The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-13

A Chance for Better Work.
The minority members Of the county
commissioners have all along contended
that the main cause. If not the only one,
I OF the lack of harmony among the com
missioners was county Engineer Bland
ford. who was not acceptable to them.
The cause Of the dissenslons is now out
Of the way. or soon will be. Mr.. Bland
ford will conine himself to the county
map. which he is expected to finish within
a year. and an engineer is 10 be employed
10 take charge Of the public works Of the
county In addition TO the engineer SUI
perintendent Of cOnvicts is 10 be employed.
These changes will increase somewhat
the annual expenditures Of the county
for public improvements.
The people will not grumble at the small
increase in the expenditures, however, If
better results are obtained from the con-
Wet labor What they have been complain
Ing about is that, Notwithstanding the
large annual outlay, comparatively little
progress appears TO be made in the drain
age work. Where the fault is for the lack
Of results we do not undertake to say.
Perhaps the work has been too scattered.
and too much Of i has been Of tempo
rary character. Drains opened one year
are filled up and become practically use
less before the following year. and the
work has to be done over again.
There is only one way to accomplish
the end which is aimed at, namely, the
drainage of the county. and that is to
take I'D a piec of work, stick to 1t I'M
til It is completed. and construct it in
such a way that it will not be practically
destroyed by the first heavy rainfall.
one great hindrance to the stability Of
the canals and bitches has been removed
namely, the rowing cattle nuisance. After
January next cattle will have to be con-
fined They will not be free to break down
the banks of the drains and choke up the
drains by pushing l4ose soil into them
in their efforts 10 get across them or get
water.
We have no doubt that the commits
sioners will do their utmost to get the
right men for county engineer and super
intendent of convicts. In making selec-
tions from the applicants for the posi-
tions, however, they should not listen to
those who have friends they would like
to see provided for or 10 the argument
that political friends should be rewarded.
Able and practical men should be chosen
men of executive ability and business ca
pacity. If that is done the next years
work will be so much greater in quantity
that the question. what has been done in
past-years? will be generally asked. If
for any reason, or through any influence,
or by mistake. incapable men are chosen
the commissioners will have to bear the
criticism TO which they will be subjected
for accomplishing nothing.
There is no doubt that the progress of
the public works is going to be watched
much more closely In the future than 1t
has in the past. The people want better
results for their money than they have
been getting, and they are going to have
them II there is any way of getting them.
When the territory Immediately adjoin-
ing the city is thoroughly drained the
drainage work in other parts Of the coun-
ty can be, and no doubt will be. taken
up and prosecuted vigorously Chatham
county can be made one Of the healthiest
counties In the state. and there ought to
be as little delay as possible in perfecting
the drainage that would make it coun-
ty of that kind.
If the commissioners start properly In
their new departure they will have little
trouble in future, but If they begin wrong
~ by failing to select thoroughly compe-
tent men to take charge of the county
work and to manage the convicts, they
viii drift along in the same old ruts.
With the new departure there ought to be
a new order Of things.