Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-10
THE COUNTY'S AFFAIRS.
DRAINAGE OF THE LOWLANDS
SOUTH OF THE CITY.

Once-The Status of the school Fund
to be Inquired Into With a View to In
creasing the school Facilities of the
COunty-The Need of County Poor
House and Farm.
The County Commissioners discussed a
number OF very important measures at
their December meeting yesterday Inc
drainage question is one that has been
given a good deal Of attention, ana lhe
carrying out OF the plans which the COM
missioners have formulated viii result
not only in retaining and developing
vast area Of swampy and untillable lands,
but in improving the sanitary condltloh
of the city and its suburbs, and in TACT OF
the entire county.
The convict force which has been at
work at Isle OF Hope and Beaulieu was
divided Yesterday. A force OF 80 convicts
was sent to the Ogeechee road to rebuild
the causeways and repair the damage
caused by the recent storms, leaving ~
convicts still at Isle Of Hope. These Will
be put to work at once to complete the
drainage of the lowlands south and south
west of the city, which was suspended
last summer on account Of the great
quantity OF water in some places prevent
ing the force from working in that sec
tioh, and in opening the W alters ROAD 10
the Montgomery cross roads.
DRAINAGE OF THE SUBURBS.
The plan of draining the southern
suburbs was the subject OF consider
able discussion. Commissioner Estlil
urged that the work be resumed at
once Immediately south OF the city. Com
missioner Casey wanted to start about
four miles from the city on the Harmon
place, on the White Bluff road, and work
north so as TO drain that section OF the
county as WELL His plan is to bring the
drainage towards the city, making an
outlet into the canal below where he pro-
poses to begin the work. After some dis
cusslon the following resolution, offered
by Commissioner Estill, was adOpted
Resot5ed, That the Committee on Drainage
be. and it is hereby requested, 70 resume the
work of improving and draining the sWamps
and low lands lying in the southern ana south
western suburbs. and the lands adjacent
thereto, at the earliest possible day; ana tnht
the committee be also requested TO aetall
part of the chain gang to open the waters
road to the Montgomery cross roads.
The work will be begun at once, and
will include, besides the drainage of the
low lands Immediately south OF the city,
the work on the Springfield plantation
canal and Musgroye creek.
Commissioner EstiI offered a resolution
90 appoint committee OF two to inquire
into the status of the common or free
school fund, which is invested in securi-
ties and amounting to $4,000, and to see
IL the same cannot be used for the pur-
pose of increasing the school facilities OF
the county. The motion was carried, and
Commissioners Estill and Dorsett were
appointed 10 take the matter in hand.
The practicabiIity OF organizing
county home or farm for the poor an
institution similar to those maintained
In other counties was generally discussed.
NEKD OF HoMB FOR THE POOR.
Commissioner Dorsett, Of the special
committee appointed some time ago to
examine into the matter and report as to
the practicability Of organizing such
charity, submitted detailed report OF
the committees Investigations, which was
adopted. The county has been raising
annually IS, 100, which has been disbursed
as follows: To the Georgia Infrmary
$500, TO the st. Joseph's lnfirmary
$500, to the city hospital $1,000, and to the
county poor 5000. The latter amount is
divided among large number Of beneh-
Charles in sums ranging from 81 80 to s.
per month. The presumption Is that 1t is
all worthily bestowed. The efforts made
10 guard against imposition warrant this
presumption. The conviction is irresisti-
bic, however, that while these sums
are gladly received and in
measure benefit the recipients
greater results can be obtained by an
aggregation Of the amount and its judici-
Gus expenditure. The committee re ached
The conclusion that the wisest way of
using the funds is to bring the poor to-
gether into one place, so that the fund
may be made to purchase as much as
possible for their comfort and mainten-
ance. The committee concluded that this
can be done best on a home or farm,
such as is successful and satisfactorily
maintained in other communities.
POOR HOUSES IN OTHER COUNTIES.
The committee was in correspondence
for several months with other cities and
counties. MuscOgee county apprOpriates
$1,000 per annum 10 support a home
which shelters. feeds, and clothes 50 in
mates, besides issuing ratiOns TO many
outsiders. Bib county also appropriates
5000 per annum for home which sup
ports upon an average 10 inmates. The
females in this home make all the cloth
Ing for the county chain-gang. New
Orleans numbers among its many chari-
table institutions a home OF this kind,
which shelters 1T inmates at per capita
cost OF 20 cents per day.
All Of these institutions have sufficient
land for cultivation, aud on which is
raised all the fruit, vegetables, poultry,
etc. "With Chatham county such an In
sutution," the committee suggested,
s'might be located on the salts, where fish,
crab, shrimp aud oysters would assist in
giving maintenance TO its inmates" Our
Inquiries" the committee goes on TO say,
t'lead TO the conclusion that the founding
Of such a house is not only practicable,
but 1t is emlnently wise and necessary.
We recommend that such action he had
at once as 10 necessary to take the in
1uatiye steps In this matter, in order that
a home for the poor under county aus
pices be speedily founded"
A communication from Alderman Dun
can, chairman OF the City Council Health
and Cemetery Committee, stated that the
committee had submitted to the Council
the County COmmissioners' proposition 10
pay annually $500 FOR medicines furnished
from the City Dispensary for the relief OF
the county poor, and that IL was rejected.
Clerk Dillon was instructed to reply 10
the communication tnat the County Com
missioners will not approve any bills
against the county for medicines fur
nished from the dispensary except on the
terms submitted TO the Council, namely,
the payment OF 5000 per year.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
The Tax Collector was instructed TO
open at once a record OF all defaulting tax.
H.