Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-03-23
State OF South Carolina.
OcOnce County.
IN THE COURT OF SESSIONS.

Tho Grand Jury, in tho discharge Of their
duty, beg lowe to make the following pre-
sentiment:
We have madc as thorough an osamina-
ton OF tho various matters committed 20 US
by your Honor and the law, as, undor the
circumstances, our limited time will per-
| nit.
ftrst: We have by committee visited the
poor house of tho county. The poor are well
cared for, and the Steward seems to bc do
termincd to do his duty. Tho paupers. 10 in
number, are well sn,sfied with their coudi-
| ton. We recommend that tho County
Commissioners contract with tho Steward in
August. This course will cuable tho Stewa, d
to put in bis small grnin us well as other
crops.
2 The Jail is in reasonably good condition.
There arc some inconsiierab!o repairs neccs-
sary to be made on the jail and Court House,
which will readily suggest themselves to the
County Commissioners. There is but one
enough for the number of State aud Federal
prisoners ofton confined there. We recon-
mend that tho County Commissioners report
better plan for heating the rooms Of the
prison, and sec whether,r not something can
be Obtained from ,he Federal Government
TOR rent for tho use Of tho Jail for its pris-
oners.
3. We have visited the Office of the Schuol
Commissioner and are not entirely satisfied
with its condition. We hnsc appointed
John W. Sh"Ior. O l. Walker and John NJ
Gillisnn II crmmi,lee Of our body to examine
that otlico during tho interval between the
present and ensuing term of the Court, aud
recommend hat John S. Werner, ESQ, be
appointed bv the Court to assist IN making
the Investigation. The office needs IL com
plc'c sct "f bucks. to he properly iudrxcd
and we recommend that Tho County Cum,
miss"ncrs purchase the same after an cx
amima:"u has been made and the wants of
tho olEce in this respect are understood. The
jury have been inlormcd that balances Of
tnnds for several years past arc in the hands
fthe Treasurer nncnllcd lnr and unused. and
we direct the School Commissioner to notify
each party aad 10 ray cut ut onco to each ono
the amount due them.
4. The public roads arc in lad condition,
partly irom inattcntinn Of tho proper nu-
thori.ies and r' rtly from the recent cun-
tinucd aud unprecedented wet weather We
recommend that Tie roads lie pu in a paSSa-
blc c"nditinn rs s"on as pusSiblc. That o
synopsis vi the lnw as to what cnnstitntcs a
public road, be published in the CuunlrR and
that Systematic plan or road working he
c"mmcEced aud cuforccd in the summer and
fall ny tho County Commissioners.
8. We arc impressed by the remnrk Of
your Honor hat crime is on the increa.e In
our opini"n The only remedy fur this is II
prompt md impartial administration Of :he
criminal law, speedy trial aud certainty of
Punishmcnt being the only corrcctives for
this great evil known tn us.
6. Only one Trial Justice has submitted To
us his bucks Tor nur Inspection. They show
that he is not encouraging litigation. We
ask that these officers be required to bring up
their bonks ut the June term Tor ns pcc,ion ns
the law directs
I. We haze made partial and cursnry
examination Of oil the public Offices Tie
limited time ut our command has been iuadc.
1uu,c for thorough examination. We re,
commend, therefore. thut Tho committee
appointed for tho examination Of the School
Commissioners and Trensurcr's Offices, asu,
1t necessary, make careful examination Of
tho other public Offices aud report to us
hereafter. All these Offices appear to he
we'll KEEP, and no complaints have reached
us in reference thereto.
8. Adultery is too common with class
and race of our populations; and il occurs too
frcqurntly With tbme who ought to know
better in some sections nf our county, We
may he constrained IN di.chnrging onr duty
To hereafter bring some Of tho more Intelligent
offenders bclors the Court.
g. We recommend that tho fence around
tho Court House and the steps on the fence
be repaired and the gate be kept shut
10 Thrt we find ho County Commissioners
have been "ninentionallv negligent in look.
lug after the Grant bridge and urge ,hem 10
DO more diligcnt in the discharge Of that
portion Of their duty, aud while we congrat,
uln,e them upun The healthy condition of the
county finances sc would gentI, remind
them Of tho impoverished condition of our
people and urgo them to reduce their ex-
pcndiIurcs ns low as possible.
III. We return our thanks to your Honor
and the Solicitor for consideration and in.
formation given us in the discharge Of our
duties
Respectfully submitted.
W. j. llIX. Foreman.