The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-05
TIE MINIS SWAMP DAMAGE.
The Progress OF the Work., ooC
Acres Of Land to to Reclaim ed by l.

Acres Of Land to DO Reclaimed By Il.
The Minis swamp drainage is progressing
favorably under the constant attention and
close supervision Of County Engineer
Thomas
This important work Of drainage, which
has already done 50 much for the sanitation
OF the city and county, and the final CON-
pletion Of which will do much more to i'm
prove the healtbfulness Of our people, and
reclaim. directly and indirectly, 1000
acres OF land, wes begun three years
ago with force OF about thirty men from
! the convict camp. Very little was done
the first year. About one-fourth OF a mile
Of the present Minis swamp canal was dug
from Musgroye creek south through
the city property in the southern portion Of
the Springfield plantation.
The work was again taken up In 1888,
with force OF forty convicts. and three
fourths Of a mils, of the canal was partly
dug in southeasterly direction when the
water drove them out of the swamp. The
swamp was flooded by the heavy rainfall.
No work was done in the swamps last
year, the force being engaged on the Vale
Royal canal and branches west of the city.
1t the latter part of January the work
was again taken up by force Of seventy
convicts, and the most favorable progress
was made. The work already done has so
well relieved the territory Of water that no
matter how heavy the rainfall there will be
no Inconvenience to the men, and the drain
age work need not be suspended or even de-
layed.
A MORNING NEWS reporter took drive
along the line of drainage with Engineer
Thomas yesterday and found the greater
portion OF the force engaged in digging
small branch from Southovar junction in a
southwe3terly direction to the Minis canal "a
distance of nearly one-haf a mile. By the
| early part OF next week the lateral drain
and auxiliary bitches will have been COM
pleted.
Next week the force will begin the ditch
ing of the Ryals branch, which begins 300
feet south of the Springfield back dam on
the Minis land, and runs in q southerly di-
rection, crossing the Ogeechee road near the
three-mile post. This branch will be ~
miles in length, aud as the grubbing will be
extensive and heavy it Is estimated by Mr..
Thomas that it will require from two
and one-half to three months TO finish
IL. A force Of mon is now cutting the
right Of way and stalking off the lines.
The tents are being set up on DR.. Millen's
place, which will not be more than an av-
erage Of one-eighth of a mile distant from
the work. When the Ryals branch is dug
it will complete the Minis swamp drainage.
The canal will be 18 feet wide at the top,
with slope Of l "a feet horizontal to l foot
vertical, and averaging feet in depth, &C
cording to grade, and il the landowners
construct the necessary small lateral bitches
through their lands leading to the Minis
canal and branches, an acreage of not less
tnan 1900 acres Of the best agricultural
lands Of the county will be reclaimed.
The opinion is general that something
mnst be done with the cattle which daily
damage the canals and bitches. One gentle
uran, whose attention was drawn to a cow
crossing the canal, said: "A fifteen-dollar
pennyroyal COW can do $500 damage to the
canals in less than a week, and the county
commissioners ought to go before the legis-
lature at its next session and secure some
legislation to prevent this damage from
continuing, as it must do if some relief is
not obtained"
After a drive along the Minis swamp
work the Stevenson road was visited. This
was constructed by Hesser's gang from
camp No. l. It Is an excellent piece Of
work, and the prettiest road in the county.
1t Is one mile long, thirty feet width of
roadway, and fifty feet including roadway,
side bitches and bermes. 1t connects the
White Bluff she'll road with the Waters
road, and will prove to be a great accom-
mediation to the country people.
Another cross country road is pressingly
needed connecting the White Bluff shell
road with the Ogeechee road, distance of
two and one-half miles, and Mr.. Thomas
estimates that forty men could complete it
in two and one-half months.
A road is being opened through the
center OF the county farm, connecting the
Waters road with the Isle of Hope road. 1t
is TO be known as the intermediate town
ship road" and will be one and one-quarter
miles long and of the same width and
finish as the Stevenson road. The inter-
mediate road has all been cleared off and
the greater portion of it grubbed out. 1t
lies just south of camp No. 1. Ground was
broken Feb. l, and force of forty con-
victs are at work on it, and il is estimated
that it will be completed by May /.
After drive over the Stevenson road
and over q portion Of the intermediate road
the camp was visited. Everything looked
neat and clean, and there are but two ailing
convicts. one colored man having come to
to the camp with dropsy, after Jail confne-
ment, and one colored woman was brought
to the camp in poor health.
Ihero are sixty-eight convicts at this
camp, OF whom four are white men, and
there are sixteen colored women, the other
convicts being colored males. The sanitary
condition Of the buildings and grounds is
good, and ell the bedding was out for sun
and air.
There are about forty acres under cult
walton on the county farm, 10 acres in corn,
90 in oats, 5 in potatoes and the remainder
in vegetables. The freeze of Saturday and
Sunday nights killed the peas and the
tomato plant bed, but that is the extent of
the damage
The commissioners are clearing up and
laying off into small tracts Of land portion
A. r. T. l.
to cultivation, is expected to meet with a
ready demand.