Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-15
GENERAL EsENTMENTs
of the Grand Jury of Chatham Superior
Court, December Term. 1884.

OF the Grand Jury of Chatham Superior
Court, December Term. 1884.
We, the grand jury, at the close of our term
of service, make the following presentments
OF matters given us in charge by His Honor
Judge Adams, and those brought to our atten-
ton by the Solicitor General:
We have examined the books of the Ordi-
nary and Clerk of the Superior Court, and
find the books exceptionally well arranged
and kept. Especially SOILS it with the 0rdi-
nary'S Office. We find this office conducted
IN highly satisfactory manner. The minute
dOckeJs, estate account books and records of
the greatest Importance are handsomely kept.
me general system OF the Office and the great
lacllty with which the various duties are
performed are highly cOmmendable, and it is
to be regretted that this Office is so thoroughly
deficient in space and proper apartments for
the important books and records which are so
rapidly accommodating. We deem it but sim
pie justice to accord to Judge Hampton L.
FerrIll and to his very efficient clerk, Mr..
Philip NJ. Russell, Jr., full praise in the
premises.
Upon examination of the books of the
County Commissioners and the County
Treasurer, we find them to have been cor
rectly kept, and all papers and vouchers in
their offices IL perfect order.
TAX COLLECTOR AND TAN RECEIVER.
We have examined the books and records of
the State and County Tax Collector and find
the same correct; the books neatly and prop
CRY hGpls ll6 IcCOTuS anu papers IN SYSTEM
ATTIC order. Tor convenient reference. and the
general business of the office conducted in a
correct and business-like manner. We ind
the following amount of taxes collected up to
Jan. 3D. 1885,
ON account of county (generaD tax for the
year 1884, $50, 900.
On account Of State (generaD tax for the
year 1881 $55,372 GA.
On account of State (specific) LIQUOR tax for
1885, $4,000, showing the Collector well up in
Ills collection, and faithful discharge of o fiji
cial duties.
We have examined the tax digest for the
year 1884, the digest for 1885 not being vet
open, and find great cause for complaint in
the loose manner in which merchants return
their stock in trade. We find the returus in
some cases to be over 800 per cent. less than
they should be, and we call the special atten-
ton of the Receiver of Tax Returns and of
the grand jury at the March term Of this
court WhOs9 duty 1t viii be to make an eX-
animation of the new digest) to this fact, and
as far as may be, to devise ways and means to
correct the same.
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
The Committee on Public Roads have in
spected The highways of the county in a thor
Ough manner, and report them generally
without speclfylng) in bad order. In their
opinion the roads in many places need re-
building to such an extent that the work can
not be done by the ordinary road labor The
committee would therefore suggest that a
part OF the convict gang be detained under "A
competent oyerseeI TO rebuild the roads
where necessary, raising the grade, opening
bitches, putting IN GOOD trunks and doing
all work neccssa J to secure to the
people Ia the country easy means
Of Ingress and egress into and from the
city. Good roads are necessity if we desire
to sec the country improve. Without good
highways people cannot be induced to settle
on lands distant from the city. We under
stand that the County Commissioners have
had under consideration system of general
county Improvements IN connection with the
drainage system. This plan cOmDrehends
the preparation Of an accurate map Of the
county. made by actual survey, in which Will
be shown the public roads and bridges and
drainage canals. such map Will 1 { ihyalH-
uble. and we trust it viii be prepared without
delay. With such a map a system of pablo
improvements could be carried on intelli-
gently and effectively. The county has
large gang of COnvIcts, which, we would add,
en- PEASANT, can be lnCrea sed almost indeiin-
itely by recruiting from the hundreds of idlers
and Migrants that infest our city and ada
cent country. With this force under proper
supervision the county can be systematically
and thoroughly canaled, broad, well built
highways constructed, and the country from
the savannah to the Ogeechee made a garden
titled 10y q prosperous and healthy, and there
fore a happy people. This Is no fancy picture,
but a practical plan, which can be carried out
TO It's tulIilment IN less than a decade. Now
for details,
Augustn Poa6.-In general fair condition.
some OF the new work on the bridge has been
done in very inferior manner, and will have
LouisDtile Rodd.-In places almO It impassa-
BE, especially between the four and five mile
posts and between the seven and eight mile
posts, where there are two corduroy roads.
over which it is impossible to haul heavy
loads, and between the y and - mile posts,
where the road Is very low and covered with
water.
Ogeechee Road .-Having been examined
by the County Commissioners, and they being
about to have the necessary work done on the
causeways, we make no further report.
SkiddUdy ROdd.-Leading to the Isle of
Hope is in pretty fair order with the excep-
ton of the causeWay near the isle, which is
badly washed out, and unless attended to
soon will be impossible.
Pine BdfTe1 ROdd.-In fair order.
White Bur RoGd.-We recommend a sub
stantial railway be put on bridge at White
Bluff Church, aBd that a bridge be placed at
the culyert at the emile stone, the bridge to
be wider than the road as it now is, and Sc
cured by good railway.
0geecAee Gross RoGd3.-in good order.
Montgomery Gross ROddS.-in good order.
Nid9Le Ground R0dd.-Some low places
need attention.
We would especially recommend to the
County Commissioners, who have now in the
convict camp about ITO convicts, to detail
portion of them, under competent overseer,
to do such work on the roads as is now abso-
lutely necessary.
SPECIAL STATE LIQUOR TAX.
We have examined the hooks of the To Y