Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-11

JOHN SCREvEN.
JOHN NIsBET.
r. F. GRANT.
N. o. Triton.
VIM. NJ. WADLEY.
j. G. THOMAS.
GEO. A. MERCER.
j. H. EsTILL.
j. L. WARREN.
e. G. CASEY.
JOSEPH RosENHEIM.
Captain Henry Blum moved that the re-
port be adopted, and that a copy be refer
red to the City Council, which motion was
seconded.
Colonel John Screven arose for the pur-
pose of giving some additional reasons to
those contained In the report why 1t was
thus brought in. He desired in the com
mencement that it be distinctly understood
that In any remarks he might make he in
tended no adverse reflection upon any one.
He bad the greatest respect for our city au-
thorities, collectively and individually
They are citizens in whom our community
have the utmost confidence. In all affairs,
especially those affecting the welfare, health
and prosperity of our city, it could not be
doubted that they are as greatly impressed
with the duties devolviug upon them as
are the citizens generally, as on them
the responsibility rests, and he could
Dub Dtli6NC budb huCcB SCnAANhiSh oNb
vigorously and conscienuously IN all that
pertains to the good of this city. II there
were any app aren't negligence 1t could but
be attributed to good intention. He could
say from experience that in all they have
| done theV have ample precedent. Their
action may be determined by motives Of
economy, or by lack OF means to carry ou.
measures that are costly. He believed,
| however, that when the citizens of Savan-
- - khn NN
affairs that they will stand up to the city
au horities in carrying out any plans for the
welfare and prosperity of this community.
| TApplauee. This Association does not ap-
! sit in Judgment on the action
OF the authorities, but to hold
UP the hands of the city authorities and to
| CD operate with them. If they want money
or help let them say so There is strength
| to carry through any measure for the gen
ersl good. [Applause. II we would 90
| hack to the history of this locality 1t would
not be impossible to discover the cause of
| the present condition of affairs. 1t Is by the
| light of the past that We can judge Of the
| present. Go back to the revolutionary war,
| when Savannah was considered a healthy
! here for prote ction from the very fever
that has desolated more than one
| home in this city of late. It takes history
| to explain to us the change. In those
| DAYS there were no dry culture contracts;
vasts forests surrounded the sWamps border
| ing the city; rice plantations did not exist.
| We all know, all agriculturists, all santa
rsns know, that when forests are swept
away, and the swamps opened up to the
| power of the sun, that miasma is developed
and spreads over the country The dense
swamps are the protection of human life.
| All This is changed. He would say here that
| the best protection for the community would
| be the growth of trees in the outskirts Of
the city. In time rice fields were estab
lished in the vicinity of the city,
aud, as they proved profitable.
that TRANSFERRED, the CT y became de-
serted anterior TO 1920, and it is fact that
the people of Savannah IN 1917 determined
10 denies this means of disease. At meet
ing in the long room of the Exchange Col.
John a Cuthbert, who died lately at Mobile
at an advanced age, arose, and, in ringing
tones, depicting the effect upon the health Of
the city, declared with emphasis that the eli
mate of Savannah must be changed,
and it was changed. Forty dollars
pr acre was paid the rice planters
for reducing portion OF their fields to dry
culture. That was happy conception, but
experience has demonstrated that 1t was a
mistake. ANY gentleman familiar with rice
planting knows that to convert rice field
TO dry culture virtually renders the soil IN
profitable for several years, and that serious
loss is entailed on the owner.
DR.. L. A. Falligant pectfullY interrupted
the speaker and inquired II rice field were
reduced to dry culture would not the danger
from malaria be lessened.
Col Screven replied not necessarily. and
he would say here, without fear OF denial
from any source that It would have
weight with him; that we'll drained, well
cared for rice field is cleaner and in better
condition and better for health than the So
called dry culture fields.
Dr. Falligant-If they are wet culture,
is not the danger greater to health from the
stagnant water at the harvest Aowp
Colonel Screven, continuing, said the rice
fields sre better drained than any other
fields IN the world, 10 fields are so
thoroughly washed and kept clean, free
from vegetation and diseases, with this
exception-when the harvest water is re-
moved there must be exhalations which
are calculated to produce sickness,
provided the water is not entirely
drawn off in a reasonable time. Every
other day in the year they are healthier
than dry culture, so-called. When rice
fields are properly drained they are drained
below the point Of vegetation. With this
simple proposition, he would ask where is
| there anything for decay? Under this sYs-
TEN properly carried out vegetation is killed,
| and thus It goes on until the fall of the year;
then It is that the water is drawn off and
| the exhslations must necessarily be uuwhole-
some. When you compare 1t with the dry
culture so called, the contrast is absolute
and complete. The planter is deprived of
his power to make the necessary drains;
the bitches which should be cleaned out are
filed with vegetation, and the results
are more Injurious. The dry culture
system, as adopted In 1917, was a
mistake. This led him to sustain
the suggestions in the report The manner
of drainage around Savannah should be IN
the hands of the public If possible, should
be entirely In the hands OF the city authori-
ties, instead of a multiplicity Of parties who
are unable to carry out the provisions OF the
y culture contracts. Whilst 10 public Of
fee he found the law bearing in this case
had provisions that conferred as much pow
er on the parties as on the city, and he re-
lated a case where the health of the city was
iecparded and the city defied by party for
Two years, and there are other owners snd
propriefors who have been guilty OF a SIM
lar course. Such being the case, would
It not be better to place this entire
matter of drainage in the hands OF COM
missioners who have no political OF scts to
serve loud applausel, no power TO Law he
petitions of. the people on the table. Ap-
plsusel. Commissioners who are ipda-
pendent and who, with funds In hand, will
go forg ard and say this shall be done. l.
is necessary and 1t must be done. Pro.
louged applause He had every respect
for Individual rights, but he expressed this
opinion from personal and official expe-
rience and from the firm conviction that It
is the only solution of this question. SO far
as Hutchinson's Island is concerned, it
would be observed that the report alludes
to dualism. Now dualism In governments is
always unfortunate. This report pro-
poses nothing harsh, nothing unkind, it
only proposes TO abrogate the contract with
the lessees IL It can be justly done. l. is
question as to whether this important mat
ter is to be left with the city or the lessees.
A reasonable estimate of the cost of securing
to this island proper drainage and rendering
it a security from disease to our community