The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-13
BOLT AGAINST BUCKHALTER.
COMMISSIONER KEHOE WANTS TO
SEE PLANS AND ESTIMATES.

Yet Passed Any Plan FOR Draining
the Swamp-He Does Not Approve
the Drainage system Now Being
Established There-Thinks the
COunty's Money Ought TO BE spent
CautiOusIy-LiveIy Debate in the
Meeting of the County Commits
siOnerS.
Buckhalter swamp was the sub
ject OF a pretty lively discussion before
the county commissioners at their August
meeting yesterday.
Commissioner William Kehoe placed
motion before the board which started the
debate His motion was to the effect that
since active work had been commenced on
the drainage Of Buckhalter swamp With
out any definite plans or estimates having
ever been made by the commissioners de-
mand should be made upon the depart
ment OF public works at once for such
plans and estimates and they should be
laid before the commission as soon as pos
sible.
"Why the plans are all drawn and were
agreed upon long ago remarked Chair
man Dale.
"Io plans or estimates of the cost Of the
undertaking have ever been laid before
this body" retorted Mr.. Kehoe. IF the
operations now going on in Buckhalter
swamp are under the direction Of the
county commissioners. the county commits
sioners should first pass on some definite
plan and approve the work"
There was a pause in the deliberations
of the commissioners.
IF the work now going on is to he con-
tinued, for one must interpose objections
to the plan of procedure
wherein do you object?" queried the
chairman.
In the first place, I want to see the
plans. if there be any. from the engineer.
do not think the work ought to be I'M
deftaken in haphazard way aimlessly
digging bitches with no banks 10 them,
hoping that the water will by chance find
its way into the trenches and the drain
age be accomplished. ] do not think it
ought to be contemplated that the Nus
grove watershed is to be reached by this
work"
The chairman began to explain the pur-
poses of the work on the big swamp. He
thought the grea test good that could be
accomplished was that which Mr.. kehoe
objected to. He took issue with Mr. ke-
hoe in all that he had said. He declared
that the plan for the drainage of Buck
halter swamp had been submitted by the
engineers. that il had been agreed upon
and il was he hoped, TO continue to be
the basis upon which the work is TO be
carried on until 1t is finished.
Superintendent of Public Works Chaplin
reiterated what the chairman had said,
declaring that tba plapS had been sub
mitted by Engineer Brown and that the
work had been going on according to
these plans.
Where are the plans?' asked Mr. Ke-
hoe. II don't mean the profile drawing
of the canal that shows nothing; I mean
the plans for the system of drainage we
are supposed to be putting in at Buck
halter swamp; and where are the esti-
mates of the cost? I insist they have
never been brought before this body for
approval
They may not have been brought up
formally in the meeting" rejoined Chair
man Dale, "bpt they have been looked
over Informally, / think and for myself,
/ am willing to trust 70 the skill and wis
dom and good judgment OF our commit
tee on drainage without having them die
tated to by any outsiders"
Il have said nothing TO reflect on the
committee on drainage" replied Mr.. ke-
hoe, NOR is il my purpose to say anything
that viii do So but l do say that. as one
who shares the responsibility of such
public undertakings. ] deem II nothing but
just TO the people that the plans for the
drainage of Buckhalter swamp be not
taken up without first being brought be-
fore the county comm ssioners in regular
session and approved by them"
About this time Commissioner West, a
member Of the commission retired from
the session. and Commissioner Quicken
foI ruH H.
that he had to catch a car TO Tyhee This
LEFT but three members present-Chair-
man Dale, Mr.. kchoe and Mr. Lathrop,
chairman of the committee on drainage.
The discussion was continued al some
length Mr.. kehoe asked Supt Chaplin
u he were going TO put the men to work
digging big ditch without any banks
Mr.. Lathrop replied that, OF course,
there would have 20 be banks where the
tide came In and out, but he did not
see that there was any use to have banks
20 the trenches or bitches where there
was no tide.
Il have been told that the tides are
one foot higher IN the Ogeechee river.
where this canal is supposed to empty
than they are in the Savannah river az
point as high up as the city of Savannah"
said Mr.. kehoe. 81 believe the work az
Buckhalter swamp should be done with
as small an output Of labor and expense
as possible. and l fear that the plans.
as now being operated, contemplate en-
urely TOO vast an undertaking. What il
II going TO cost the county, anyhow, has
that ever been decided?
II told you the other day." said Superin-
tendcnt Chaplin. that II would take $50
iaborers 30 days 10 complete the job
Yes, and that was only the other dav.
when member of the special committee
from the grand jury CHANGED To ask Won
the question rctorted Mr. Kehoe. "and
that was the first 1 had heard OF IT, The
people OF this county have had some ex-
perience at Wild drainage plans. They paid
nearly $4,000 on the bungliug work by
which the Casey canal was constructed
ana this had 20 De an done over again be-
cause Of incompetent engineering. or no
engineering al all."
chairman Dale took the floor again and
oihered with Mr.. kchoo. lie said the Casey
canal was good piece Of work which
might have lasted fifty years. but the
present job Is q hunglc ana farce.
insist upon knowing what we are
GOING 20 do before we begin doing a."
said Mr.. Kehoe, ana an his suggestion A
was agreed that an informal meeting loo
held TODAY FOR nf uurroa. 90 ......f..... ...