The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-03-29


FOR THE SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF THE
STATE OF FLORIDA.
We, the Grand Jury, empannelled for the
county Of Leon, make the following report:
We ind diminished number of criminal
cases presented for our consideration, and We
congratulate the citizens of our county upon the
improved condition Of morals and good order.
We have no fault to find with the manage
ment Of our county officials. Their accounts.
- far ~ We have been able to ascertain, have
been correct and properly kept:
We find the book Of record for wills has been
badly injured in the late. fire, so that some OF
| them are scarcely 1egible, and we recommend
| that the County Commissioners take immediate
| steps to have the same copied, and also to iur-
nish such other books as the office OF Judge OF
| Probate requires.
We find the Jail neatly and clearly kept, and,
| with the great number Of prisoners brought from
| adjoining counties for safe keeping, we have TO
feel grati6ed that we have q Sheriff competent
10 perform the duties of watching over so large
| Q number of prisoners but before dismissing
| this subject we would request the County Com
| missioners to set apart q small sum 10 be used
| under the supervision of the Sheriff TOR the bet
| ter protection of prisoners, which at present we
| deem unsafe
The Grand Jury would urge upon the County
| Commissioners of our county the proprety and
necessity of taking immediate steps to have
erected Courthouse. The people who derive
the benefit secured from a court, the advantages
| of the Grand and Petit Juries and attendance Of
witnesses, should be willing to provide at least
decent and comfortable room in which to hold
| their meetings.
We find our efficient Tax Collector, with his
usual energy, is making good collections, equal
If not superior TO any in the State.
While we do not favor an extravagant outlay
| Of the peoples money, we would suggest that
| limited amount be allowed for few OF the
| DIV holio hot ic moi n
taxpayer in our midst who would not be willing
TO share his little with those who need it more
than he, believing that he who casts his bread
upon the waters, the same shall return TO him
after many days"
We cannot condemn in too fOrcible language
the great neglect in working our public roads
To say they are disgrace 10 our county would
express but part of the facts they are simply
outrageous. Many of them leading to Taa-
hassee are impossible, and many planters have
great reason to complain of travellers leaving the
roads and passing through their fields to get TO
town. More particularly would we call their
attention to the wrctched condition Of that part
of road leading through the "Iamonia Sloughs."
We urge upon our County Commissioners the
necessity of enforcing the road law passed by
the late Legislature, which we here annex, and
| we believe that it should not only be duty, but
pleasure, to every person, both black and white.
to assist in keeping the highways in good repair
and passable condition. 1t has bt en- suggested
to the Grand Jury that offers have been made for
the purchase of the square formerly occupied by
the Court House. We think such a proposition
might be probably entertained by the Board of
County Commissioners, and we doubt not, if
found beneficial 10 the county's interest, the poo
pie would ratify their action.
AS no report of the finances of the county
has lately been made, we suggest that at the
| county's expense the same be published in the
newspapers of Tallahassee, as also the road law,
in connection with this presentment.
We have made digent enquiry into the condi-
ton and keeping of Laura Mevina Hopkins
lunatic, also of Thomas johnson, and recon-
mend that the same compensation to the keepers
be continued as last year.
We tender our thanks 10 the honorable Judge,
Solicitor, and other officers of the court for
their uniform kindness in giving instructions in
the discharge of our duties.
A. HOPKINS, Foreman.
An Act to Keep in Good Repair the Public
Roads and Highways in this State.
1. That the Supervisors of each and every road
in any county of this State shall return under
oath, after each woodworking, list of all hands
notified to work said road and who have failed
or refused TO work said road, who in his judg-
ment shall not have a legal or sufficient excuse
for failing 10 work said read, to the Justice OF the
Peace in nearest to his road division, and said
Justice of the Peace shall forthwith issue his ca
pias 10 any lawful officer to arrest said person or
persons so returned, and to bring him or them
before him on day certain, 10 show cause. il
any he or they may have, why they failed or
refused to work said road and if said cause 80
shown be not sufficient, in the judgment of said
Justice, they shall be deemed guilty of a misde-
meanor, and fined not less than one nor more
than twenty dollars, or be imprisoned in the
| county jail not less than twenty nor more than
thirty days at hard labor, under the supervision
of the County Commissioners of the respective
counties: Pr0rided, That nothing in this act be
80 construed as TO prevent any person who is
subject TO perform road duty from employing an
other person of suitable ability to perform such
road duty in his stead
2. 1t shall be the duty of The Road Commits
siOners in each and every county of this State TO
return, under oath. to the nearest Justice of the
Peace in the road district, any Supervisor who
shall fail or refuse to comply with the provisions
of this act, who shall be deemed guilty of a mis-
meanOT, and upon conviction shall be punished
by fine not less than Ten nor more than twenty
dollars or by Imprisonment in the county Jail
not less than ten nor more than thirty days.
8. 1t shall he The duty of the County Commits
sioners Of each and every county in this State TO
return, under oath, each and every Road Com
missioner in their county who shall fail to per-
form the duties herein imposed, to any Justice of
the Peace OF their county, and said Road Com
missioners shall be deemed guilty of misdc-
meanOr, and upon conviction shall be fined not
less than Ten nor more than twenty dollars or
be imprisoned in the county Jail net less than
ten nor more than thirty days. Any of the
County Commissioners of any Of the counties of
this State who shall fail to perform any of tie
duties herein designated, shall I've deemed guilty
of misfeasance in Office, and upon conviction,
shall lie punished by fine not exceeding one
hundred dollars or by Imprisonment in the county
Jail not exceeding six months. and il is hereby
made the special duty of the Grand Juries of the
counties of this State, 10 investigate the action
of the County Commissioners of their respective
counties, 10 their duties herein specified.
4. That any person summoned TO work any
road in any of the counties of this State shall he
allowed 10 pay at the rate Of fifty cents per day
for the time he shall be summoned to work said
road, 10 the Road Supervisor, who shall return
all moneys received to the Road Commissioners
who shall apply it on the road from which il
was collected and the failure of any Supervisor
10 90 pay over said moneys, and any Road Com
missioner to so apply the same shall be deemed
msdemeanor, and punished AZ above spec-
fed
8. That any and all persons liable to work on
the roads and highways OF this State, shall not
be required to work on the public roads and high
| ways more than six days in year, except In
cases of storms or other casualties P0cided,
that no person living in any incorporated city or
town in this State shall be compelled to work
said roads beyond the limits of such incorporated
city or town.
Excursion to Tallahassee and Mid