The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-24
MusGROVE vs.. BUCKHALTER.
Maj BIandfOrd Corrccts Some Errors
Concerning the Two.

Mai BIandfOrd Corrccts Some Errors
Concerning the Two.
Editor Morning News; The reference
several times made in the Press. and
which appears to be also in the majority
report Of the Harmon special committee
of the grand jury to the effect that while
county engineer in 1892, 1 brought before
the board of commissioners and specially
urged, favored or recommended the drain
age of the territory within the Buckhalter
watershed, is misleading. The writer's
have given the text of my report upon
this subject. but adroitly kept back the
context.
The facts, as l recollect them, are as
follows: In May or June, 1892 Col. Car
rard (and perhaps others) largely interest
ed in lands in the Buckhalter section, APP
peared before and presented or sent in,
to the commissioners a petition to drain
it. The board referred to me as much of
that petition as would naturally come uR-
der the department of engineering, with
instructions to report upon its practical
bihty. In compliance with these instruc-
tons, / prepared a map showing the area
within the watershed, Buckhalter swamp
and its tributaries and other Topographic
cal features. At the meeting of the board
on June %, 1892 l submitted, among other
reports, the following:
"Buckhalter Swamp have prepared
map of this watershed, which | herewith
submit, showing the swamp and its trb-
utaries. As previously stated the water
shed covers an area of about eight and
one-half square miles, or, say, some $500
acres of land. While 1t would require
large canal for about four miles of its
length, yet it is easily drained, and will
develop a large area of splendid truck
farming land" Any one can perceive that
this was merely a performance of duty
coming within the scope of the instruc-
lions given me. Any recommendations
other than those implied in the report
would have gorS beyond the scope and
been deemed impertnences.
l should have made a similar report, ac-
cOrding to the facts. on any other water
shed in the county-as, indeed, l have
done al different times on nearly every
one within eight or ten miles of SaVanz
nah. 10
There is certainly nothing in the report
that can be construed to embrace IN the
Buckhalter drainage any part Of the
MusgrOVe basin or other drainage area.
While the Evening Press and grand
jury committee were looking up this mat
ter Cuness, indeed, IL was looked up for
them) they should have come across my
reports on the Musgrove watershed, which
represent in the most cogent language /
can use the urgent necessity for the
speedy drainage of its area and the inn
practicability and costliness of an at
tempt 70 take any part Of this drainage
to any other than its natural outlet-the
Savannah river. The commissioners deem
ed these reports of sufficient importance
to have them published in pamphlet form
for public distribution. but the advocates
of Buckhalter. while frequently referring
to my brief report OF that watershed, are
mute and seemingly oblivious as to the
others. In all my reports, writings and
utterances, as an engineer, on the subject
Of drainage, / have recommended the
drainage Of every swamp in the county
and endeavored to represent the advan-
tages and benefits that would result; but
every time. and always ! have urged that
the work Should begin with the swamps
nearest the city and radiate outward from
it, that "the greatest good to the great
est number might be conserved.
While Musgrove and other swamps near
the city remain in a very unsanitary and
anything but drained condition, the work
ing forces Of the county are concentrat-
ed on the distant Buckhalter the most
unimportant of all the swamps within its
radius from the city, under the astonish-
ing, but adroitly wOrded, speciOus argu-
ment that though 1t will not directly "ben-
Eft % the largest landed property
through which II passes (Cherburg and
Rockingham), Il will particularly bene-
1T Savannah, even though the nearest APP
proach Of any part Of its watershed Ia
fully two and half miles from the cor
porate limits! r. A. Bandford
Savannah, Aug. %. 1897.