The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-19

versed in matters pertaining to sanitation
and in the laws regulating quarantine
Such a man will not abuse his authority
or permit others to do Il. He viii be in
q position to prevent panics and unneces-
sary commercial or personal restrictions,
and should the legislature provide for an
epidemic fund, he can easily prevent such
sufferings and pauperism as occurred la
1893.
BY his knowledge of the topography of
the state he can reduce malaria diseases
by drainage, where Il is most needed, and
being in constant touch with the authori-
ties in every county he viii be able to in
struct them in the reduction of all pre-
ventable diseases One important part Of
his duties will be TO visit every county in
the state, TO secure the collection Of re-
liable Vital statistics by county officials,
and to urge upon the authorities of cities
and towns the enforcement OF the sanitary
measures most likely to improve the
health and diminish mortality OF the in
habitants.
The use OF the state convicts for sanitary
work will in part solve the complex prob
lem, the bugbear Of our legislators for
the past twenty-five years.
Utilized for drainage purposes, the con-
Wet labor will not conflict with honest
labor, but, on the contrary by increasing
the healthfulness of the locality, their
work will enable the working class to live
in greater comfort, and to cope with sur
rounding difficulties to better advantage.
While the convicts, who will at all times
be under the eye and supervision of state
officers, will fare far better than II leased
to corporations or individuals, whose in
terest is to reduce as much as possible the
cost of labor, not only by retrenehing upon
the quantities in rations and wearing APP
parel, but, regardless of age or physical
conditions to get all the work they can
out of every prisoner.
1t has been reported that If convicts
were made to work in the swamps they
would die with malarlal fevers. This is
not true. In Chatham county the great
bulk of convict work has been done In
draining the swamps, and 1t has had no
deleterious effect upon the health of the
convicts They sleep away from the
swamps, and. as they must walk to their
work, they start after sun up, and they
never work after shutdown.
The health and cheerfulness of the con-
victs has greatly improved since they have
been put at work in the open air, and their
sleeping quarters are spacious and we'll
aired. The principal cause of sickness Is
from greediness, boiling down their food.
Many ask the attending physician for
a dose of oil in order to secure days rest
The mortality among them is considerably
less than among the free negroes, because
their food Is well cooked, and eaten at reg
ular hours. their work, the time for sleep
ing is also regulated, this accounts for the
difference.
The employment of the convict for
drainage would Ia no way prevent the es-
tablishment of convict settlement where
the time of the old, of the young, and OF
the women, can be utilized to furnish food
aud clothing for the entire force In the
state. For the purpose of drain
age and work upon the roads only
the full grown and robust men, those well
able to stand exposure in all kinds of
weather. should be selected, this will In
sure good service, and prevent much I'M
necessary expense. Respectfully,
!. G. LeHardy M. ID.