Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-05-01
THE GRAND JURY.
GENERAL PREsENTMENT FOR
THE MARCH TERM.

The grand iury of the superior Court
made their general presentment for the
March term Yesterday, and were for
mallv discharged by the Judge. with
thanks for the efficient and faithful ser
vices they had rendered the county. The
4 presentment was read by the foreman. as
f follows:
+ We. the undersigned grand jurors Of
Chatham county. In pursuance Of the re-
quirements of the law. make the follow
mg preSenment:
COUNTY OFFICERS.
The offices of the county officials has
been visited. and the books found TO be
neatly kept and the business we'll syS-
tematiZod.
The solicitor having no office 10 write
in or keep his records. we recommend
that the small Office attached to the City
Court room be turned over 10 him for his
use. and that the County Commissioners
purchase for him suitable safe to con-
tain his papers.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The Jail has been visited. and we, in
common with all the past grand juries,
feel that il i no place TO mcarcerate
human beings. many being innocent OF
any crime. We therefore urge upon the
some immediate action in this matter
90 procure suitable location and plans
and estimates. The question Of the owner
ship of the present location can be settled
at leisure, a. said lots cannot be Sold and
delivered until the present Jail is removed.
In building a new Jail a suitable place
should be erected TO provide accOmmOda-
tiOns for lunatics until they can be sent
10 the state Asylum.
PUBLIC ROADS AND BRIDGES.
None OF the roads are in thorough or
der. with the exception of the MOnteith
and Lovers lane.
Very little attention has been paid TO
drainage and the renewal of natural
growth.
Many bridges are in bad order. The
. CarsOn's Blum read does not appear to
have been worked for years. EncrOach-
ments have been made on several of the
road beds.
some plan ought to be adopted SO that
the drains be always kept open. The
health and the we'll being Of the county
require it: also the proper cultivation OF
the soil. 1t will be absolutely necessary
that some general plan be enforced when
fine Cuyler swamp drain be completed. or
this valuable and expensive work and its
lateral drains will soon ill up and relapse
int ruin.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
The books of the County Commissioners
( have been examined, and as each branch
under their charge Is separately kept.
Z their accounts are easily audited. We
have examined their budget. and recon-
mend that it be passed. and that they as
sess the additional amount of taxes re-
Quired for the county during the coming
wear. namely: SLID. making the whole
amount levied for 1883 SOS. 100 and that a
special act be passed by the Legislature
for this county to levy this increased
. amount of taxation.
This with increased property by reason
. Of large number Of new houses built,
ought To give them ample funds, and we
recommend that they in no case exceed
their assessments for the year.
We had hoped from the rapid improve
ment Of our county, for a gradual reduc-
tiOn of our taxes. but the action Of our
. predecessors in increasing the amount re-
quired bv the Jury s.. 900 and the saddling
upon the county the payment Of the
Judge of the City Court $1,000. has com
PEELED this recommendation, 50 that the
OBLIGATIONS Of the county can be met.
The increase OF the pay OF the jurors to
- per daV. we fear. Will not tend to the
Improvement OF the jury. but will rather,
as in other cities, tend to the increase Of
the evil known as professional jurors.
We recommend that in view sOf the
gratituitOus services rendered the county
for wears By the late Capt. W. W. Paine.
the County Commissioners, be requested to
place on his grave a suitable testimonial
CONVICT CAMP.
The convict camp has been visited. and
We find the work progressing in
satisfactory manner. The work is half
completed. if we consider the distance.
and twO-thirds. if we consider the
obstacles and difficulties on the part com
pleted as compared with the portion to be
finished. The cOnvicts have been moved
10 a new camp near the city, where they
will be comfortably taken care of in new
and well ventilated buildings. There are
= cOnvicts in camp. Of which & are sick
with chillS and sever. The balance look
remarkably well. They are well pro-
vided in every way. with medical attend
auce. good food. and 4 minister to attend
their spiritual wants. We regard this
work TO be most important and valuable
ever undertaken by Chatham county.
The expense is great. about $4,000 per
aanum. but if they We're confined in Jail
the expense would he fully as great. and
the cOfyicts would not enjoy as much
health and comfort. We believe that this
j. the best plan to utilize the convict
labor Of this county. and Recommend
when this present work is completed. that
through Springfield plantation and run
ming 10 Central Railroad wharves. SO as
10 drain the lands back OF Laurel Grove and
the negro cemeteries more perfectly, and
thence sOuthwaTdly, 0aS TO drain all the
swamp lands on the right of the White Bluff
ande Ogeeche rOads.sO as to make all these
lands habitable TO the cultiYatOrS of the
soil The syphon under the Cuyler swamp
canal should be completed at once. least
the county should suffer damages. The
architect should be held to strict account
ability for its completion.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
We have visited three schools. namely.
the Academy. the Catholic. on Abercorn
street. and the colored on Fair Lawn
fheSe being considered by the
superintendent fair representa-
ton of the school system. 1t
being legal holiday. the attendance at
the schools was voluntary, sget we found
the rooms well filled. The children APP
pear to be well advanced in their studies,
evincing the faithfulness Of their teachers
The new Fair Lawn building is we'll
adapted 10 the purposes for which il is in
tended. But its cost, $4,000, appears to
Us to be excessive, considering the size
and plainness Of the structure
The number Of teachers is a follows: Forty
nine whites. 30 cOlOrcd Total ~.
Number OF pupils 2,305 whites. else colored
Total 4.49i.
Cost Of tuition per capita. 50 Is.
We further report that we have exam
ined the books Of the Treasurer Of the
Board of Education. 1t has not been Gus
tOmary to examine these books. as the
Board of Education is a corporate body.
having their own Treasurer. But we de
termined to set the precedent Of such eX-
animation by the grand jury. as the Board
Of Education has and will receive from
the state and county So 07 - for last
year. II is but proper that in common
with all county affairs we should look
over their disbursements, and / Judge il
will he a satisfaction to them for us to so
do. 1t seems to us their affair are Geo.
nomically managed-their incidentals be-
ing light, mostly for repairs, fuel, stoves
and stationery, the rest being consumed
TO pay teachers: the pay roll for city teach
ers being something upwards of $4,000 per
month: OfcOunty teachers, 500 per month.
The receipts from all sources are as follows:
From State 5 1.4O7 Is
Tuition fees from High school i.6S9 90
Poll tax 1900 90
County budget $4,000 90
still due by county 0n last year 1900 90
S47,oo6 Is
Rec d from sale Of city lot. Lloyd wards S,O79 20
Prom sale of debentureS 4,406 -
Prom accrued interest 6i1 80
S,ls2 0j
47.096 Is
Total ....... s55.2z9 10
Making total receipts for last year ending
March l. lSS3. all Of which the Treasurer has
paid out except the 5000 owed from last
years appropriation.
We recommend that the County Com