The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-12
WANT 1T AS A PUBLIC ROAD.
CITIZENS PETITION THE COUNTY
TO BUY THE VERNON SHELL
ROAD.

The Matter VIII De Taken Up as
soon as a Certified Copy of n New
Law on the Subject of Toll Roads
is Received From AtIanta-The
County Forces All Employed on
Drainage Work.
The county commissioners held their
! December meeting yesterday afternoon.
| There was no business of any importance
outside of the Vernon shell road matter.
Mr.. w. W. Gordon, Jr.. appeared before
the board in behalf of the petitioners
who ask the county to purchase the Yer
non shell road and make public road of
it. He urged an early consideration Of
the petition, and the commissioners
seemed inclined to push the matter as
rapidly as possible. They had it under
consideration some time ago, but dropped
it on account of the absence of any law
that authorizes them to acquire the road
otherwise than by a private purchase.
The petition is signed by about 175 prop
erty owners along the White Bluff road
and other tax payers, and the petitioners
state that they consider toll roads an
extra burden upon the people, not in keep
ing with this progressing age. The proper
ty along the road is owned largely by
truck growers, who have invested large
sums of money in a business that cannot
bear this burden. Beside this, they say
the people residing in the city are entitled
70 beautiful drive without being taxed
for such a pleasure, and they ask the
county TO condemn the road and make it
public road.
1t is suggested that the increased value
OF real estate in the southern part of the
county VIII more than compensate the
county for such an expenditure, besides
q.
be unsurpassed for beauty and comfort.
rms road passes through the most Valua-
Die lands in the county, has many lateral
roads, and the control by the county of
the whole, ii is said, would be of more
value TO Savannah than that of any other
road leading into the city.
The road is now a public road with
perpetual charter. which permits the
company to charge toll. On this account
the county commissioners have no law
under which they can institute condem-
nation proceedings for the purpose of
acquiring the property, but there has re-
Gently been a law passed by the legisla-
ture providing for the condemnation of
such toll roads and their requirement by
the county governments. The commits
sioners referred the petition to the COM
mlttee on roads and that committee will
take up the matter as soon as a certified
copy of the new law is received. The
commissioners are DESTROYS of acquiring
the road, and when the new law is receiy-
ed II Is likely early action will be taken
in the matter.
MI. heuFy MCAlpln was DeIOre Inc
commissioners with reference to a settle
ment with regard to some lands of Mr.
Henry Sack at Sackville, through which
the new Casey canal has been cut The
matter was referred to the committee on
drainage, with power to act, along with
other petitions of similar nature.
Mr.. Thomas w. McNish was appointed
constable of the Sixth Militia district
to fill the vacancy created by the disap-
pearance of eX-Constable w. r. BooZ
some months since. Booz was ordered
IN 1nl 70 htff ha 4 1nA
show up after his little horse deal, which
was the cause of a warrant against him.
His failure to respond to the notice
created the vacancy.
Mr.. James V. Kennickell, who has en-
tered the race for justice of the peace
in the Second district in competition with
w. H. Barclay and Charles Collman, Pc
titioned the commissioners TO appoint
supervisors or managers of the election
so as to insure fairness in its conduct
as he stated. Mr.. ]. R. Saussy, county
attorney, was of the opinion that the
conduct of the election was altogether in
the hands of the other justice of the
peace in the district, and it was left to
him for further investigation. Mr. Saussy
stated, however, that 1t is the duty of
the other magistrate in the district to
order the election, and he was of the
opinion that the magistrate had entire
charge of it.
on the recommendation of the commit
tee, the salary of the county physician,
DIR. T. B. Chisholm, was increased from
$500 to 81 900 per year on account of the
extra duties that have been assigned TO
him.
Contracts for county supplies for the en-
suing three months were awarded as fol-
lows: p. Tuberdy, shoes; j. G. Puder
bread; Hugh Logan, beef and j. NJ. DIX
on & Co, groceries and general supplies.
The report of County Engineer w. A.
Dayton showed that the daily average
number of prisoners at all the convict
camps for the last month has been l11.3
The cost of guarding and feeding has
hoo re MOI
larger than last month on account Of
there being a day and a night guard re-
quired at Camp Walker, while Camp No
2 was temporarily located on the Ogee-
chez road. This camp has now been re-
moved to headquarters and the expendi-
lures will be reduced. The percentage
of sickness was larger than in October
about eight prisoners at Camp No. / haV-
ing been confined to the hospital the en-
tire month on account of bad feet.
The report shows that the eighty pris-
oners at Camp No. l have been employed
during the entire month on the new Casey
canal and necessary work in connection
with it. About 400 feet of the new canal
were finished complete. and also about
400 feet of the old canal on the Myer-
son tract We're filled up according to con-
tract. Both of these works are still be-
ing continued and pushed forward.
An average of sixteen prisoners daily
was employed on the county farm in
harvesting the crops and other
work. Vegetables from the farm
were furnished the convicts and charged
at the current market prices.
A squad employed on Cherry Butcher
Pen ditch removed by blasting SO OBJ
structions with an average diameter Of
3 feet at a cost of $3.50.
Camp No. 2, with a daily average of
about thirty-two prisoners, was temporar-
lily located on the Ogeechee road a part
of the month, and completed entirely the
Cherry Butcher Pen ditch a length Of
$500 feet. After finishing this work aboIt
Dec. the camp was removed to head
quarters. Some work was also done IN
building culverts for the newly paved
portion of the Ogeechee road. The gang
is now working on the Dundee canal, as
is also the dredge. About 800 feet of this
canal have been completed.
The camps were supplied during the
month with corn. fodder. peas, sweet
potatoes and turnips from the county
farm, S6it acres of which are now under
cultivation and growing various kinds
of products. The report shows in effect
h. 10 r..nn fornns L..