The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-10-09
PfesenSs,1eN7' or Grand Jury; Uctnber
Term, 1870.

Pfessnssaarns. or GRAND Jury; Ocruner
Term. 1870.
To the Court of General Sessions for
Riohland County, October Term, 1870,
the Honorable s. W. Melton, Judge
Of tho Fifth Circuit, presiding:
The Grand Jury for said Term, through
their Foreman, beg leave respectfully to
present, that in the discharge of their
duty, they have examined into the mat
ters and things directed by the Court to
their attention.
Upon inspection of the Public Build
ings, they hnd that the Court House and
officers therein are in good condition and
repair. In the opinion of your Jury, the
Office OF the Sheriff is too limited in d;-
mensions for the carrying out of the pur-
poses OF his Office. and they recommend
that it be enlarged by the removal of the
present partition separating it from the
dlately in rear, and so rebuilt as to in
clude in the Sheriff's Office O portion of
the apartment of the County Commits
sioners. This change can be effected. in
the judgment of the Jury, at O small ex-
pense, and without Inconvenience or de-
triment to the Office of the County CON,
missioners.
The Jail presented creditable and or
derly condition. It was cleanly nnd
gave every evidence of being we'll con-
Quoted. The repairs recommended by
your Jury in last report. relating to the
windows, was discovered to be only par
TALLY carried ont. The cause assigned
by the Sheriff and County Commission
ers for failure of completion was want of
money in the County Treasury.
ThetPoor House is in as good condi-
ton as IN onr opinion the circumstances
Will allow. The inmates, twenty y-six in
number, are, for the most part, old and
3nfirm; yet, by report Of tho Superin-
tendent, they have made over 600 yards
of cloth, cultivating and creating good
garden, and proving themselves at once
industrious and worthy of charity.
Your Jury would submit, that owing to
the absence of money in the County
Treasury, is prevented the fulfilling Of
the objects of the Act of the General
Assembly which provides that these in
stltutions shall be self-sustaining by the
purchase of lands for the same, and their
being worked by the paupers, the funds
to be drawn from the Treasury of the
County in which the Poor House is sit
uated. We take pleasure in commend
ing the administration of the Superin-
tendent, and adding that his accounts,
reports. &c, were found in excellent or
der. Under his humane and attentive
government, the inmates are we'll clothed.
we'll fed, and have all proper medical
advice.
q Upon the subject of Roads and Bridges,
1t Is submitted, from information derived
from sections of the entire County, that
the general condition of the public high
q
difficult of passage; in others utterly inn,
passable. The Commissioners report
this state of affairs resulting from the
faulty and impractical system under
which the repairs of public highways
are required to be effected by law, and
report remedy as impossible unless the
system be changed by wiser course of
legislation.
The County Treasury, under the pres
ent incumbent, presents an orderly and
neatly kept series of books; and as far
as the information of the Jury reaches,
the Treasurer has shown due diligence
in the collection of taxes, and proper at
tention to the duties of his Office. The
Jury is unable to arrive ut correct state.
ment of the affairs of this Office from
want of complete information supplied
by the Treasurer, and to the fact that
the books of his predecessor show not
only confusion OF accounts, but large
deficit of several thousands of dollars.
And your Jury renew the recommends
tion expressed in last report, that the
affairs of this department receive tho
rough and strict investigation.
In conclusion of their duties. the
Grand Jury for Richland County desire
to express their sense of the courtesy and
kindness extended to them by his Honor
the Judge, the Solicitor of the Circuit.
and the several officers of the Court.
Respectfully submitted.
PRESLY BROWN, Foreman.
The situation OF the great struggle be-