MYFBS, MAY(R - the Digital Library of Georgia

14 MAYOR'S ANNUAL REPORT.to the best of their ability. As Mayor, I desire topublicly thank all the aldermen for the support theyhave given me during the past year, and to expressmy belief that the welfare of Savannah has been uppermostin their minds. I feel no hesitancy in statingthat experience shows that Savannah has foryears been fortunate in securing as aldermen menwhose public conduct has been above reproach.The New Extended Limits.The city opened the new year with its area greatlyextended under the Act of the Legislature approvedin December, 1901. The new area incorporatedwithin the city limits is about 1242 acres, and thelarger part of it is devoid of public streets or otherimprovements: No provision was made in the Actfor the exemption of this territory from taxation. Inthe case of the former extended limits an exemptionwas granted for ten years. It has always appearedunwise to me to relieve property owners in an extendedlimits from their share of the burdens ofmunicipal government any longer than could beavoided. From now on, those south of Forty-secondstreet will receive police and fire protection. Alreadythere have been expenditures of many thousands ofdollars for the opening of streets, and heavy outlaysmust be made during this and succeeding years forsuch purposes and the grading of thoroughfares, thelaying of water mains, street lighting, etc. The benefitsaccruing from this will largely go to the propertyowners there, and it is but just that they should contributetheir proportion toward such betterments atas early a date as possible. It will now be the duty