The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-15
APOLOGIES FOR HIGHWAYS.
That is What the Grand Jury Says Of
Chatham COulty'S Roads.

Asvlum-The Schools Need Better
veptilation-The Grand Jury on the
vsnce Law-Some Indictments Found
several Motions overruled in the
City Court.
The superior court grand jury wound
nm its business yesterday, made its
General p1esentments and closed up shop
for the term.
The presentments made show that they
have given all the public works to which
thew have turned their attention a
thorough inspection, and their recon-
mendations will certainly carry weight
with them They have examined the
county offices, the public schools, the
county Jail, the Chain-gangs, and camps
the drainage and roads and bridges of
the county and where improvement was
needed they have not hesitated to say so.
They report the books of the county
officers correctly and neatly kept, abut
refer to the fact that some taxpayers
who made Incorrect returns were required
to appear and make corrections.
The public schools they reported gener-
q
The Massie and Barnard street schools
thev said needed better ventilation in the
rooms and more attention paid to SANTA
ton around the sinks and sewers in the
buildings. The Henry, street St. Pat
rick's, and the East Broad street colOred
schools are badly crowded and need add
tons in order to accommodate the chill
dren. Additions to the East Broad street
school are now being made.
They complain about the doors of all
the schools opening inward, which is dan
gerous in case of fire. The school enrll
ment presented, shows 6,970 pupils for
1892 and I, lib for 1898, an increase of 143.
No white applicants have ever been
turned away when application was made,
but such has been the case with about
1000 colored children, for whom school
accommodations could not be provided.
LUNATICs IN THE JAIL.
The grand jury reports the physical
and sanitary condition OF the jail as ex-
Cellent. makes no complaint on this score
whatever, and in fact commends the
manner in which it has been kept
The jury has something TO say, how
ever, about the three men recently found
TO be lunatics by the ordinary's jury, and
who are now confined in the Jail In this
they strike at the state officials-that is,
the legislature. The jurors say that per-
sons bereft of reason should have better
accommodations and receive better atten-
ton than can be shown within the jail.
Economy is misused and misapplied,"
say the grand jurors. ION the part of the
legislators, that prevents sufficient en-
largement of the state institute to
accommodate all who are in need of its
care"
They complain, too, of two young boys
who are confined in the Jail and who are
allowed to associate with the old and har-
dened criminals. Under these circum-
stances they think their punishment will
be of no benefit to them.
AS to the court house, the grand fury
says its plastering seems to have been i'm
perfectly done, and should be examined
by an expert The window sills are loose,
and the electric lights not properly adj
justed.
They do not complain of the condition
OF the county convict camps, but say they
need better ventilation 1t is recon-
mended that during the summer the con
vets be given two or three hours for din
ner, as was formerly the custom, instead
OF one hour as at present.
ONLY APOLOGIES FOR HIGHWAYS.
The roads and bridges of the county
seem to be to the grand jurors bette noir.
Nothing but apologies for highways, is
what they say of them.
The speaking of some of them they say
they are in good condition and then
qualify the remark by the statement that
they mean in good condition only by com
parison with others which are not what
they ought to be. The Skidaway road
seemed to them to be in a very bad condi-
ton, They urged the commissioners to
hasten the building of the new road with
the $1,000 appropriation made for the pur-
pose, as the present road is complained of
almost daily by the citizens living out at
the Isle Of Hope. They saylfurther that
the majority of the bridges in the coun-
ty need repair
In reference to the condition of these
roads, says the reports, the comparison is
made simply as one against the other
Ihey are all only apologies for highways
10 large city, scarcely more than clear
ing through the forest.n Some of the
reads are impossible in rainy weather.
Ihey go on to say that the tax payers
Had hopes that the implements bought at
the expense of s., 900 would give an inpe-
Jus to road building in the county, but
Lhey have been used on only two unim-
portant roads.
The county it seems is badly sup
Pned with material for road covering,
Out the best should be done with what
can be had. The clay, they say, is a
good material and should be used
II the roads of country are correct
IeSJ OF the extent of its civilization, what
must III be that of Chatham cOunty2" is
'uelr parting shot.
CATTLE SHOULD BE BIPoUNDED.
The grand jurors do not agree with the
oIIllenS who cast their ballots at the re-
0e lIIt election in favor of fence law.
g 1hey have looked into the situation and
iIu mat the important work of drainage
La las oeen so interfered with by the tramp
H III OF cattle. The most practical remedy,
ILneS say IS the establishment of a state
Low law requiring that cattle be fenced in,
t oIC Che voters of the county refused to
SaAe mat action, and they now urgently
commend that the Representatives and
IendJors IN the general assembly take in
H I'D This matter so vital to the health of
ene community and that they pass
special law directing the
iinLnpounding of all cattle found trespass-
als on the canals and drains of the county
G GrI mat the owners of the cattle be made
Hdole Tor any damage done
m. Ter extending their thanks to Judge
"a lllgant, Solicitor General Fraser, and
OJIuer officers of the court, the grand jury
NJ urned for the term. Mai Geo. A.
M w ;nIIehead was foreman of the jury du-
ring the term.
In the Superior Court.
Inc grand jury in the superior court
t 5s The following indictments yester-