The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-04
q. A. GREGORY,
GEO. W. ALLEN.
II n RR ANrH

'.'rf GEO. W. ALLEN.
II. NJ. BRANCH.
In accepting this report and incOrpora-
ting d as part Of our presentment, the
following preamble and resolution was
adopted in support thereof:
Whereas, the public mind has been dis
turbed by rumOrs of frauds Of various
kinds said to have been perpetrated az
elections which have been held In this
county, and many violations of the laws
governing such elections, and
Whereas, any doubt as 10 the purity OF
the ballot is destructive of the respect due
10 the officials so elected and inimical 10
that prompt obedience TO law which is
essential to good government. and
Whereas 1t is the duty OF this grand
/ inquest to take cOgnizance of all such vio-
lations of law and TO suggest remedial
measures for the same. and
Whereas the mechanical ballot seems
| to remedy many of the evils complained
of. and also to effect a saving in the eX>
! pense attendant on elections some times
amounting 10 seventy-five per cent as
demonstrated in New York and other
Resolved. that the representatives Of
Chatham county be requested TO have
bill passed by the legislature of Georgia
| permitting the use of such mechanical
/ ballot, as'has been done by the legislature
| of New York and other states where such
| mechanical ballot is used.
SPECIAL CIRCUIT.
Adopting the declarations Of the grand
/ jury OF the summer term Of 1894: I'm
| view Of the large amount of legal business
| transacted in this county, which is yearly
| increasing, and the eXacting duties placed
| upon the court, we would recommend
| that chatham county be made a separate
| circuit. and that our legislators be in
| structed to obtain the necessary legisla
| ton for this purpose"
AS TO CONTINUING COMMITTEES.
We have ordered the continuance of our
committees on bridges drainage and roads
/ with view to have them present to the
| jury that succeeds us the several matters
| OF recommendation herein presented and
| Tor purpose Of consultation and the adop~
/ ton of such measures as will lead TO the
| endorsement of them by the public and
| their general furtherance We respectful
| ~ ask your honors approval and Connrma-
| ton Of our action in this respect. We
! earnestly and hopefully urge again upon
! our fellow citizens the adoption OF the
/ stock law, an issue of bonds not exceeding
| S5OO,OOO and the creation of board Of pub
| lie works.
THE COUNTY'S ROADS.
To the Foreman and Gentlemen Of the
| Grand Jury Of the Superior Court Chat
| ham County, March Term Your commit
| tees charged with examination of, and re-
| port upon the condition OF the countys
| roads, feel that IL IS needless to go into
| detail farther than to enumerate those
/ points which require that sufficient work
| only be put upon them to render travel
! thereon safe. These are covered by the
/ reports hereunto attached. The general
/ character of every read is known to ali
| our citizens as also Is, or should be the
| futility of the present means of repair the
| origin of which il is unnecessary to enum-
| crate. 1t is sufficient to condemn both as
| not in keeping with civilization. with the
! progress being made in our city and state
nor with the demands of the present day
and If some efficient means are not soon
| employed to materially improve our high
ways thereby cheapening the hauling Of
| farm products, our county, with land SUI
| pcrior TO any in the state and with market
| facilities unequalled viii be Outstrpped
! by others more disposed 10 take advantage
| of their surroundings. We feel that this
| intrusion upon your time IS warranted by
| the vital Importance of good roads, which,
! however, you cannot have unless preced-
| ed by good drainage, the one being entire
/ ly dependent upon the other. This sub
/ ject demands the earnest consideration Of
| every citizen, regardless of position, and
| that we should as unit move towards
| the adoption Of plan, which VIII furnish
| ample means with which to vigorously
| prosecute the work. To this end we sug-
| gest that such legal measures as may be
! required be taken Immediately looking to
an issue of say 100000 thirty-year per
| cent. bonds, to be used in the work or
draining and paving, first the following
| which and up to the two mile post the city
! has taken the initiative, and continuing
! the same to the seven mile stone: then the
| Louisville road from the city limits TO the
| nine mile stone: then the Augusta road
| or as better known Bay street extension,
| from the city limits to and over Cherokee
| hill; then taking up waters road from its
| intersection with the Thunderbolt road,
| sOuthWardy. until the intersection of the
! Meridian road has been reached; thence
| down Meridian road to its terminus We
| recommend the completion of the Meridian
| road to its southern terminus, and that
| IL be pushed northwardly to its intersec-
! ton with Waters road as rapidly as pos
| sible In this connection we earnestly
| recommend that all work, whether drain
| age or road building, shall be done only on
| lines and gradients as given by the county
| engineer. and that this recommendation
\ aDply not only to new work, but as well
| to that now in progress. We also recon-
| mend that the repair work now being done
| upon the roads be only sufficient to rem
der travel over the same safe, as ii is
| questionable if any good is being accom-
plished by reason of a lack of suitable
| preparation, and material for same. In
other words, the roads do not need repair
ing but rebuilding We also recommend
that steel bridges be used instead OF
| Importance looking to the protection OF
our drainage system, vast and expensive
as it must be, when it Is remembered
| that SO per cent of the entire area OF
| Chatham county, exclusive of marsh
| lands is a present under water, is that
we depart from the primitive practice OF
| fencing the crops, and allowing the cattle
to roam at large, by reversing the order OF
| things, fencing cattle and opening the
fields, and failing to carry this out in the
| coming election, that we, through oul
! foreman present this matter to the grand
after said election. and endeaVor to have
the trouble remedied by legislative enact
| ment.
AS a committee upon roads, we have to
offer apology for the seeming intrusion
| upon drainage, but good roads and good
| drainage are so intimately connected, that
we could not do justice to one without
| reference to the other. All of which is