The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-26
GENERAL PREsENTMEN7
Of the Grand Jury OF the SSrlor
Court, March Term, 1873

for the March term, 1888, for latham
county, submit the following gFal pre-
sentiments:
Through our committee, selectfor their
fitness for the duties to be diSrged by
them. we have made an examiron OF the
books and records of the cou' officers,
and report the books of the Or,ary, Clerk
of Superior Court, Tax Collef, lax Re
ceiver, County Treasurer, Coui Commits
sioners and Sheriff, and find Mt excellent
system. neatness and corrects through
out and that in all cases VIE funds are
handled faithfully accountedor, with all
vouchers in order.
We have found the roadsid bridges of
the county in unusually goo1rder and re-
pair. with the exception of Ielfalr road
and the bridge across the 'eechee canal,
which should have immedis attention.
THE JAIL
We have carefully examd the building
and found the same in gooeondlUlon, with
the exception of some lit defects, which
can be remedied at a smallest. The heat
ing Arrangement is goodnd OF sufficient
capacity to keep the buing comfortable
during the coolest waatr. The lighting
and ventilation are good The floors, cells
and interior of the jails kept extremely
clean. The water clOsetas we are INFORM
ed by the deputy, are instantly getting
out Of order. For baing purposes the
supply of water is ampl0ut there Is no ar
rangement by which darge volume OF
water can be emptied AIT once in the soil
mines so as to afford a gular flushing or
securing that will reno all distractions,
and thereby add greaT to the sanitary
condition of the place. he galvanized iron
buckets used by the primers as commodeS,
in our opinion, are billy shaped, being
about inches high ans inches in diane
ter, and of uniform 81 from top 10 bot
tom. We think such )nveniences should
be at least IA to incts wide at the top.
The iron grating tothe window of the
lunatics' room is incure, and can be
wrenched out Of placpy strong patient.
The tacks used to fasti the paddlngs to the
walls of the room al not suitable. Inc
wooden doors to this Dom should be sub
stituted by iron one and constructed III
such way that the wtchman can see every
movement Of the unrtunate ones confined
therein.
We also recommeI that the main doors
to the upper floor ofhe building be of iron.
The castings to the lrge main windows are
exposed in such Wy that driving rains
can find lodgemet, and in short time
cause same to deca. We recommend that
the open spaces md cracks between the
window castings ad walls be neatly painted
with lime, mortar or cement, and that
jacket of some fir proof material be placed
over the furnace as a precautlon against
burning the wooden floors above. The in
mates appear tobe contented, have plenty
to eat, and are indy and humanely treated.
The books of 'ecord we found we'll and
neatly kept, ind the management of the
Jail, under Shrif Roman and his deputy,
deserving of ouch praise.
COURT HOUSE.
The necessity for a new court has been so
often urgedby preceding grand juries that
we can only repeat their suggestions, that
steps be taken to secure some ac-
ton in hatdirection. The possibility of dis
posing of the present premises to the United
States Government having now been def
nitely settled TO the contrary, and as re-
CARDS the obtaining of a site on the Old
Cemetery lot, t. present status of affairs
indicates that any effort in that direction
would only insure prolonged delay,
and probably expensive and protracted
litigation, as determined opposition has been
developed on the part of very many citi-
sens; therefore, we are induced to recon-
mend that the present site be retained and
hat the present structure be remodeled, OF
a new court house built that will afford
the necessary accommodations to the State
and city courts and their officials; a build
ing worthy the Importance of our growing
,ity and county. We therefore suggest and
to the County Commissioners,
Or others in whom the authority may be
vested, to take immediate steps to have the
improvements made.
MAGISTRATES.
The grand jury of the February term,
having examined the books and records of
he Magistrates only few weeks ago, and
As only a small amount of business was re-
1orted done since then, we consider it use
ess for said books to be examined by us
again.
coNvICTs AND CONVICT CAMPS.
We have examined the two convict camps
# the county, one located permanently on
he poor farm, recently purchased by the
'ounty, the other west of the Ogeechee
anal, and near the Augusta road. We
ind the grounds to be we'll kept and the
enceS and buildings whitewashed, but find
hat the houses used for a hospital and
emale convicts in the camp situated on the
ooor farm unfit for said purposes. They are
BADLY constructed, too open for the COM
orts of the inmates do not afford protec-
lon from the rains or cold winds. We
recommend that the walls and floors of
hese buildings be made tight, and that they
Do provided with sufficient windows to in
sure proper ventilation. And we also
recommend that the building used as a
hospital be partitioned so as to separate the
male and female patients. The other build
ngs are well adapted to the purposes for
which they are used. Under the present
arrangements we find that the County
visits the camps only twice a
week. We recommend that daily visits be
made to permanent camp, so as to insure
proper medical treatment, as the occupants
81 this camp number over 100 The water
.upply of this camp is inadequate for the
demands of the camp, and we do therefore
recommend that an artesian we'll
be bored for the necessary supply of pure
water, The rations are good in quality aid
4 sHI1lclent In quantity, and properly cooked.
Inc records are systematically and neatly
Kept Among the convicts we found one
coiored male convict, who was sent to the
;naln-gang for vagrancy. He is harmless
lll9eclle, totally unfit to perform any labor,
ana is not fit subject for convict camp.
" " 70 visited the site intended by the County
commissioners for the poor farm, but find
nothng done in the way Of improving the
same, except fence around the premises.
NO preparation has vet been made tor the
erection Of buildings to accommodate the
paupers of the county and TO carry out the
.untehSon OF the purchase. We would,
~ erelore, recommend that the buildings be
u once erected. In connection with the
~sork OF the chain-gang, it may be proper
Tor US to state that we find for the last five
~ years that the county has paid about
'l1ty-seven thousand (s67, 900 dollars in
ba hnif hat