The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-10
MUST WORK IN BUcKHALTER.
RECORDERS COURT CONvICTs TO
GO 70 THE sWAMPs.

II Was Decided to Drain telloir
s,yamp-No More Bugs For Jurors.
A Representative TO BE sent 90 the
National Road Parliament.
The most interesting feature of the reg
Mar meeting OF the county commissioners
yesterday afternoon was their decision TO
take charge of the convicts from the re-
corder's court and put them to work on
the public works of the county.
1t was thought for some time that there
was little doubt as to whether the COM
missioners had the right under the law
to take charge of their convicts and put
them on the chain-gang, but Mr. j. r.
Saussy, the county attorney. discovered
some acts yesterday before the meeting
of the board which thoroughly settled the
question. and left no further doubt in hia
mind a. 10 the right of the county 20
work these men. When his opinion on
the subject was submitted there was no
further doubt in the minds Of the commits
sioners The resolution adopted by the
city council offering the recorders court
convicts to the county authorities and
turning them over to them. was read and
providing that the county accept these
convicts and put them on the public works.
Commissioner Vests order was unani-
mously adopted, and hereafter all convicts
from the recorders court whose
sentences are more thar five days
will have to put on stripes and chains
and work with picks and shovels in the
depths of Buckhalter. County Attorney
Saussy's report, upon which this action
was founded, is as follows:
Savannah, Sept. 9, 1S97.-The Commits
sioners of Chatham County and ex-Ohcio
Judges: Gentlemen.-Under the acts of
Feb. %, 1873, amended by the act Of Feb.
%, 1876, and the general laws of the state
with reference to the working of INSIDE
meanor convicts in public works by the
commissioners or ordinary or other au-
thorities having charge of county affairs,
as county commissioners of Chatham
county, you may receive from the mayor
and aldermen prisoners sentenced to Ia
Dor from the mayors or recorders court
of the city of Savannah, and put them to
work upon the public works in and
around the city or in the county. The
language of the amending act of 1876 being
that these prisoners shall be liable to
work under the direction and control of
the commissioners of Chatham county
and eX-officio judges who are authorized
TO employ the prisoners so turned over to
them on any of the public roads or other
public works in said county, or in any
other manner within said county that
will best subserve the interests of the
people"
The resolution adopted by the city coun-
Gil on Aug. %, ultimo, invests the county
commissioners with the control of these
prisoners, conferred on the mayor and al
dermen by the third section of the act
of 1876
The prisoners subject to be put to work
ore those whose sentences are over five
days in length. Very respectfully, j. r.
Saussy. County Attorney.
This conclusively settles the question,
and hereafter the common DRINKS" had |
better be on their guard. If they appear |
too frequently and get ten or a fifteen |
day sentence they viii have to spend their |
time in Buckhalter far from home and |
friends, and sweat it out. This, too, might |
be warning for the scorchers who per-
sist in making it dangerous for life and |
limb on Bull street They should remem- |
Der that Buckhalter is far less attractive |
than freedom, and a slow ride.
Some important communications on the |
subject of drainage near the |
city were read before the |
board. Among them was one from |
the Harmon canal, which runs through his |
place was neither wide enough nor deep !
enough to carry off the water that runs |
into 1t. This canal was cleaned out in |
May, but Mr.. DOugan thinks it has been !
damaged by the recent heavy rains. This |
is one of the canals that on recent inves- |
tigation was thought to be in very good |
condition. and the commissioners stated |
that much attention had already been Civ |
en- it.
The following communication was also |
read:
Savannah, Ga, Sept. /, 1S97.-To the
Honorable Board Of County Commission |
ers-Gentlmen: Mr.. A. V. Chaplin. SUI |
perintendent of the Bethesda Orphan |
House reports to me that there is a great |
deal of water on the land between that |
place and the Montgomery road
WIN you please see that the drains arc |
opened so the water can run off? Mr..
Chaplin will be glad to give further in |
formation on the subject Thanking YOU |
in advance for your attention. l am.
yours respectfully, j n Estu
President, Union Society of Savannah.
Both of these communications were. re- |
ferred to the committee on drainage. with |
board.
The committee on drainage reported fav.
orally on the petition of the Georgia Car |
and Manufacturing Company for the |
drainage Of lands west of that companv's |
works, which drainage will include the |
Ieiialr swamp and its tributaries. and |,
the committee recommends the passage |
OF the following order:
Ihat che draining of Telfair swami |
ana It's tributaries to connect with the |
Minis swamp canal be adopted as a par
OF the system of drainage of the county
in the plans proposed by the asststan,
Superintendent. That the COMMITTEES on |
drainage and the county attorney be au-
thorized 20 obtain from the owners of the
land the rights-of-way for said drainage.
and that the construction of the said
Grains be commenced as early as possible
after such rights-of-way have been oh.
tanned"
This order was adopted by the board
The petition for this work was filed Julv
5. last, and il was made apparent thar
the work was badly needed and that its
cost would be light. The commissioners
evidently concluded that il was time 10
have the work DONE hence the order for
II was passed. 1t VIII be some time
however before the work can be begun
since the rights-of-way must first be ob,
tanned, all of which necessitatcs DELAY.
A communication from Mr. II. p. Smart