The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-27

plated by the old board, which the pres
ent board has refused to do" But it is
not alone the old board that is Ignored,
the wishes of a majority of the present one
seem to be equally disregarded-the tax
payers who have urged the building of the
road appear to have met with no more con-
sideration and the recommendations of the
grand jury-the highest representative
body in the county-are passed by with a
deaf ear.
Right here It may be we'll to quote some
of these; The grand jury for the March
term 1884, says; (see News May 26, 80.
I'VE recommend with the least possible de-
lay the Meridian road be completed TO Sa-
Vannah and that a branch from the Merid-
ian road to Isle OF Hope be built and for
these objects we have appropriated 5000
The grand jury for the June term, the
same year says (see News, Aug. IA, 81
I'VE would respectfully call the attention
of the county commissioners to the recon-
mendation of the previous grand jury in
regard to the Meridian road. which recon-
mendation we fully concur in
The grand jury for the March term, 1895
says (see News, May 4, $50 I'VE also re-
commend the completion of the Meridian
road to its southern terminus with pro-
posed diverging road to the Isle of Hope),
and northwardly to its intersection with
the Waters road
The grand jury for the June term same
year says, (see News, Sept. 4, $50 THE
Meridian road We regret the delay in the
completion of this most valuable public
highway and while we shall not attempt
to locate the cause or pass judgment on
the controversy between the commission
ers and the county engineer, We earnestly
suggest some action be taken, looking to-
ward its completion. The road as in its
present condition represents so much
money thrown away"
This grand jury concludes its present.
ments with the following, which appears
most opposite to the present case: In
concluding these presentments we wish to
call attention to the fact that while the
grand juries are the direct representatives
of the people, a body that shall carefully
and fearlessly inquire into all matters af-
fecting the public welfare, shall recon-
mend such changes and policies as will
best advance the moral, physical and
financial developments of the community,
it is very noticeable that the often oner-
GUS labors of these bodies receive but lit
tie consideration from those whose duty
it is to weigh carefully the recommends
lions presented and adopt them or furnish
the public with reasons for not doing so.
Grand juries are not infalible, and it is
safe to assume that all suggestions are
not practicable or in accord with circum-
stances and requirements but some evil
dence of their having received proper con-
Sideration would be a recognition of the
labors of the grand jury and information
that the people have a right to expect"
This was over a year ago and the Meri-
dian road has not advanced one foot fur
ther than it was when these presentments
were made. If the commissioners will not
build the road northward to Anderson
and East Broad streets why not build it
to the Waters road, which is only a little
more than a mile, so as to give it a north
ern outlet? 1t is folly to say that the right
of way is the only impediment which
keeps it back. Where there is a will.
there is a way" In this case it appears
that the dominating will has been and is
the other way, Inquirer.