The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-28
PREsENTMENTS
OF Grand Jury of the December
Term Superior Court of Chatham

OF Grand Jury of the December
Term Superior Court of Chatham
County.
Savannah. Ga. Feb q 1870 His
Honor, Robert Fauigant, Judge Of su-
perior Court Eastern Judicial Circuit
The grand jury for December term, 1891,
respectfully submit the following present
ment.
CONVICT CAMPS.
Camp No. ! contains seventy-six con-
Victs. seventy-one males and five females:
ten of the males sick and in the hospital.
We found this camp to be in fairly good
condition, and the convicts well pleased
with the treatment from the guards. None
had any complaint TO make. We found
Willis Jones and Spencer McNarry suffer
ing from incurable disease, and we re-
quested the guard not to work them in
water. Henry Brinson and Toby Byrnes,
two of the frost-bitten prisoners, were not
sufficiently recovered to do any heavy
work and we requested the guards to let
them rest few days. The commissary
department we found in good condition
and well supplied, the provisions being
good. This is the camp at which the pris-
oners suffered from frost bitten limbs. We
refrain from making comment about this,
inasmuch as the county commissioners are
now investigating the matter. We recon-
mend that the sleeping quarters be bet
ter ventilated.
Camp No. contains thirty-two con-
victs, only one sick and we requested the
guards to allow this one to rest until ne
recovered. We found this camp in good
condition. food of good quality and whole
some. The convicts had no complaint to
make of their treatment. We respectfully
"a he "a nNpr-harf1ad
and that new cooking tent take the
place of the old one which is about worn
out
BOOKS OF MAGISTRATES.
The books have been examined and
found correct.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
The books Of the clerk of superior court,
sheriff, ordinary, county treasurer and
county commissioners were examined and
we find the work all we'll up the books
being neatly and accurately kept. We did
not enter the office of the receiver of taxes,
as he is still receiving and we understand
it would be the duty of the next grand
jury to examine the books in this office.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
All the public buildings in the city have
been examined The plastering in the
court house needs repairing very badly.
The iron shutters in the ordinary's vault
are unsafe and should be attended to at
once. W G IttDHliltilN AildA IRON SudtQS DC
placed in the windows of the vault of both
the ordinary and clerk of the superior
court We found the jail in excellent con-
dition and are glad to report the county
commissioners are now perfecting a plan
that will enable them to do away with the
pail system about which previous grand
iuries have been complaining for years.
The ceilings in the Chatham Academy are
in dreadful condition and should be paint
ed as soon as possible. Fire escapes should
be put on the Barnard Street school at
once.
We would recommend that the board of
education spend no more of the county
funds in putting permanent improvements
on property that the county does not own.
We think that the cause of education
in the county demands additional school
room. We think this ought to be provided
as fast as the means of the county will
permit. We urge the erection of buildings
with all modern conveniences, but with
plain exteriors. We do not think that
the present condition of the educational
fund or of the county finances warrant
the erection of a building so ornamental
as the Henry street school.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
We have examined the schools in the
city and ind everything is working fairly
well; while there are many recommended
tons we could make that would be bene-
fetal we deem the present time as one
that behooves US to act cautiously in any
thing looking toward the expenditure Of
money and that nothing should be done to
Increase taxes.
DRAINAGE.
After careful examination we can state
that the drainage system of this county
shows most careful study. is carried out
with intelligence and is being as RAPIDLY
completed as is possible, weather consio-
cred and the amount of labor at hand
viii permit All the canals bitches and
side drains seem perfect pieces of en-
gerneering skill ard when stray Cattle
can be kept away from them they can
be kept in better order. AS many grand
juries have done, we recommend thar
an attempt be made by the taxpayers to