The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-31
THE COMMISSIONER DEFENDED.
The work Done by the County on
the rifle Ranee.

Savannah. May 3l.-Editor Morning
News: The last erand jury OF the supe-
rior court I'm their general preseutmert.
took occasion 10 use the following lam
gu-ge: we disapprOve Of the employment
ot the convict force on seml-private en-
tarprises. such as the Av0udale rifle
range, when public interest demand its
services ia the vitality important work
OF drainage which was evidently in
tended 10 cast rejection upon the COM
mlsziOners OF this county, and which has
further given rise 10 an editorial in the
Morning News and several communica-
lions.
We, as the commanding officers Of the
military companies OF the Georgia Vol
un-eers or TINS city, ana as the board OF
directors OF the AFondale rifle range, wish
TO say few words on the subject.
There is hardly city in this country, the
size of Savannah that does not III some
way recognize its military by an annual
appropriation Tor armory rent or other
necessary expenses.
The military Of Savannah, though noted
for efficiency and discipline, DO not get an
appropriation Of any kinu from the city or
the state. The men composing the various
commands have to provide funds out of
tlelr own pockets TO pay for uniforms and
an expenses necessary TO the maintenance
of their organizations including the pro-
Niding OF armOries and suitable place for
rIne practice. one OF the principal duties
rifle correctly, ana for this purpose the
military during the past two years have
equipped the rife range at a heavy eX-
ptlse. Last year what Is now the rife
range was a swamp, just two miles to
the southeast of the city. over which the
prevailing winds in the summer time blew.
Last year II was thought that the com
missiOners had done good work in drain
city.
During the winter the bitches and drains
got nlled with sand, thus retaining stag
nant water upon the range. In February
an application was made to the commits
sioners for gang of conviCts to clean the
bitches and do some general cleaning uD
needed on the range. For complying with
this request they are taken to task by the
last grand jury of Chatham county, all
by the way, residents of the city of Sa-
Vannah
The Savannah military have responded
promptly to all calls for duty in the
past and will no doubt continue TO do
so in the future, and, in view of this fact
we 90 not think that the grand jury was
JusIlneu Ia undlng fault with the county
commissioners for having some little work
done on the Avondale range that was
not absolutely required for drainage pur-
however, that nearly all the
work done on the range this
summer was repairing of the bitches
and drains. If the military are to be
called on for duty in time of trouble
they should be entitled to receive some
little assistance to prepare for the proper
law and projecting life and property.
In conclusion, we must express our sur
prise at seeing the names of some Of
the men attached TO the presentment, and
we respectfully dissent from their crti-
cism OF the county commissioners for CIV
ing the military the much needed assis-
lance at the range. John Flannery,
Captain Co. Is, First Vol. Regt. Ga.
Thomas Screven,
Capt. Co. B, First Bait. Ga. Vols
w. 5. Rockwell
Captain Com'dg Co. d, First Regt Inf
Ga. Vols.
VIM. w. Williamson,
Captain Com'dg Co. A, First Bait Inf,
G. V.
Jordan F. Brooks,
Captain Com'd'g Co. 2, First Regt. Inf,
G. V.
Beirne Gordon,
Captain Com'd'g Troop A, First Cav.
Henry Kolshorn,
Captain Co. c, First Regt. Inf, Ca, Vols
VIM. d. Dixon,
Captain Co. A, First Regt. Inf, G. v.
George t. Cam,
Captain Com'd'g Co. c, First Bait inf,
G. V.
George P. Walker,
Captain Chatham Artillery.
We heartily concur in the foregoing.
Peter Reilly,
Lieut. Col. Com'dg First Regt. Inf, Ga
Vols.
William Garrard,
Lieut. Col. Com'dg First Bait. Inf, G.. V.
(The Savannah Volunteer Guards.