The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-20

nant water At an expense which would
/ be insignificant compared to the resultant
/ benefits, this canal can be employed for
! the drainage of all the swamps it inter
/ sects with the single exception of Har-
/ denis swamp, and its usefulness as a
/ waterway restored. Not only would a
vastly better sanitary condition follow
/ such an Improvement, but it would lac.
cording to County Engineer Blandford' S
| estimator, reclaim 5000 acres of exceed
! ingly fertile land, now practically value
| less. In our opinion, the canal should
/ either be reinstated as a waterway, OF
else filed up and abandoned as speedily
| as possible; for now it benefits no one
| while 1t imperils the health of all who
| live in its vicinity. Regarding this as
| the most important single item
| In the drainage problems which con-
| front US, we urgently recommend to the
county commissioners that they negotiate
with the canals owners, and any other
| parties in interest. and seek to accom-
| plish the reforms above outlined. This
/ point cannot be stressed too vigorously
! for the city, as we'll as the county, is
! vitality interested in the speedy consum-
nation of the project.
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
The general condition of the public
roads is about up to its usual standard,
| and as good as can be expected of such
! primitive affairs. A part of the Waters
! road is seriously INSTRUCTED by the too
! great elevation of the Electric railroad
| track, which should be lowered to grad e
| at once. A large portion of the White
| Bluff roud is insufficiently drained, and
in some instances the purpose of the side
| bitches has been defeated by the planting
of shade trees in them. This road should
also be cleared at once of many boughs,
which now hang so low as to injure the
| tops of vehicles passing beneath them.
In the opinion of the county engineer at
least, 80 per cent. of the public bridges in
the county is in bad condition, several of
them being dangerous. An enumeration
OF the defects found in the roads and
| bridges would unduly swell the proper
tlons of these presentments: therefore,
we refer the whole matter to the proper
authorities and urge that the necessary
remedies be applied at once.
We recommend that, with the least
practicable delay, the Meridian road be
completed to Savannah, and that a
branch from the Meridian road to Isle
Of Hope be built, and for these objects we
have appropriated s., eco. We believe
that there should be at least one good
road free from the exaction of toll, for
the use of our people.
Our experience does MT warrant the
expectation, or even the hope, that there
ment in the public highways of the county
unless the plan and method of their CON
struction are radically changed. AS such
a change would involve a large outlay of
money, we favor the issue. by the county,
OF long-term bonds, for the express pur-
pose of properly rebuilding the main
roads. Not only would such a course pro-
vide work for many of our people.
but, IN our opinion, an investment
of this character would soon paw
for itself, in the enhanced taxable value
OF lands now inconvenient of access, and
their greater ability for farming
uses. In connection with this subject we
cordially indorse the recommendation of
the preceding grand jury of this court.
looking to the necessary enactment to
secure such an enlargement of duties as
will confer upon the county commission
ers the sole and entire charge OF all drain
age and road works. Contemplating, as
this does, the abrogation of the present
road laws, in so far as they are applicable
to Chatham county, it is not proposed to
exempt those now liable to road duty
from contributing service, but rather
such a modification of the terms and CON
ditions under which such obligations may
be discharged as will result in efficient
work"
We also quote, with full approval, and
adopt as part Of our presentments, the
following recommendations made by our
predecessors:
The provisions of the law under which
the public roads are now administered
are confessedly inadequate, and commits
sioners of the roads declare them inoper-
alive. Assiduous and energetic efforts of
intelligent road commissioners fail to Sc
cure any adequate results, and the spec
tacle OF badly conditioned roads is twice
year presented to the consideration and
recognition of the public. This evil will
continue until a change of system occurs.
Simple amendment of the present law
will not obviate the difficulties.
The assignment for all convicts con-
demned TO servitude to the board of
county commissioners, for utilization in
puolic work, will provide a basis of an
improved and effective system, and
would make available force sufficient to
warrant the inception, upon carefully di-
gested lines, of a system of road repair
and construction compatible with the re-
quirements and conditions of advanced
civilization. From the chain-gang thus
annually increased, there could be or
gained permanent and sufficient force
10 work the roads as at present existing.
and maintain them in passable condition
Likewise force for the construction of
roadways, reserving to the prosecution
OF the work of drainage-the work of
BtAA III pOI tdllCt-d force SuIlClCQt
to continue the same uninterruptedlv to
a speedy completion.
ION purpose to acquire the use of such
increase of convict labor, we urgently
recommend the county commissioners 10
nave prepared and presented to the legis-
lature at its next session, an act author
1zlng the assignment of all convicts con-
demned TO penal service in the counties
OF the state, respectively TO the boards of
county commissioners (or such other
constituted authority as may be charged
with the care of like public interests)
as may elect to avail themselves of the
provisions of this enactment, with the
privilege, in the event they NAV not elect
to use such labor, to transfer to another
county It's quota of criminals convicted.
mo private citizen should be the bene-
hciary of the criminal conduct of his
fellow man, but the utilization of convict
labor in the advancement of public works
is legitimate, and is a means of working
out to the public some restitution in paw
ment OF expense imposed BY reason IF
crimes and misdemeanOrs This emnlov-
ment Is more in cousonance with the
humanitarian sentiment of the peonie
and offers solution of the vexed subject
or the convict lease. Good roads are an
index of the civilization of a Deonle
And the necessities of the day urge the
Importance of cheap transnoration
with resulting economical benefits inurl
in ~ FF.Q ont tsn.g