The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-08

to be entirely ignored. Not single road
recently built or improved appears to have
a system of bitches for draining ton
| the contrary, we rarely saw a ditch Of
| any kind on the sides OF the roads We
observed In many places where holes and
pits had been dug near the sides to get
earth for repairs or filling In and not in
frequently that these were full of stag
nant water. In heavy rains, for want OF
side bitches, the water Is compelled to
take the roads to their great damage and
what VIII be their destruction at no dis
tant day, unless proper improvements are
made and more intelligent methods en-
ployed
Several OF the culverts and other drains
under the roads, although recently built
we saw in damaged condition and going
20 destruction and our observation wa So
in the main-only casual. as We
were not particularly examining the
roads. A careful inspection of
them, we feel confident, would de-
velop much worse condition than we
have represented
In justice to the people. the authorities
having control of this work and the ex-
penditure of the public funds should at
once see to and remedy this state of az
fairs
SUMMARY.
In summing up we are constrained to
say, after careful inspection Of the drain
age, the swamps and lowlands from the
savannah river on the northwest around
the city to the east and from two and 4
half to five miles out beyond the corpor-
ate limits, that we have never before seen
IN this area the canals and bitches so OBJ
structed as now, by rank vegetation. sand
and mud deposits and other impediments
to the flow of water.
The neglect of. and inattentio, 10 49,
drains already dug and the urgent neces-
slty for the construction Of others is man
ifest on every side by the wet. sogey. IN
healthtul conditions we found in SO many
places and in every direction around the
city within this area This side Of Buck
halter we found no new drainage work
that appeared to have been done within
the 4ast several months. except a part az
the new DeRenne canal TO the condition
Of which we alluded in the foregoing and
only one drain-Harmon canal-the fartb-
est out from the city Of any examined ex-
cepting Buckhalter-that Appropriated to
being IN anyway clean or showed signs of
work at any recent period.
There seems to be a want Of systematic
plan and regular procedure in the prosecu-
ton Of the work under construction, and
we were impressed that what Ia being done
will not result In lasting benefit
Finally our Judgment as TO
what viii remove the dangers
which exist or may arise from imperfect
drainage and lack OF drainage"
around the city and conduce most
ito the improvement of its sanitary condi-
ton" we respectfully submit in the fol-
lowing
CONCENTRATIONS.
!. That the county forces now al Buck
halter be removed and the work in chat
watershed be suspended until reached Ia
its regular order, as recommended below
2 That the whole convict force be con-
centrated on the canals, bitches and drains
Immediately around the city and kept at
work on them until they are thoroughly
cleaned out repaired and built to. COM
pletion upon the plans already adopted
g. That when the above Is done each
watershed or part OF watershed, which
has not been thoroughly and systematical-
~ drained, be taken up, according to it's
proximity TO Savannah. and a thorough
system of drainage on scientific and well
digested plans be constructed in It.
A. That force of twenty-five or thirty
trained men be kept constantly employed
in cleaning out. repairing and maintains
ing in good condition the drains construct
ed around the city.
c. II. DORsETT.
"A. McC. DUNCAN.