The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-30

To the Honorable City Court of Savan.
NAH The grand jury for the February
term, having completed their service. beg
leave to submit their general present
ments.
SHERIFF AND CLERK.
These two Offices were found to be in
excellent condition; all work was we'll
up, books and papers neatly and system
atically kept and arranged, and all
moneys correctly accounted for
THE JAIL
We found in excellent sanitary condition.
the ventilation good, and the prisoners
well cared for. The plastering in the
1ailer's office is in dangerous condition.
so badly cracked as to endanger life. We
suggest that this should be ceiled rather
than plastered. We also call attention
to the windows on the west side of the
office, through which the rain comes.
damaging the building. and rendering
the occupants uncomfortable A very
small outlay would remedy this.
THE CHANGING.
The county chain-gang has become one
of the institutions of the county The
men are required to perform laborious
and fatiguing work. They are criminals
and are to expiate their misdeeds by
hard labor, yet they have rights, and it is
made our duty to apprise the court il
they are deprived of them The labor
required of these men calls for whole-
some food, properly prepared, in order
that they may have strength TO perform
this labor We visited the several camps
and also inspected the condition of the
convicts on the work. At camp No. /.
on the county land, we found the bulk of
the convicts. This is the only permanent
barracks in the county now occupied
and was built for this purDose
five or six years ago. The ARRANGEMENTS
are fair, if better attention was given to
certain details. The supply of water is
small, while the quality is good it comes
from an artesian well and has TO be
pumped up with a very defective pump.
The convicts and their beds are filthy,
and there seems to be no regulations for
enforcing cleanliness. If one-fourth of
the cOnvicts desired to wash themselves
after the days work it could not be done
without taking up a good part of the
night. The bed ''tick" and the contents,
which was once rice straw, are IN very
filthy condition.
AT the camp near Sackville we found a
better condition of things. Although in
tents and likely to be moved from point
to point, the condition of the men, the ar
engagements for their comfort and feeding
were all Of a better order.
The camp near Southover we found in
very unsatisfactory condition. The bed
ding was filthy, the tents dilapidated, no
protection from the weather for the cook
ing arrangements, prisoners crowded to-
gether and absolutely no attention paid to
sanitary conditions.
We find that no green vegetables are
furnished to the convicts at this time; the
potatoes having been exhausted nothing
but dried peas are given them. At this
time OF the year change once week 10
green vegetables would be very desirable
for the health of the prisoners. Our
investigations have Onfirmed our belief
that other regulations should be adopted
for whipping convicts. We do not be-
lieve it is safe or humane to give the
power now possessed to every guard In
this particular, as well as in those of
cleanliness and the general arrangement
Tor the care and comfort Of the conyicts
we do not think that our camps would be
passed by the state inspector if they
were subject to his inspection. We in
cline to the belief that better care is
taken of the state convicts under the
rules laid down by the state than our
own convicts receive, whose punishment
is for misdemeanors, while those of the
state are for the worst crimes in the cal
endar.
In the discharge of our duties we have
been greatly assisted by the solicitor
general, w w. Fraser, Esq, whose
promptness and faithful attention to the
duties of his Office we commend. We
thark your honor for courtesies shown to
us, and congratulate the community upon
the expeditions manner in which the
business of the court is conducted.
We recommend the publication Of these
prcsentments for the information of the
public in the MORNING News and the
Press.
Respectfully submitted
G. H. DORsETT, Foreman
w. A. WALLER.
G. B. STILLwELL.
S. KROUsKOFF.
ID. Y. DANCY
ALEX r. FAYCETT.
T. Z. CHAPE4U.
JNo. G.. BUTLER
10 G. THOMPSON.
SIMON HExTER
MORTON FRIERsoN.
Il. M. DEMERE.
GEO. A. WHITEHEAD.
w. G. MORRELL.
john LYONS.
T. s. WILLY, JR.
@. A. GREGORY.
J. 4. FULTON.
JOHN DERsT.
A. S. DELANNoY.
I. n THEus.
w. J. MARSHALL
Ordered, That these presentments be
published as recommended.
In open court this April %, 1894
A. H. MAcDoNELL, Judge G. c. Ga.