The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-25
THE DRAINAGE QUESTION.
Commissioner Dale Replies to Com
missioner Carson.


Savannah, Ca, Jan. 22.-Editor Morn
ing News: Sir-In your issue of the 18th
inst, you publish an interview with
County Commissioner J. A. G.. Carson, in
which that gentleman is made to make
several statements which are not in &C
cordance with the facts; as Commissioner
Carson has now had ample time to make
corrections, and as he has not chosen TO
do so, thereby verifying the statements,
in justice to myself it devolves upon me
to correct the fragrant mistatements.
Commissioner Carson says The is aware
that the work has not progressed as rap
idly as it should have DONE" aud pro-
ceeds to give his reasons for it, starting
OFF with this statement, to wit: The
board had not been organized long before
the chairman of the commissioners,
without any action on the part of the
board, took the entire force from camp
No. and had them put on the Buck
halter and Montgomery cross roads; this
caused a delay 1 think, of about two
weeks
The following letter will show what the
facts in this case are:
Savannah Ga. Jan. fs, tS94.-Mr.J J. Dale,
Chairman City: Sir-In reply to your inquiry
in regard TO the work on the Buckhalter road
last spring, we Wolld reply, that the board
instructed you to have the work done, as no
committees had been appointed at that time.
Yours truly,
WILLIAM + hoe c. c. C.
w. r. CHAPLIN. c. c. G.
JOHN DILLON. Clerk,
again" says Commissioner Carson,
"the differences of opinion among the
members Of the board last summer caused
delays in one way and another. While
the charges which had been prepared
against Maj Blandford were being in
vestigated, the camp forces became de-
moraliZed and there was some little dis
satisfaction among the guards and super
intendents." This statement is simply
ABSURD. THAT the differences OF opinion
among the members of the board" caused
no delay in the work. is patent to those VINO
took the trouble to read the proceedings
of the meetings of the county commission
ers as published in the MORNING News.
The plans of the majority of the board
have been adhered to in every instance.
Had Commissioner Carson said that 1.-The
camp forces, became, to a certain extent,
demoralized, etc. before the charges
had been preferred against Maj. Bland
ford, he would have been nearer correct.
Maj. Blandfnrd does not seem to have
been much disturbed during the investi
cation of the measurements of the work
said to have been done by the dredge by the
expert chosen by the majority of the
board of county commissioners, as to in
terfere with his duties, for it was stated
in your paper that while Mr.. Chaplin and
myself viewed the work being done by
the expert, Mai. Blandford quietly at
tended to his duties, or words to that
effect. 1 presume the superintendent
and guards were also quietly attending
TO their duties.
Commissioner Carson says, in abiding
to the county farm: "A portion of it,
which year ago was salt marsh, pro-
duced this year one of the best rice crops
in this section" When the rice planters
of olden times ''took in" salt marsh lands
they would have been glad to have had
the experience of the managers of the
county farm The fact is, large proper
ton of the land upon which the said rice
was grown was "taken i'm many years
ago-I doubt not, before Commissioner
Carson was old enough to partake
of that nutritious grain. 1t is
not at all surprising that Com
missioner Carson wishes TO make excuses
for the small amount of work done in the
drainage department, well may he; but
he should confne himself to the true
causes, and not endeavor to elevate his
own standing by attacking others, and
with making statements that do not agree
with the facts; it might be detrimental to
his reputation. j. j. DALE, Chairman.