The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-07-31

the board. It is readily seen that the
use OF dynamite greatly eXpcdites the
work Of removing the trees and stumps
from the forest in the path OF the canal,
aud calculations have shown that n IS q
far cheaper method than cutting them
down tree by tree and then taking time
/ to dig out the stump. As for the road
along the embankmcnt OF the canal, it is
| almost an absolute necessity when there
is occasion to repair the canal or clean
II out. The dirt is all there and the con-
structlon of the road costs very little
more than if it were merely thrown up
In EN- bankments.
THE OTHER CANALS.
The new Casey canal is only given as
an example of the drainage work that is
being done in the county II is really
greatest in Importance, but there are
other canals, the work Of which is almost
as necessary.
There is the new DeRenne canal which
will be completed as soon as the convicts
at camp No. complete their work on
the new Casey.
If this canal had been constructed in
the first place there would have been a
tremendous saving to the county. The
new canal is simply cut off 3,400 feet
long, running from the old DeRenne canal
to the new Casey canal, by which the
waters OF the DeRenne swamp flow a
shorter distance by about 1900 feet.
Under the old system the
surface water was carried a distance of
1900 feet to reach practically the same
point that 1t will reach now in 800 feet
The cOnYtcts at camp No. , are work
ing on the Dundee canal, which lies to
the northwest or west of the city a dis
lance of about three miles. This canal is
about three and one-half miles in length,
and drains the immense Dundee swamp.
Over half Of the length of this canal has
been completed, and its numerous laterals
are being put into shape
Little work is being done on the other
canals around the county at present, as
they are all in a very fair condition.
THE COUNTY FARM.
The county farm is located on the
Meridian road, about mile from the site
OF convicts camp No. l. This is where
they raise watermelOns for the county
commissioners and incidentally a few
vegetables and other luxuries for the
conYicts during their sojourn at the
camp.
Chairman Kehoe, of the county farm
committee, superintends the watermelon
parties and does things up in great shape
Now that the watermelon season is over,
however, the convicts on the farm have
gone to work on the other crops
But seriously, the county farm is doing
a good work for the county. Chairman
Kehoe makes a good director, and, care
fully watched by him, the farm has
reached a high state of cultivation 1t
consists of about 1906 acres of as good
farming land as there is in the county,
and upon it all classes of produce are
raised, and in sufficient abundance to sup
ply all the camps during the vegetable
season. The farm is doing a remarkable
work under the management of the SUI
perintendent, MIR. r. II. Wimberly, and it
is to be used as the site for the location
OF the new convict camp.
The Meridian road is another of
the county works in which a great deal
of interest Is taken. 1t begins at the
Montgomery cross road, about 9 miles
south of the city, runs along a line paral-
lei with the meridian of Savannah, and
coming to the city due north would reach
it at the intersection of Anderson and
East Broad streets The Meridian road
is as straight as an arrow, and is one of
the prettiest and best pieces of engineer
ing work that has been projected in
Chatham county in years. 1t was begun
something over nine months ago. and two
miles of il has been built. The
road proper is sixteen feet wide and on
each side are drains so graded as to
carry off all surface waters 1t is hard
and well rolled, and has Just enough
slope to facilitate proper drainage. Some
time ago the hands working on this road
were taken off and put on the Buckhal-
ter road. 1t is pity that this road can
not be completed at once, as it will be Of
inestimable value to that section of the
county.