The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-12
GENERAL PkESENTM aNTS

GENERAL PKEsENTMa
OF the Grand Jury of the Superior
Court, June Term, 1888.
We. the grand jury for the June torn of
the superior court of Chatham county, sub
NIT the following general prcsentnents;
In order to the more thorough examina-
ton of the several matters given Us III
charge, our body was divided into special
committees, selected with reference to their
fitness for that particular work.
COURT HOUSE.
We respectfully submit that we can but
confirm the action of our predecessors
engaged IN the same work. The growth OF
our city, and the consequent increase of
legal business, demand more room and have
rendered the present building inadequate
for the purposes for which it is used. There
is not single office down stairs or up stairs
IN any way proportioned to the necessities
of their department.
The records, especially, need greater &c
commOdation, and they are Of such vast i'm
portance that prompt attention should be
paid to them.
There are no offices for tho judges, to sit
in chambers, when the court is not in ses-
sion. The judge should be provided with
All OlllCt. Inc Judges UeuCu Is a ulAoCl dbAO
cramped up seat.
There is no room i'll the court room to &C
commodate the attorneys properly.
The ventilation is abominablo There
is only one jury room for the two grand
Juries and two petit juries, all on duty at
the same time. The offices of the sheriff
have to be put into requisition, and the
grand jurors must alternate in their SEES
sions. so as not to collide. The want of de-
cent conveniences is simply shocking.
We do not think it is desirable TO move
the court house from its present site, but we
believe, that by making use of the room at
their command, the county commissioners
can erect building in every way suitable
and ample for all purposes.
We, therefore, demand from the county
commissioners some action looking to-
ward relief from this unreasonable condi-
ton of affairs, and we urge them to move
promptly in the matter of providing more
accommodation for the needs Of the city
and county.
We have carefully examined the Jail
building and surroundings and find the
same in good condition. We would recon-
mend that iron doors be substituted for the
wooden ones in the luuatiCs' room and the
upper floor of the main building. We also
recommend that water closet be placed in
the jail yard. We find the jail clean and
i'll good sanitary condition and the prisoners
are made as comfortable as circumstances
will permit. The inmates have plenty of
good wholesome food and are kindly treated
by the sheriff and his assistants.
PUBLIC ROADS.
We find the Skdaway shell road in very
good order The White Bluff road
for the first three miles from the
city is very sandy and requires
additional shells The Louisville and
Augusta roads are good, although showing
no signs of work thereon in the near past.
The bridges are passable and in no case
dangerous. We have examined the Middle
ground road for ~ miles and find it in
good order. The Ogeechee road is in good
order, except some holes and few wash
outs on either side of the road, about five
miles from the city. The foot of the hill
at Battery park needs filling; also between
two and three miles from the city also re-
quires filling. The Ogeechee bridge needs
small repairs
We have examined the books of the sheriff,
clerk of Superior court, receiver of tax re-
turns, tax collector, ordinary and treasurer,
and find them TO be correct, and kept in a
neat and business-ike manner. The treas
urer produced prorer vouchers for all
amounts paid out. The papers in the other
offices seem to be In good shape and very
accessible
CONVICT CAMPS.
Wehave inspected the convict camps and
found everything in good condition The
prisoners quarters, hospital and commits
sary departments, and also the grounds,
were well kept. All the buildings and
fences had been whitewashed and the camps
presented a clean and healthy appearance.
In the hospital department there were
w fhraa D1siGpparG siox aud fbaU
properly cared for. We also Wis
tied the prisoners at work on
the canal, at the Vale Royal
plantation. From conversation with the
prisoners, and their healthy appearance,
we think they are well fed and properly
treated. As regards the work generally. it
is permanent in its character, and we can
not estimate too highly its Importance to
the city and county.
BOOKS OF THE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
We have examined the books of the jus
tices of the peace and find them all TO be
kept in proper form, correct and satisfac-
tory.
NOTARY PUBLIC AND EX-oFFICIo JUSTICE
OF THE PEACE.
We respectfully recommend for APP
pointment the following applicants:
First Distrirt-Lewis B. f 1dres
Second Dstrict-Waring Russell, Jr.
Fourth District-Sigmund Elsnger.
Fifth District-M. n DeLettre.
Sixth District-James T: Buckner
Seventh District-McLeod King.
Eighth Dstrict-Van R. Wiukler.
In closing our report we return thanks to
his honor Judge Adams for his able and i'm
pressive charge. Our thanks are also due
to Solicitor General duBignon and Acting
Solicitor Fraser for courtesies. We also
commend Mr.. A. j. Franklin for efficiency
and promptness. Finally, we recommend
that this report be published in each of the
daily papers.
SAMUEL P. HAMILTON, Foreman.
FRANK w. DAsHER, Secretary.
FRANCIS J. MCCALL.
PETER J. HOBART.
STEELE MICA. WHITE.
THOMAS BALLANTYNE
JOHN d. WELD.
T. n THEUs.
THOMAS HALLIGAN.
JAS. 5. SILVA.
JOSEPH Z. FULTON.
SAMUEL MEINHARD.
JOHN NELL.
JOHN w. BURROUGHs.
ANDREW MCCORMICK.
AUGUSTUS q. GUERARD.
J. w. FRETwELL.
ISAAC EPSTEIN.
IL is ordered that the foregoing general
prescntments be published in each OF the
daily papers
In open court, July II, 1888.
A. 7. ADAMS, Judge s. G.
ET i r1UllTCNnN