The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-12
RETAINED ON JHE COUNTY MAP
MAI. BLANDFORD's RESIGNATION
As ENGINEER ACCEPTED.

His Successor to lie Elected at the
October Meeting With n salary at
the Rate of $4,000 "A Year-The Ex-
position Appropriation Discussed
at Length. But Is stiII a Matter of
DOubt-The Commissioners TO Meet
Friday 10 Discuss It-Box's Charges
Against Capt. Heath-Ready 90
Take Liberty's COnVicts il There Is
no Expense Attached to II.
The resignation Of Maj. r. A. Bland
ford as county engineer was accepted by
the county commissioners yesterday af-
ternoon, to take effect as soon as his sue
cessor has been elected and is ready TO
take charge Of the office. The election Of
his successor viii take place at the reg
ular meeting in October.
BY another resolution Maj. r. A. Bland
ford has been retained to do the work on
the county mana his salary to be at the
rate of 81 500 a year Both the orders with
regard 10 this matter were drawn and in
troduced by Commissioner T. J. Charl-
ton. and they were passed with very few
amendments.
The matter was not brought up until
the close Of the meeting. Mai. Bland
ford's resignation was then read by the
acting clerk. Capt. John r. Dillon. 1t was
addressed to Hon. T. ]. Charlton, acting
chairman of the board. and thanks him
and the other commissioners for their
many acts of kindness and consideration
TO him during his term of service.
The order accepting the resignation was
then introduced by Commissioner Charl-
ton and was adopted by a unanimous vote.
1t is as follows:
"ordered. That the resignation Of the
county engineer be accepted, to take eff
feet as soon as his successor is appointed
and ready to take charge Of the office.
That notice be published in the daily
papers for one week calling for appli-
cations for the position Of county engineer
all applicants to present their credentials
TO this board on or before midday of the
day OF the regular meeting in October.
THAT the appointment for county en-
gineer be made at the regular meeting in
October.
THAT the salary of the engineer be at the
rate Of $2,0o0 a year.
Following this Commissioner Charlton
of the fact that about two-thirds OF the
work on the county map had been COM
pleted, and with a view TO its speedy and
economic completion, Maj. r. A. Bland
ford be requested to take charge of the
county map under the title Of chief en-
gineer of typographical survey, his sal
airy to be at the rate Of 81, 800 year. Un-
der the order the work is to be completed
within one year of its commencement ana
the typographical department is 10 be
separate from and independent of the
county engineers department. 1t provides
that the chief engineer is 10 report to the
board through the committee on county
map. that he is to employ his own assist
ants, with the approval OF the committee,
and that this corps is not to be diverted
from its work in connection with the
county map.
There We're some objections made to the
order, as it was first presented, by Chair
man Dale, but they were remeditd, ana
1t WAS Iassed without a dissenting vote.
Commissioner Charlton then introduced
an order providing for a superintendent
of convicts, in order that the cOnvic.s
might be put under a management sepa-
rate and distinct from that of the county
engineer This involves the election of a
new Off ial whose duties would be 20 take
charge Of the convicts and see that the
rules and laws with regard to them would
be carried out leaving to the county en-
gineer only the work of looking after the
work on the county canals, drains and
roads. There were some objections to this
order, however and il was put on the
table for discussion at the next meeting
of the beard.
The position from various citizens ask
ing that the commissioners appropriate
$500 for the purpose of aiding in get
ting up a creditabe display for Savannah
and Chatham county at the Cotton States
and international exposition was the first
matter taken up. The petition, which was
signed by about 300 well-known and prom
inent citizens ana business firms, was
read by the acting clerk, Capt. John Il.
Dillon.
The question of the legal right of the
commissioners 10 make such an appropri-
alton then came up and the report of Coun>
ty Attorney ]. r. Saussy on the matter
was read. The report enumerated the dir
ferent things for which the county has
the right to levy taxes. That right, IL
was stated was limited to such things as
education. repairs of public roads, bridges
and buildings. paying jurors and
maintaining courts. The power to spend
the money collected by taxation was linz
tied, he said, in a like manner, and in
his opinion he stated that the commits
sioners had no power to appropriate mon
ey to promote an industrial exhibit at
the exposition.
Col. William GarraTd and Hon. Pope
Barrow appeared before the board in be-
half Of the industrial committee 10 ask
for the appropriation to aid in securing
the exhibit. Col. Garrard went on to
show that a more liberal and enlarged con-
struction is being put on the sections of
the constitution which apply to and limit
the powers of taxation. He went on TO
say that money had been appropriated for
many things for the public good which
were not IN strict accord with the letter
of the constitutional law. He spoke of
money expended In securing information
about good roads and materials before II
was decided to build roads.
There would be no reason, he said, why
sum of money should not be appropri-
ated to send commissioners to the At
lanta exposition for the purpose of re-
porting on roads and other matters that
would be of benefit to the entire county.
This, he said, could be done legally 10y
the board and would indirectly accomplish
the end in view.
The county attorney, j believe, vii
agree with me on the proposition that yoJ
prnDf0V gents q gather VO15r infOrroa