Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-19
COUNTY FINANCES.

cred by us, in accordance with the charge of
he court:
COUNTY FINANCES.
We find that the County Treasurer has now
On hand some forty three thousand lS4S0O0l
dollars, and Will receive from the Tax Col
ector about ten thousand 100000 dollars
additional, making iftY-three thousand dol
lars lS5s, 000), which amount, we are informed,
will be sufficient to meet the demands upon
the county until the taxes for this year shall
We have examined and approve the esti-
mate Of expenses for the fiscal year ending
IS, 1855, amounting TO one hundred
and six thousand four hundred and fifty dol
lars (Sl06.450), submitted by the County
Commissioners, and recommend It's adoption.
The increase in the estimates for this year
over the last Is caused mainly by the in
creased expenses Of our courts, which the
Commissioners cannot control, all other
items remaining nearly the same as were re-
commended by the grand jury of last spring
term.
All the books and accounts presented for
our examination were found TO be correct.
We recommend that the County Treasurer, IN
addition TO his daily cash book, keep book IN
which the amounts paid out shall be posted
under their different heads, 50 that II can be
ascertained without much trouble how much
each item of the estimated expenses has cost
the county for the year. This viii enable any
future grand jury to act more intelligently
on any estimate submitted by the Commits
sioners for their approval. and also serve as
check on the general management OF the
county finances.
COUNTY OFFICES.
The Offices Of Clerk Of the Superior Court,
Ordinary, County Commissioners. Sheriff, Re-
ceiyer of Tax Returns and Tax Collector
have been carefully examined and found
to be correctly and intelligently administered
Neat, systematic and orderly arrangement Of
books, records. papers, etc, is noticeable IN
all Of these Offices, and their management de
serves our commentator. The room occupied
by the Tax Collector is entirely too small for
the business Of his Office. The public conYe-
nience requires more room for that office,
and the public interest better facility for the
preservation of his records. We think some
plan FOR arriving at falr Valuation OF prop
erty for taxation Is very much needed in
Chatham county, and we commend that sub
ject to the thoughtful consideration of our
Representatives in the General Assembly.
MAGISTRATES BOOKS.
The books of all the Magistrates Of this
comfy have been carefully and diligently
examined and found to be correctly kept.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
We have made a thorough examination of
the county jail as regards its management,
its sanitary and structural condition.
The system of management maugurated by
the County Commissioners charged by law
with the control Of its Jail, appears to be wise
~ designed in respect to the safe keeping of
prisoners, and clear record Of their recep-
ton and disposal.
The taller and his deputies show commend
able appreciation of their responsibilities ana
duties. The food and clothing distributed are
ample and OF good quality.
Separate quarters are provided for the male
and female prisoners.
The attention of the County Commissioners
is earnestly called to the following unsanitary
condition of the jail which, if remedied at
once. may prevent sickness and save expense
to the county:
First. Two (2) tanks on second floor used for
flooding sewage pipe running through the
cells are in bad order.
Second. new metal leader or soil pipe is
needed on the south side of the building, con-
Meeting doors from cells to main sewer in the
yard.
Third. Covers are needed for sewer trap or
grating. Also a cover for the man hole open
ing into the sewer in the yard.
We would also suggest that a continuous
flow of water be made to pass through the
sewerage pipes of the cells during the summer
months, and provision be made to heat the
building in winter; that the privies be changed
into water closets. and that prisoners not suf-
liciently clothed to hide their nakedness should
not be employed about the premises in sight of
visitors. Attention was pOlntedly directed by
our predecessors to the need OF comfortable
acc mmOdatiOn for insane persons and luna
ties temporarily confined in jail. The COun-
ty Commissioners have given that subject
earnest consideration, and have taken steps to
provide Immediately for such insane persons
as may be temporarily conGded to their care
necessary comforts, two rooms in the southwest
portion of the building.
We recommend that the iron roof of the
main building. now cOrroding, be painted at
once. That all the interior walls of the Jail
enclosure be at once whitewashed.
We heartily indOrse the sentiment eX-
pressed in the appended extract from the
presentments of our predecessors:
Following in the footsteps of many pre-
ceding grand juries we condemn our county
Jail as disgrace to civilization, and we re
commend that no time be lost in building a
new one. The site selected by the County
Commissioners near the Police Barracks in
this city seems to Us -eminently the best
that could have been chosen Tor the purpose
An actual examination OF the site mentioned
in the above extract FULLY confirms the
opiniOn expressed of its suitableness. and,
without cOntroverting the right of the city
Council to decline the equitable proposals OF
the County Commissioners Tor the purchase OF
tins eminently proper location, we believe
that the same or greater objections raised
by property owners ana residents living near
the Police Barracks, would be made by
property holders at any point IN the city limits,
and certainly with greater reason In those
parts where the greatest improvements are
b ing made; and to locate the jail at remote
distance from constabulary and military ana,
without an adequate local guard for its pro-
lection, would be imprudent. With this view
Of the needs of the county, whose interests are
identical with those of the city. we regret that
the Commissioners have been delayed IN pro
-
hope they may vet succeed in obtaining this
the most eligible site for a county jail inside
of the city limits.
We have inspected the court house, and
found the several rooms occupied by the
county offices in as good order as could be eN
pected. considering their cramped condition
and the volume of business transacted in
them. More room is absolutely needed, and
while we sympathize with the county offices
working at a disadvantage and crowded two,
and sometimes three. in a room, transacting
their diversified business, we cannot suggest
remedy, as there Is no available space IN the
building for improvement
We find the court rooms, and rooms ada
cent. used for jury duty, in good order, and
the halls, passages and the yard In cleanly
condition.
the Superior Court of late years has been
called to the need of improvement of the
county court house, in order to secure more
room for the transaction of the courts and
county officials, better ventilation and better
accommodation for the Judge and jurles. To
this subject we have given serious atten-
ton. and have examined several sketches of
plans for the Improvement OF the court house.
These plans involve the remOdeling of the
exterior and interior Of the present structure,
and while they would improve its appear
ance and give the needed accommodations
and conVenienCes. could not be carried out
with a less expenditure than forty thousand
100000 dollars, an expense which could
not be borne by the county in its present
and its immediate prospective financial con-
ditiOn The construction of an annex and the
utilization of the space on the east side of the
building was considered. such an improve
ment, giving only temporary relief,
would probably cost from twelve TO
fifteen thousand dollars, and this would be a
comparatively small amount for needed ac-
Communications and could be readily raised by
the Commissioners were 1t not for the fact
that the estimate for county expenses Tor the
ensuing year are very heavy, and, besides, the
construction of an annex would involve the
removal of the entire rear of the present
structure. and unless built in harmony with
architectural designs of contemplated i'm
prOvements, or new edlhce, would nave In
time to be altered or removed altogether
While we are not able to report fayorably
on extensive improvements To the court house
and involving heavy expense, we can with
propriety recommend some minor improve
ments and which can be made at a small eX
pense, and we suggest, first; That large
yentilatOr be placed in the ceiling of the
Superior Court room, and that the windows
of the same be heightened and wldened.
Second, That if practicable rooms adjacent
to the court house be leased so as to relieve
the offices on the lower floor of the building.
and to provide quarters IN proximity to the
court house for the Judge and Solicitor Gene
raj of the Superior Court,
COUNTY ROADS.
The various county roads have been exam
med by our committee. We report the Au-
gusta road in good condition, showing proper
care on the part Of the Commissioners of that
district We find the Louisville road in
wretched condition. No work appears to have
been done on this road during the past season.
The former grand jury having reported this
road in bad condition. and no attention hav
ing been paid to it since. we feel constrained
to present the Commissioners of this road for
neglect of duty. We are pleased to report the
Ogeechee road in fair condition, except the
causeway at the emile post, and the road be-
vond The Middle Ground road we report in
fair order. but it is entirely too narrow for
public highway. The Waters road from Thun-
derbOt Toll Gate to Sacks place, appears to
be in pretty fair order, except a few holes
near Lovers Lane. The bitches need clean
ing out. and the road should be widened. 1t is