MYFBS, MAY(R - the Digital Library of Georgia

18 MAYOR'S ANNUAL REPORT.such use of the streets without the city receivingsuitable compensation therefor. The time has passedwhen public franchises should be given away. Therecent sale of the existing street car lines abundantlydemonstrated that the franchises granted by the cityare a very valuable asset of such a property. If theyare valuable to the investor they are valuable to thepublic, whose agent the city government is. Thereshould be no further surrender of the streets for privatepurposes without the public being paid therefor.Public taxes paid for the ground, paid for openingand grading and otherwise improving the streets, andthe public should be reimbursed hereafter wheneverany concession is granted to corporations to use suchpublic property. Other cities have adopted thisprinciple, and Savannah's streets are sufficiently valuablefor its citizens to insist on having the sameconsideration.The Public Health and a New Cemetery*You will also probably be called on to considerthe question of a new public cemetery. During theyear just ended the community has enjoyed an exceptionalgood health, the report of the HealthOfficer showing a smaller mortality among bothraces, and especially among the whites, than foryears past. For this we have reason to be grateful.We should exert ourselves to continue such satisfactoryconditions. As for ten years past, the HealthOfficer alludes to the fact that the section surroundingLaurel Grove cemetery has the worst record inthe city, demonstrating to his satisfaction the accuracyof his contention that that burial ground is a