The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-07

The grand jury's committee has taken
hold OF the question of county drainage
with the determination to ascertain all
Of the facts and what Is best for the in
forests of the city. Thursday afternoon
was devoted to examining the condition
of the lands west of the city as far as
Dundee swamp canal. It was not an or
binary, perfunctory examination, in which
distance lends enchantment to the view,
but one over hill and dale and marsh
and bog. The grand jurymen did not need
a guide. as they were well provided with
data by which TO locate for themselves
the places needing attention.
The trip was probably not instructive to
the grand jurymen alone. The county
commissioners who accompanied them no
doubt saw more of the county work and
the necessity for a continuance of it near
the city, than they have seen before since
they went into Office. and doubtless their
trip with the Investigators will result in
much good. Certainly the committeeman
from the grand jury are determined TO DO
their share towards rectifying matters
which are not in such shape as the people
would have them. 1t is to be expected
that the committee will make such recon-
mendations as will meet with the hearty
approval of the citizens and taxpayers. =
The grand jurors are taking hold of
county matters at the right end. They
purpose finding out why certain plans for
drainage near the city have not been car
ried out while a new and extensive sys-
TEN of drainage far away from it has been
inaugurated and is being pushed forward
with more than usual energy.
The drainage and Improvement of the
Buckhalter region has been the pet scheme
of one of the commissioners for years,
and almost his first official act when he
went into Office, nearly five years ago, was
to order large force of convicts 10 work
in the Buckhalter section. The opposi-
ton to his action on the part of those
who were then his colleagues caused the
abandonment of the projected improve
ments of Buckhalter until the present
board came into office, when his fellow
members virtually turned over to the
chairman the entire management Of the
county's business.
The Morning News wants it distinctly
understood that it is not opposed to the
drainage of Buckhalter swamp because
the work will improve the properties of
certain parties, but it opposes this expen-
diture of time and money in far away
section for the reason that there is other
and more important work nearer the city
that should receive attention before that
which is seven miles distant is under
taken. The grand jury will doubtless be
shown Buckhalter in all its ugliness and
dampness, and the members of that body
win naturally feel a sympathy for any one
who lives in that region, and
that those inhabitants deserve
the kindest consideration from
their more fortunate fellow citizens
who reside elsewhere, But the grand ju-
rymen will remember that the question is
not whether Buckhalter swamp needs
draining, for that is admitted, but it is
whether Buckhalter should be drained
while other work nearer the city is neg
lected or abandoned.
The completion of the Casey, Dundee
and other canals, and the thorough drain
be insisted on by the grand jury, and no
work should be permitted at Buckhalter
until all of the immediate local drainage
is thoroughly and permanently provided
for. We repeat, it is not to be denied that
Buckhalter swamp needs draining; so do
other ana nearer swamps TO say nothing
of the lowlands near the city. For in
stance take Pipemaker's swamp. which
has never been touched by any board of
county commissioners; it is nearer than
Buckhalter swamp, and If it were drained,
Pooler and all the surrounding section
would be benefited.
In the matter of buying the toll roads,
which the grand jury also proposes TO in
qure into. much has been said and much
more may be said. The long wished for
opportunity of making the Thunderbolt
and White Bluff shell roads free to the
public has arrived, but the county COM
mlssioners decline to buy them for $4,000,
alleging that the county has no money for
that purpose. Nevertheless the commits
sioners are about TO undertake the con-
struction Of a new road that Will cost from
$4,000 to $4,000. The taxpayers, and there
are many of them who live along the
Thunderbolt and White Bluff toll roads,
must continue TO pay toll while their
money is used to build new road for
the benefit OF land company. or TO spite
some one who may be interested in the
toll roads.
According to official figures the con-
struction of the Thunderbolt shell road
originally cost its stockholders $4,000 and
It cost them at the close of the late war
S2S,OOO 60 rebuild IT, making the total out
lay for building a good hard road out Of
dirt road, $4,000. It cost s3OO0O original
Is. to build the White Bluff shell road
and $4,000 to rebuild it, making a total
cost of $4,000. In other words TO make
those two roads what they have been for
The last thirty-ive or forty years. It has
COST those who invested their money in
them N46.oool This large Investment Is
now offered TO the people for $4,000. Is
there am unprcjudiced man ia the county
who would hesitate TO accept the offers