The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-19
CONVICTS In NEW HANDS.
MAI. BLANDFoRD PUT IN CHARGE
OF THE CoUNTY'S FORCES.

The Commissioner Attention Called
to the Way in Which the County
Drainage is Being Done-A Division
OF the Work Of the Two Engineers
Made-A New Order OF Things in the
| Camps.
The county commissioners held an ad-
| journed meeting at the court house yester-
day afternoon ct 4 o'clock. Chairman
Walker and Commissioners Read, Estill
and Smart were present.
The first matter considered was the drain
age of Dundee swamp. County Engineer
Thomas submitted report on the canal and
the danger which might accrue against the
county in the way of drainage suits from
the flooding Of the lands by the improper
use Of the foodgates in time of heavy rains.
A general discussion between Commits
sioners Estill, Read, Smart. County Attor-
ney Saussy, Engineer Thomas and
Typographical Engineer Blandford, fol-
lowed about sluice-ways, trunks,
foodings, etc. The opinions differed mate
rally and brought forth a statement from
Commissioner Estill that there seemed to be
conflict of authority about the carrying
on Of the work Of the Dundee canal. Maj.
DiauulOTO anu OOuuJy Engineer l0OUdS
didn't seem to agree, and Commissioner
Estill wanted the drainage work turned
over entirely TO Maj. Blandford. Engineer
Thomas had plenty of work, he said, to at
tend to 10 looking after the roads, ana he
should attend to that alone. At the
same time, In Commissioner Estilis opinion,
the committee positions of Commissioners
Smart and Read should be reversed, the
former put in charge OF the roads and the
latter in charge Of the drainage
Commissioner Estill said he understood
from reports that Engineer Thomas had
not been looking after the work very
closely.
Engineer Thomas replied that the reports
were wrong, and Commissioner Estill said
he had heard Commissioner Smart say so
some time ago.
Commissioner Smart didn't exactly re-
member having made such statement but
finally admitted that he might have left
his brother commissioner under that inn
preston.
Commissioner Estill didn't believe the
work was being properly conducted. He had
gons over the ground and had found
that some OF the piling had been put down
wrong. One OF the piles had to be cut in
half In order to conform to the line. He
did not know whose fault it was, but he did
know that such a way of doing business
costs the county money. It is much better
for the man who made the plans to super
intend the work than to give the orders to
another engineer, who, In turn, gives his
orders TO some one else. Col. Estill then
moved that Maj. Blandford be put In charge
OF the entire drainage system of the county,
and have the right TO employ an assistant,
whose salary should be fixed by the board
the board to be in complete control of the
entire work. This was unanimously adop-
ted.
Commissioner Read wanted the board to
get excavatlng machinery to dig out the
Casey canal. At the present rate Of work.
ing by hand twelve men are required to re-
move cubic yard of earth, and two could
do it by machinery. No action was taken
In the matter as Commissioner Estill sug-
gested that the board pay a visit to the
place and see what is going on before ap-
propriating any money for the purpose. He
is Ia favor Of Commissioner Reads idea, but
wanted to look over the ground before act
ing.
Commissioner Estill called the boards at
tention to the fact that able-bodied convicts
are being used In cultivating q vegetable
garden at Brampton instead Of building tho
drainage canal. Only women, sick convicts
and boys should do the light work. Mai.
Blandford wasinstructed to notify the chief
Of the convict guard not to use able bodied
convicts In raising crops.
Under the motion Of Commissioner EstilI
which was adopted, Maj. Blandford will
have charge Of the entire convict force and
will apportion to Engineer Thomas the
necessary number OF men to his road and
bridge work.