The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-24
GRAND JURY PREsENTMENrs.
For the March Term 1895 Superior
Court Chatham County.

For the March Term 1898 Superior
Court Chatham County.
To His Honor, Robert Falligant. Judge
Superior Court, Chatham County: The
grand jury appointed for the March term
herewith make. through committees, their
presentment under various headings as
below:
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
The committee appointed on this very
important work has devoted much time to
a careful examination. Inquiry develops
the fact that no authorized, or recognized,
map of the location Of roads and bridges
exist, nor is there record or description
on file in the county offices from which an
accurate description can be made. We re-
commend, for the benefit of the public,
that as complete a record as possible be
made from data available, and that the
engineer in charge OF topographlcal map
be required TO prepare from surveys a !
ready made an Inexpensive map which
will be useful as a guide until Topographic
cal map is completed
An public roads have been examined ex-
cept those on Wilmington and Whit Marsh
islands. Their condition is generally good,
as our investigation was made during a
We md that the county is building and
maintaining high bridges across the old
| Ogeechee canal. If this is to be abandoned
as a traffic way these bridges should be
lowered when in need Of repairs so as to
reduce cost of future maintenance.
miles of the Ogeechee road we believe re-
ceives the approval Of a large majority of
our tax payers. While the various plans
adopted have been in measure expert
mental it is believed that most of them
will prove efficient. The question of cost
and relative efficiency is yet to be deci-
commissioners arrange for a limited
amount of these Improvements each year
and endeavOr from experience and inquiry
to reduce the cost as they proceed, S we
/ think the cost of the Ogeechee road bed
/ S. 500 to 5000 per mile-can be somewhat
reduced with equally as good results.
/ Commissioner Chaplin has gwen constant
and unselfish attention TO this work. from
which the county will receive great bene-
fit, as future work VIII not be so much
in the nature of experiments. We recon-
mend that the Improvement on this road
be not continued beyond Salt creek and
that the next work OF TINS character be
There are 1882 miles of public roads in
the county and ,57S citizens who are sub
Of islands. Under provisions Of law for
working public roads we see no necessity
for hired labor except on bridges and paw
In connection with the Investigation of
the condition of roads, bridges and drain
age that Is necessarily expensive to tax
payers and burdensOme to grand juries we
respectfully suggest and recommend that
an annual Investigation only be made.
TOLL ROADS.
These are not in as good condition as
thew should be, notably the White Bluff.
The toll road commission has filed no re-
port with this body Mr.. D. y. Dancy,
one of the commissioners, rendered his res
ignation and Mr.. Joseph Hull was elected
to fill the uneXpired term
RECORD OF WORK ON ROADS AND
BRIDGES
The superintendent Of roads has filed
only four reports between August, 1895 and
May /, 1896 These reports are general and
not detailed report showing cost and
character of work on each road and bridge.
It is impossible to ascertain from the rec
ords submitted the cost and character of
improvements on any particular road. a
book is provided for a description Of roads
and accounts against each road but no
entries have been made in it. These ac-
counts should be accurately kept in the Of
flee of the clerk Of the board. We believe
that too much care and attention could
not be bestowed On public records and ac-
counts and if this failure in the past is
due TO lack Of clerical force, we recon-
mend that such force be increased to the
extent of correcting this deficiency. An
accurate detailed report Of the committee
on roads ana bridges VIII be filed with the
county commissioners for their informa-
ton and for reference to future grand ju-
ries.
DRAINAGE.
As whole we cannot commend the
present condition Of drainage in this coun-
" Many of the canals adjacent to the
citv are filed with aquatic vegetation