The morning news., 1897-08-31
Aug 3d. 1897.


To the Foreman and Gentlemen of the
Grand Jury of Chatham County: Your
committee appointed to investigate GER
TAIN complaints against the county COM
missioners respectfully submit the follow
ing report:
We first addressed a letter to the COM
missioners ON the subject, and received
from them a reply, copies of both which
letters we have attached TO this report.
Before commencing our investigations
We were advised by the chairman of the
county commissioners, that with our per
mission he would invite the sanitary
board of the city to accompany us. We
regret to say that they were not officially
represented except on one occasion. We
also invited all having any complaints TO
point them out to US during our official
visits, as it was the desire of your COM
mittee to get at all the facts and report
10 you the true condition of things as we
might find them.
Our first visit was to Dundee canal
We found 1t full of river water, and on
its western bank a rice field with the har-
vest flow on. The bitches of the Vale
Royal canal were grown up In weeds, as
was the case also with the Dundee canal
from the Augusta road to the Louisville
road. At the same time all the low lands
IN this section, excepting the rice field
were, IN a dry and sanitary condition
mis- canal was not completed because of
toe inability to secure the right of way
through lands south of the Louisville road
The Ogeechee canal is in very unsan,-
'ary condition, being full of decayed vegi-
iation and stagnant water. II not being
under the control of the county commits
tloners we recommend that the owners be
required TO clean IL.
We proceeded through the Telfair rice
field and found il needed drainage, and
fN.F So. -
drainage committee of the commissioners
mat estimates were on file in
his office and would be acted on by the
commissioners. We then visited the Minis
ana Lamar swamp cana.s and found them
clean, ana all the low lands drained by
these canals in good sanitary condition.
We minutely inspected the northwest
corner of the DeRenne swamp, under the
tuidance of the lessee Of these lands, and
round the bitches to be fun OF weeds, not
WthSlanding they had been cleared in
'Ae spring. The low lands on this tract
were particularly dry, aud we were in
formed hy the tenant that there had not
'een any water remaining in his fields
since May last.
We went TO the county farm and found
magnificent crop of corn, potatoes. peas
rice. sugar cane and Vegetab bes. This
'rop was made by hfty-one convicts. who
cannot be used al hard work. Another
''mp of convicrs We found engaged in the
work of competing the Montgomery cross
roads
We visited the Buckhaltor swamp and
lamp, where there are 1l3 convicts at
work on the canal We found the camp
,Iean comfortable and under good discip-
Hhe' From there we proceeded 20 the
Hlauiation OF the chairman Of the county
commissioners, and from the location OF
.n' iand aud the plat shown us, we are
li'as'd TO report that we could not see
"hefc mis- land would derive any direct
Dtheht from the drainage Of this swamp.
we believe that che drainage OF this
"ainp should be continued for the follow
'll reasons:
The official map shows that bv cut
HA ditch nine feet deep the entire wa
from Lamar swamp and low .ands
Lucent oan be carried through the pro-
''ee1 canal and have n fall of one foot
very 5000 feet Of length the difference
'n' night Of the tide az tho Occechee
Image '''''
IL is wisdom 90 relieve the Nusgrove
.'h OF all water possible and
save Springfield plantation OF lts
'hi susceptibility Co overflow We are
mat its dams had 10 Doe raised
Time ago 20 avoid this disaster.
Ihf carrying of this water 10 the
'hee river VIII largely reduce the Vol.
Nl HWhmp water that is locked up ln
creek, twelve hours out of every
.f-iDur in close proximity 10 the cts.
luenco Of the tideh from tho 81.
No river
f1e drainage of she Bnokbai,sr
"'u open large tract of iho nneat
+" iHr county fDf cultivation. ana
''p ~ nnl a. have boon fht ronom.
IDinrf nnRinref Uf fhe raunff.
. .l lfifrr bY hlm fo ihf roun.
.liiNi. 'oneff. dated June .. 49,. ln