The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-08
The Citinens' Committee's Report.


morning. VIII commend Itself to the
thoughtful and respectful Consideration of
every citizen OF and taxpayer in Chatham
county, and more especially to residents in
the city of Savannah, who are directly
ana personally interested in the continu-
auce and, continued assurance of the city's
good health.
The paper is an exhaustive, well-consid-
cred and. conservative presentation of the
facts with regard to suburban drainage
and sanitary conditions as they actually
exist and it embraces certain recommen-
dations to the end of making the eity's
position, from a health point of view.
more secure. The high character of the
gentlemen composing the committee of in
vestgaton, their standing in the commu-
nifty and their well known and acknowl-
edged pubic spirit preclude the possibility
of charge of partisanship in
their Investigations and recommendations.
il needs but a cursory glance at the re-
port to show that it is pitched upon the
high plane of public welfare, that person
a.ities have no place in it, and that the
question under consideration is one of
public policy and not one of private opin-
IONS.
The report merits the careful perusal
and thoughtful study of every member of
the community; every dweller in the city
and every taxpayer in the county. It is
based upon careful investigation by com
petent Investigators, and embodies the
conclusions reached by them after a close
and conscientious study of the question
and the actual conditions. It abounds
in facts which are incontrovertible, and
from these facts only logical conclusions
are deduced
The report of the committee sustains in
toto the contentious Of the Morning News
with regard to the matter of suburban
| drainage. 1t was a foregone conclusion
that such would be the case; not because
the citizens committee was invited by the
Morning News to make the investigation
at its eXpense-the personnel Of the com
mittee is an invu.nerable defense against
any such charge or suggestion-but be-
cause the Morning News was absolutely
! certain of its position before it went into
the controversy. 1t knew what the facts
and conditions were; it knew what an I'M
prejudiced investigation would disclose; it
knew what a committe of conscientious
and competent business and professional
men, untrammeled by extraneous influ-
ences, would say of the neglected drain
age contiguous to the city if they could be
brought to see with their own eyes the
conditions complained of; therefore, we
| repeat, it was a foregone conclusion that
the position of this paper would be sus-
tanned by the report of the citizens COM
mittee.
The report, while exhaustive is very lu-
cid. It points out so clearly what is need
ed and where it is needed, that any citi-
zen may convince himself of the correct
ness of it by ocular demonstration with
I the expenditure of only an hour or two of
| time. The recital of the facts, however,
is so plain and unprejudiced that only the
most skeptical, or those who are inclined
! from personal motives to wish that the
facts were otherwise, will remain uncon-
WINGED after an examination of the paper
The drainage work around the city was
instituted years ago. under act of the leg
islature, for the protection of the health
Of the city. Later the work was placed
in the hands of the county commission
ers, but the purpose of it remained the
same. From first to last a million of dol
lars or more has been expended upon the
drainage. How is the system being now
/ cared for by those having it in charge?
This is the question of vital Importance
to the people of Savannah, and here is
how it is answered by the gentlemen of
the citizens committee:
In summing up we are constrained to
say, after a careful inspection of the
I drainage the swamps and loWlands from
I the Savannah river on the northwest
/ around the city to the east and from two
/ and a half to five miles out beyond the
| corporate limits, that we have never be-
/ fore seen in this area the canals and
/ bitches so INSTRUCTED as now, by rank veg
/ citation, sand and mud deposits, and other
/ impediments to the flow of water.
/ The neglect of and inattention to the
| drains already dug and the urgent neces-
! sity for the construction of others is man.
/ ifest on every side by the wet, soggy, un-
/ healthful condition 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
/ the last several months, except a part of
/ the new DeRenne canal Ito the condition
/ of which we alluded in the foregoing, and
! only one drain-Harmon canal-the farth-
! est out from the city of any examined ex-
cepting Buckhalter-that appropriated to
| being in anyway clean or showed signs OF
/ work al any recent period.
There seemed to be a want of system
! attic plan and regular procedure in the
! prosecution of the work under construc-
| ton and we were impressed that what is
being done will not result in any lasting
! benefit.
This being the condition of affairs, it is
clear that something should be done and
done at once. What is the remedy? After
mature consideration, these are the re-
concentrations of the committee of dis
| interested citizens:
Finally, our judgment as 10 what will
remove the dangers which exist or may
arise from imperfect drainage and lack OF
| drainage" around the city and conduce
sf,,,