal administration and the pub
lie. whose servant it is, there has been
absolute harmony. The Mayor and al
dermen have striven in their work to
promote the general good, and 1 am
assured that their efforts have not been
unaDpreciated.
The closing of the year called for mu-
tual congratulations on what had been
accomplished. We enter on the new
year with even brighter prospects.
with even greater opportunities. This
board. l know from the past years
association with you, is animated sole
~ by the desire to give to the peo-
pie of Savannah full value for the
money you are intrusted with on their
behalf 10 conduct the departments of
the government so that the greatest
efficiency possible will be obtained
with the means at your command, and
in public improvements to always seek
the greatest good for the greatest num-
Der. AS the record of 1903 is a bright
one for this administration, so l be-
lieve will be that of 1904. A high
standard is to be maintained in every
department, and for the next twelve
months 1 bespeak a continuance of
your active and efficient cooperation
10 that end.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-17

way beneath the tracks of the Allan
tic Coast Line. The city has appropria-
ted 800 as it's share of the exnensa
of this work. 1t is also a satisfactior
to note that the dangerous grade cross
ing of the West End street car linz
and the Central Railroad has been
abolished. and that the street car5
will soon be running beneath the
railroad tracks. Owing to the healt,
expense, it is not possible to abolish
other grade crossings at this time. h,t
the movement, now begun, should h.
continued without imposing too greo+
a burden in one year upon the rail
roads or the city.
In referring to the matter of In
necessary danger to life, l desire f..
state that our new official, the buiI5
ing inspector, is expected to co-operat.
with the electrical inspector and tbe
superintendent of the fire departr,art
in seeking to insure better protectjor
from loss of life by fire or other calan1ii
ties in public and business buiIdjngs
The recent frightful loss of life Is,
Chicago has turned the attention Of
municipal authorities throughout ~
world to steps of this kind. tn
calamity demonstrated beyond ones
ton the need of proper laws ana os
unremitting vigilance on the part 90
those charged with such duties. IN
the preparation of our new buiIdfra
law especial attention should be eiveSS
to the matter of proper exits fro,,'
theaters, public halls, school buildings
and large business structures.
Another matter of public safety that
is worthy of consideration by Won is
the enactment and enforcement of aI
ordinance requiring street cars to he
provided with the most imnro,ej
tenders. Such a law is in operatio,I
in number of cities. Several arCi
dents in Savannah during the past ve.r
seem to point to the necessity of Surb
a law here
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-17
MARINE HOSPITAL SERVICE.

Another important health measure
inaugurated during the year was the
removal of the garbage dumps from
the vicinity of the city, where thew
had been at least an offense to many
people. Arrangements were perfected
whereby the garbage and other city
waste is transported to the County
Farm and there utilized for fertilizing
purposes. This is in keeping with the
most modern usage, is a sanitary and
economical arrangement, and while
there are yet defects to be remedied.
I am sanguine that in short time
the plan will be working satisfactor-
lily.
During the year numerous house
drainage connections have also been
made. This continued elimination of
the old sinks and closets tends ma
terially to the betterment of the pub
lie health There has been the same
unrelaxing examination of private
premises by the sanitary inspectors,
who. l believe, should be uniformed of
ficials.
Our quarantine has been wisely adj
ministered by the United States Ma
rine Hospital Service, between which
and the city officials the most cordial
relations exist. Both locally and at
Washington this department of the
Federal government has always shown
the utmost consideration for Savan-
nah and an ardent desire to promote
our health and assist us in every way
in protecting our citizens from the in
vasion of disease by sea or land. In
looking backward over the years
have had the honor to serve Savan-
nah as Mayor | am more than ever
convinced that our placing of the ocean
quarantine under the national govern
ment was calculated in every way to
benefit Savannah.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-17

rule, citizens feel a personal and par
donable pride in the building devoted to
the municipal offices. In Savannah no
one carries a visitor to the City Hall
without an apology for its appearance.
It's only virtue is it's age. Experience
has shown that it is impossible to re-
model it or enlarge it. Thousands of
dollars have been spent upon it in re-
nOvations which have failed to per-
manently better it's aspect. 1t remains
deficient in accommodations and con-
Veniences.
Feeling that the time has at last ar
rived in the onward march of SaVan-
nah. when the spirit of it's citizens
would approve, and it's financial condi-
ton permit of the erection of a hall
that would be an ornament to the city
and a satisfaction to it's people, and
which would meet the increasing neces-
stiles of the government for a century
to come, L recommended in my last an
nual address that council take steps
to this end. The suggestion met with
an immediate favorable response from
this board and with general approval
from the public. A special committee
of five was appointed. Plans were adj
vertised for. A number were receiv-
ed which, after thorough examination
by the committee. were rejected. Ar
chitect H. w. Witcover of this city
der the direction of the committee. AS
! a result of his work. suitable plans
were adopted. and bids advertised for,
which will be submitted to Council at
an early date. with the recommends
| ton OF the committee.
The hall it is proposed to erect will
| cost about $3.50 900. Its general appear
ance is we'll known to the public, and
| it is unnecessary to refer at length to
its beautiful exterior or the admirable
arrangement of the interior. The
building will be one in which all citi-
zens will feel a direct personal pride.
1t will typify the twentieth century
Savannah, the Savannah of indomitable
energy of pushing progressiveness,
guided by an invincible determination
to place the city on a parity with it's
sisters of all sections in everything
that contributes to the material we'll
being of it's people-that spirit which
has developed here so rapidly in the
past few years and which, we conf
IDENTIFY believe. is destined to insure a
future of unparalleled development.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-17
OPENING OF STREETS.

Through a lack of system in the past
many entertainments were permitted
on the sidewalks and streets of Sa-
vannah. In the removal of these large
expenditures have been made. but
many yet distigure the highways. AS
has been shown, in this important
work and the purchase of land for
opening streets, $685. 44 has been paid
out during the past five years. of
which $53,311 was expended in 1903
In all, S,156,76S square feet of land
has been acquired since 1898 for the
opening of streets and for public parks
202,510 feet having been bought dur
ing the past twelve months. The
money appropriated by Council for this
work has been judiciously used, and
it is doubtful if more satisfactory re-
suits could possibly have been secured
In many instances property owners
have met the committee in a spirit of
equity, but in some cases 1t has been
found difficult to close bargains owing
to the disposition to extort from the
city larger payments than were justi-
fable.
1 believe in the city purchasing lands
for this purpose as rapidly as possible,
but 1 am opposed to exorbitant values
under any circumstances. Land own
ers should realize that it is to their
advantage to have the streets opened; :
that very frequently they are imme-
diately benefited by the enhancement
of the value of their lands thus made
available for building lots, and that it
is accordingly to their interest to
make such reasonable concessions as
will justify the city in opening streets
through the tracts owned by them.
While liberal appropriations are an
nually made for street opening pur-
poses, it must not be forgotten that
the expenditures in this direction can
not be made too heavy, as taxpayers
in the Older portions of the city are
entitled to proper share of public
inv
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-17
PUBLIC LIBRARY POPULAR.

No single event of the year gave ne
more personal satisfaction than the
hnal establishment, on a most salts
factory basis, of free public library.
Cities throughout the country have for
many years possessed such a valuable
adjunct to the public school system.
Savannah has been woefully deficient
In 1901. it will be recalled, l engaged
in correspondence with Mr.. Andrew
Carnegie, looking toward the establish
ment of a library here for the people.
The burden placed upon the city gov
eminent by the Carnegie plan was
considered too heavy. A public-spirit-
ed citizen then inaugurated a move
ment whereby a certain number of
citizens pledged themselves to a pay
ment of 800 a year for a period of
years. This also fell through.
Then came conferences between rep
Society and the city of Savannah,
which resulted in the library of the
Historical Society being placed under
the control of a board of ten managers,
five representing the city and five the
society, and onened free to the public
on June Is. To maintain the library
the city made an appropriation of 49,
900 a year, and the Historical Society
in addition to contributing the books
and the use oe the hall. gave $500 an
nually. The results have equaled the
most sanguine expectations. Twenty
three hundred persons have enrolled as
members and awaited themselves of this
opportunity to secure unlimited reading
without cost. 1t is clearly within the
limits of probabilities that the close
of 1904 will find 5000 members using
the $4,000 volumes gathered at Hodgson
Hall. The board of managers has prof
tied by the experience of similar in
stitutions elsewhere, and in it's rules
and regulations has exercised excel
lent Judgment.
In this. as in all other public meas
Ures. there has been no partisan spirit
displayed by Council. Our people as
a whole are to-day more united in
the advocacy and support of all meas
Ures for the public good than they
have been in many years. 1t is this
unity of sentiment and singleness of
upbuilding of our city. Political rancor
has largely disappeared, personal pre-,
JUDGES have been dissipated, and our
citizens now look merely to the end
contemplated, the purpose for which
a movement is begun, standing ready
to commend and support every step that
tends to the advancement of SaVan-
nah in any direction. With such
laudable spirit shown on all sides one
would be pessimistic, indeed, who did
not look forward with a confident re-
lance on the ability of Savannahians
to accomplish anything to which they
may hereafter devote their energies.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-17
}. MAYOR HERMAN MYERS

needed. At the same time it has not
been overlooked that it is not wise or
eXpedient to lay too great an expense
upon property owners in a year for
improvements of this character.
Steady progress has been found pos
sible without the imposition of heavy
burdens. and l find on reviewing the
past five years that during the time
nine miles of streets have been paved,
of which five miles were paved during
the year 1902 and 1903. In all, 1S4937
square yards of paving have been laid
during this time. Twenty-Five per
cent. OF all the street paving of Sa-
vannah has been laid in the past five
years, while, during the same period,
other important public works have been
completed, miles of new streets bought
and opened, and the treasury of the
city kept in healthful state.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-17
POOR HOUSE BADLY NEEDED.

In the beginning of my remarks, 1
maze mention of the expenditures of
the city in behalf of charities The
sum then mentioned, $27,2S1.50, was
the amount of cash paid out of the
treasury, and did not entirely repre-
sent the actual aid to charitable insti-
tutions. For the year 1904 our cash
appropriations to hospitals, homes, city
dispensary, city physicians and Incl
dental relief of the distressed aggre-
gate $31,SSS But beyond this we will
exempt from taxation, or, rather, re-
turn taxes to, charities to the amount
of $685.. We will also relieve them
OF water rents, amounting to $1,000.
Savannah's government should accord
ingly be credited with an actual allow
ance for charitable purposes in 1904 of
$42,533 Other cities, in their reports
of charitable expenditures, follow this
course, and it is but just to Savannah
that in comparisons we should not suf
fer by lack Of proper statements.
In my sixth annual address I urged
the establishment of home for the
poor on the county farm, when by
reason Of age, or disability they are
unable to earn a livelihood and have
no relatives or friends willing
to provide for them. Such an
institution could be conducted at a
moderate expense to the county and
city, and by removing a number of
persons from the streets who are now
dependent on the aims of the public,
would relieve our citizens from their
opportunities. A committee was APP
pointed by Council, but nothing was
apparently done by 1t. now renew
this recommendation.
No one can question the necessity
for such a place. The county, I be-
lieve, will cooperate with US, and by
combining admission strictly to people
who have been residents of Savannah
or Chatham county for a period of
years, imposition from the outside can
be prevented. Those who are able to
do some work could be utilized on the
farm and in the practical operation OF
the home, every effort being made to
compel the beneficiaries of the home
TO become as nearly self-supporting
as possible. BY forcing beggars com
ing here from other points to leave the
city we would soon be relieved of the
horde that now infests the business
section day after day. During the
past year ] have continued the prac-
tice OF giving temporary relief where
needed and Of furnishing transporta-
CONTINUED on Page Twenty-nine)
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-17
SELL OFF UNUSED LANDS.

The city is also the owner of a
number of lots and strips of land
scattered over the city, not available,
in most instances, for public purposes
of any kind, which should be disposed
Of
Many of these lots are fragmentary
results of purchases of land for street
opening purposes They bring in no
revenue and no good can result from
their retention. If sold to private par
ties they become at once taxable and
a source of income to the city.
1 would accordingly suggest that a
list of these properties be prepared
and that they be advertised for sale
in the newspapers, the Committee on
Public Lots being authorized to ac-
cept such prices for them as may seem
reasonable to it. Such lots as are
advantageously located and otherwise
suitable for engine houses or school
buildings could be reserved for such
purposes.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-17

of well-located and well-adapted land
was obtained for a. tree nursery. This
has been taken charge of by the Park
and Tree Commission, and from it in
future years the supplies of trees for
the city will be drawn. In the past
1--WE years the commission has put out
4,O63 trees, of which S37 were planted
during 1908. Especial attention is nat
urally being given to the new section
of the city, but in my judgment it
would be well, if the operations of the
commission are enlarged, for Council
to provide that a certain amount shall
be expended in tree planting in the
sections west of West Broad and east
of East Broad street. In many parts
of both Yamacraw and the Old Fort
trees are a rarity. These districts are
our most tbickly populated and are en-
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-17
LARGE HALL APPROPRIATION.

In order that the city might be pre-
pared to inaugurate work on the new
hall with a liberal appropriation, es-
pecial efforts were made during the
year to provide a surplus for this
purpose. In this the Mayor received
the constant support of the chairman
of the Finance Committee, and, in
deed, of all members of Council. AS
a result, the new year opened with
over $4,000 cash in the treasury. An
appropriation of 100000 was according
~ easily made in the budget for 1904
without impairing the efficiency Of
the various city departments or ma
terially lessening other public i'm
DTovements.
Council is convinced that the site
of the present Exchange is the proper
place for the new building. This will
in all probability, continue the center
of the business interests of Savannah.
The trade bodies, the banks, the Of
fees of the commercial houses, Will
always be within a few blocks of Bull
and Bay streets, and the retail dis
trict will remain within easy access
A noble structure where the present
antiquated Exchange stands, will be a
notable landmark to the travel on the
river. When it is recalled that over
$4,000 persons now pass the Exchange
in a year on the steamships plying
to Northern ports, representing all
parts of the United States, and that
this tide of travel increases by thous-
ands each year, this consideration in
favor of the present location is of
no small moment. In addition to these
factors it is not to be overlooked that
to secure a suitable site elsewhere would
mean the unnecessary outlay of at
least $4,000
The erection of the new municipal
building is one of the steps in the
creation of the Greater Savannah, the
spirit of which has been making it.
self manifest in recent years. 1t is
possible l believe, to pay for the hall
entirely during 1904. The means are
at hand. and it is merely necessary
for Council to avail itself of a source
of income that previous Councils have
similarly taken advantage of for
public Improvement purposes.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-17
Tenders For Street Cars
And Home For the Poor
RECOMMENDED IN HISANNUAL REPORT
New Street Paving
Measures Nine Miles.

twenty per cent Reduction in Ground Rent Lot Balances
Will Make Mayors Plan Possible, and no Precedent
Will Be EstablShed-MeSSage Shows That q per cent.
of CtyS Available Moneys Have Been Expended for I'M
prOvementS-In Five Years $4,000 Was Spent
This Way-Over $1,000 Paid for Street Opening
Car Tenders and Grade CrOSSngS-MOre Money for
Tree Pantng-Fre Insurance Rate Should Be Lower
and Mutual Home Company is RecOmmended-Remark-
able Decrease in Fire Loses.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-17
REVENUES AND
EXPENDITURES.

The income of the city during the
past year was larger than in 1902 by
s22, S00.05, the result of the increases in
valuations of improvements and per-
sonalty and in the revenues from Ii
censes. The report of the tax asses
sors shows gain in returns of 81, ia
1oI. The gross expenditures were $685.
25462, and whereas, at the beginning
of the year there was a cash balance
in the treasury of 3,146.S1; the close
found $51,00S.34 on hand, the largest
balance in thirteen years. OF the to-
tai income, 1853, 3944S was paid out as
interest on the bonded debt $44.S57. so
in the purchase of bonds to reduce the
debt and $27, 2S1.50 for charitable pur-
poses. leaving 1923. 1886 for the actu-
al maintenance of the city govern
ment. OF this, as shown, ISL. 0OS.34 in
in hand. and of the balance actually
expended $150,253.01, or 22h per cent,
was expended in new and permanent
public improvements, such as street
opening. street paving, etc.
Council up to this time has not
deemed it wise or just to assess for
taxation property in the new limits
beyond Forty-second street, from
which no income is as yet had, al
though the city is purchasing land
there for street opening when offered
at reasonable prices. Our revenues
are also reduced by the well-devloped
tendency of the State Legislature Ito
curtail the taxing power Of municipal
titles in favor of the state, or for the
purpose, apparently, of tightening the
taxes on the country counties.
In this way the state has assum-
ed the right to value franchises and
levy taxes on them, although the en-
tire value of such franchises. as in
the case of street railways and local
telephone companies, may come from
the moneys expended in the develop
ment and Improvement of the cities
by their citizens. AS a result of this
new law. Savannah found its income
from the electric company reduced by
$500. have in the past alluded TO
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-17

the tendency shown by the Legislature
to draw upon the revenues of the
cities by issuing state licenses for
certain lines of trade and destroying
the power of municipalities to tax
them. l trust that the representatives
from this and other cities can see their
way clear to oppose any extension of
states revenues at the expense of the
city governments.
In the budget for the year 1904 pro-
vision has been made for the ex-
penditure of $4,000 in new and inn
portant public improvements. This is
about % per cent, of the amount that
will actually be at your command for
the conduct of the city government.
This is but in keeping with the record
that has been maintained during the
mast five wears
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-17
A MODERN CITY HALL.

The need of a new, modern, proper
ly-equipped and large enough public
building to meet the requirements of
the municipal government of a growing
city has long been acknowledged Few.
If any, cities of the size, wealth and
commercial importance Of Savannah
have as inadequate and commonplace
a structure as the building used for
city purposes here. Elsewhere, as a