The morning news., 1897-08-06
A DRIVE OVER THE DRAINAGE.
GRAND JURORS BEGIN THE INVES-
TIGATION OF PUBLIC WORKS.

the Dundee Canal, the MusgFOve,
Minis and Lamar Svvamps and 9th
er Bad Places Oh the Western
Side-Many Notes Were Taken.
Work TO Be Continued Monday.
In genuine tally-ho style the special
committee from the grand jury to inspect
the work of the county commissioners
went flying out of town yesterday after
noon to visit the swamps and canals out
side the city. They were accompanied by
the commissioners themselves, and all Of
the officers of the department of public
works.
The party was composed of Messrs. A.
c. Harmon. NJ. L. Exley, c. D. Baldwin
Joseph Phillips and Clarence G. Ander-
son, members of the special committee
from the grand jury; Messrs. J. j. Dale,
William Kehoe, T. S. Lathrop, T. N. West
and S. Guckenheimer, members of the
board Of county commissioners; Capt. John
r. Dillon, acting clerk of the commits
sioners; Mr.. ]. r. Saussy, county attor-
ney; Mr. w. F. Chaplin, superintendent
of public works; Mr.. G. Reuben Butler,
N-N-@N
and Mr.. W. f. Brown, assistant superln-
tendent Of public works.
DR.. J. c. LeHardy health officer of the
city, who was the first on behalf of the
sanitary board to bring the complaints be-
fore the county commissioners that they
We're not paying all the attention neces-
sary to the work on drainage in the imme-
diate vicinity of the city for the SANTA
tion and healthfulness of the community,
was invited by the commissioners to join
them on the tour of inspection, but was
prevented from doing so by reason of the
fact that some pressing work as health
officer kept him in the city. Dr. LeHardy
regretted not being able to take the trip.
BY the same urgent business which held
him in the city he was likewise prevent
ed from going with the state horticultural
society, with which he is closely associa-
ted, on the trip to Tybee.
DR.. LeHardy, however, gave Mr.. Paul
LeHardy who is an experienced civil en-
gineer, authority to go with the inves-
tigating committee, representing him in
the work. No other member of the sani-
tary board was present, but there were
several letters from members stating why
they were not able to accompany the
jurors and commissioners.
The investigating party met the county
commissioners at the court house at 2:SO
o clock, where a big omnibus or carry
ALL" from one of the livery stables was in
waiting. The liverymen had only sent two
horses to pull the omnibus over the un-
drained swamps, and there was some
slight delay in getting off. The turnout
was sent back and two more horses were
brought out.
Thus, with four-in-hand, the investiga-
tors and the commissioners and officials
piled into the 'carry-all'' in old-fashioned
picnic style and started on their tour.
They first went to Dundee canal, and
those Of a scrutinizing turn of mind had
much to investigate there. 1t was found
that there has been but little drainage
there in a long while. Many places are
grown up with weeds and give other un-
deniable evidence of a lack of attention.
Several of the jurors had note books with
them and were busy with their pencils
much of the time.
From the Dundee canal the party went
to the culvert on the Central railroad and
inspected that part of the county drain
age system. From there they went by the
Telfair road to the Ogeechee canal, and
made a close inspection. The party then
went towards the Musgrove swamp and
made a close Investigation of the cOndi-
tion of drainage there. At this point the
jurors found a great deal of matter to be
Incorporated into their report, and did
considerable work with their pencils and
note books.
After taking in the Telfair plantation
and the territory thereabout they went
direct to the Minis and Lamar swamps,
where it was necessary TO take more notes
Mr. Harmon. chairman Of the special COM
mittee of investigation from the grand
jury, was particularly busy with his note
book.
After making these visits it was found
TO be too late to continue the investiga-
ton and it was decided that the party
meet again next Monday and resume the
work, taking a tour of other sections
where il is thought to be necessary to
make investigation of the methods of the
commissioners in pursuing the drainage
work for the county.
They will, perhaps, make no further in
spection of the districts on the western
side Of the county, but will direct their
attention next to the remaining territory
TO be invaded. particularly the Buckhal-
ter swamp, over which the complaints
/ have been more emphatically made. The
/ county convicts are al work on draining
! Buckhalter swamp. a distant district
/ while the regions nearer the city have for
months been evacuated by the force, and
allowed 10 get into bad condition.
IT j. known that the special line
/ of work as laid down in the formal COM
/ plants 10 the commissioners by the mem-
/ bers Of the grand jury committee is, in
/ brief as follows:
/ Musgrove territory up 10 the limits of the
city. there is large area reported in a
I most insanitary condition and virtually
4 without drainage.
'2. In the Dundee swamp, south of the
/ Central railroad and on the Ogeechee ca
/ nal, Is a section very much I'm the same
/ condition that reported above
s3. The drainage of the upper part Of
/ Cuyer swamp and several of its tributa-
/ ries remain unfinished.
a. The Hampstead and the Cooper
/ swamps and the northwest corner of De-
/ Renne swamp are reported 60 be in a bad
condition.
IS. why Is Il necessary to build a new
/ road to Thunderbolt when the one now
| going there can be purchased for consfd-
/ erably less money than Il viii cost TO
build the new one?"
The investigation OF the proposition TO
/ build the new road 10 Thunderbolt will
come up later. A member of the grand
/ jury committee Us authority for the state
| ment that this will be- In all probability.
one OF the most important matters TO be
/ looked into.
| Nothing IN the nature Of report on the
1 Investigation viii be given out bv the