The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-20
A NEW CONVICT CAMP.
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Dr.
CIDa IN ITS FAVO9.


Louisa Porter Bome May Take
Charge of the County FoOr-Other
County Matters.
The county commissioners In making up
their budget yesterday decided to appro-
pirate s., 900 for the construction OF new
permanent convict camp TO take the place
of the present camp No. !. The proposed
site for the new camp IS six miles south of
the city near the Montgomery cross-road.
The vote on the appropriation was a close
one, being 5 to ,, Commissioners Dale and
Chaplin voting against it.
Commissioner Charlton has been working
for some time to secure the appropriation.
1t has bsen long needed and at the meeting
yesterday he read q letter from
County Engineer Blandford in re-
gard to the insuaiciency of the camp aud
It's miserable sanitary condition, from
which the following is s1 extract;
BAD STATE OF AFFAIRS.
THE only outlet for the sewage of the
camp is into the old Casey canal, and the
nearest point of this canal to the camp and
for some distance below is over 200 feet
within the park limits When the new
canal is constructed the flow Of the water in
the old will be comparatively 30 little that
times render il offensive and a nuisance.
"The location OF the several buildings is
badly planned. They are all lily con-
structed and uncomfortable, particularly
the barracks for the prisoners and the
stable for the animals. If two
thirds of the present number Of prisoners
on the gang were concentrated there the
barracks would be inadequate 60 house
them without uuhealthful crowding. Tne
stable for the animals IS much worse COM
parauvely than the barracks When first
constructed it was a wretched excuse for n
stable. The oven Of the kitchen Is
broken and will have TO be rebuilt as well
as the kitchen. The drain for the sewage
is open. 1t should be pipe. All the build
ings as well as the stockade walls are in
more or less dilapidated condition, and If
this site is made the permanent camp, it
will have to be remodeled, enlarged and re-
built in a very short time
Then followed O statement from Maj.
Blandford proposing a new site for per-
manent camp, and stating what should be
its dimensions and facilities as we'll as ex-
psnse OF construction.
a WARN DISCUSSION.
A great deal has been said about the I'M
healthful condition of the present camp, as
we'll as its uucleanliness and bad sanitary
condition, but the fact that some Of the
commissioners were opposed 30 creating any
spirited discussion over the matter
at will be seen from these letters" said
DR.. Charlton, when he had finished reading
them, that the camp is not only in a
dilapidated condition, but that It is in-
sufficient for the uses to which
it must necessarily be put. The proposed
new camp will cost, approximately, S., 200,
and in my opinion something must be done
at once. This building cannot be remodeled
and used as a camp. 1t is not in a good
sanitary condition, and / would be unwill-
ing to let my dog live there"
Commissioners Chaplin aud Carson
thought the camp ought to be kept in a
clean condition.
Those convicts would not keep any place
clean said Commissioner Chaplin. Theu
followed long discussion about the drain
age Of the Bnckhalter swamp aud the neces-
sity Of establishing permanent camp near
the site of this work.
'We ought to have model camp suR-
gested Com missioner Carson, ''and one
which every grand juryman would not
criticise and every newspaper reporter who
visits it write up"
. II we've got to please grand jurymen
and newspaper men" said Chairman Dale,
why, Well have to levy more taxes, that's
all
THE BLACK HOLE OF CALCUTTA.
a maintain" said Commissioner Carson,
"tbst's It's not humane TO keep these
creatures in a regular black hole Of
Calcutta"
"Whats the matter with the camp. any,
howe put 10 Chairman Dale.
''It is absolutely filthy and in such bad
sanitary condition that 1t cannot possibly
be cleaned.
~ don't think, ~ said Chairman Dale " hat
we should spend the county'e money 10 build
camp simply To work a few women,
children and disabled convicts. The camp
Is good enough and few improvements will
cover the whole case
There is no earthly reason, replied Dr.
Charlton, why prisoners should be kept In
such filthy and horrible place. We owe
1t to ourselves and to the people to see that
they are humanely treated, and / maintain
that new camp should he built This
matter must be attended to and the sooner
done the better"
"How would it do to board them at the
De Soto" remarked Chairman Dale.
Commissioner Carson moved that s. 900
be put in the budget to no passed upon by
the grand jury, for the purpose OF con-
strnctiDg a new camp.
The motion was carried, Commissioners
Charlton, Carson aud Kehoe voting In the
affirmative, and Commissioners Dale aud
Chaplin in the negative
ANOTHER POINT RAISED.
al have collected $4,000 from the Cen
EFal railroad on account or Dack taxes for
1891" said County Attorney Saussy at the
beginning Of the meeting, land have
turned over 50, 500 to the county treasurer,
reserving the 5 per cent. commission TO
which l am entitled for collecting same.
There is still due 50, U0J on the taxes for
1891, besides about $1,000 for 1892 We
have to take it as we can get it,"
Doesn't that per cent. belong to the
county from the fact that you are county
attorneys" asked Chairman Dale.
Mr. Saussy read letters from the attorney
general ana the controller general showing
that he was entitled 10 the fee, and ex-
plained that railroad taxes were not
collectable In the same man.
ner as other taxes, but that the returns were
made to the controller general. and that he
assessed the tax. ~ could have collected
10 per cent" said MIR. Saussy, IF l had
fled an intervention in the casen
'At the same time" put in Chairman
Dale, There have been views expressed
that MIR. Snussy could not collect the fee, as
he is county attorney"
II was explained that the sheriff could
not levy on the property, as it was in the
hauds Of a receiver. The attorney general
stated in his letter, which was read, that
the commission was small enough for q
plain collection
Hes "a lawyer, is he notln asked Chair
Tln1r