The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-19
DR.. LEHARDY PUT A STOP TO IT
SAYS SOIL IN THE CITY MUST NOT
BE UPTURNED NOW.


and We're Send 10 the Vale Royal
C"nai-The Work Had been Or
dcrcd by Other City Authorities.
The Commissioners Pass an Ord n
Directing Tint the Work Asked
for by the city Authorities he
Done.
There will not be any upturning of the
soil within the city limits at present.
Health Officer LeHardy does not think it
advisable in the present state of the
weather, TO disturb the surface soil, es-
pecialy TO dig up sewers, and he so indi-
Gated very emphatically yesterday.
The second gang of fifty men was es-
tablished in camp on the Augusta road
on Friday, and practically the first work
they did in that section was done the
following morning. Since the eonvicts
have been placed at the service of the
city authorities to. work inside or outside
the city limits, the street and lane COM
mittee of council thought it good OPP
portunity to get the West Boundary street
sewer cleaned out. This sewer has been
stopped up for some time, and the work
has been badly needed,
Accordingly, it was indicated to the
county authorities that the city would
like to have this work done. Alderman T.
S. Wylly Jr., chairman of the drainage
committee of council, gave his assent to
the work under the circumstances, as he
seemed fully justified In doing under the
recent action of the sanitary board, which
To he off hot he.
beneficial results from cleaning the drains
and bitches at this time would be greater
than any detriment in upturning the soil
for that purpose.
With this authority for the work, the
convicts were assembled on West Boun-
Diary street yesterday morning at o'clock
In accordance with the desires OF the
county commissioners and the street and
lane committee, Commissioner of Public
Works H. Willink sent Inspector Smith
to West Boundary street to guide the con-
Wet forces in their work. The convicts
were to dig up the sewer for even twenty
or thirty feet and, wherever it was cholx-
ed, to clear it out.
Thus the work was begun by the con-
victs, and quite a bit of the sewer was
dug into when DR.. LeHardy appeared on
the scene and ordered it stopped at once
and in no very uncertain terms. Alder
man Wylly and Vice Chairman Lathrop
of the commissioners were also present
and for a moment they were at a loss to
understand DIR. LeHardys action There
was a discussion and an explanation, and
the work was stopped at once. The con-
victs were then sent over to the Vale
srvhn fl0xr nj ,.lr
Just outside the city limits during the rest
of the day. They will continue that work
tomorrow morning, working toward and
into the city limits.
In the present state of the weather."
DIR. LeHardy said, when asked about the
matter, II did not consider il advisable to
have the soil upturned within the city lin
its, so ordered it stopped, and very en-
phatically, too. While 1 believe the drains
near and in the city, too should be cleaned
l do not believe any of the sewers should
be opened, and the earth about them dug
up at this time, and as long as l am health
officer I intend to protect the health of
the $1,000 people in Savannah, and l will
not permit such work as that, l do not
care who orders it,"
Dr. LeITardy did not consider his action
at all inconsistent with the position of the
sanitary board as stated in its resolution,
which, as Is well known, was directly con-
trary TO the position taken by the commits
sioners. with regard to the sewers In the
city at least DR.. LeHardy upholds the
commissioners position. consequently the
convicts will not dig up any sewers and
perhaps not many drains, at least not for
the next few days. DR.. LeHardy thinks
later on there may be a more favorable
state of the weather, in which event such
work might be permitted.
The county commissioners held a. meet
gpe Of ~
of taking action on a communication from
Alderman WHY stating just what work
the city authorities desired to have done.
The communication from Alderman Wylly
asked that
The bitches on Sixth, Eighth and Tenth
streets be cleaned.
That a ditch be cut near Seventh street
to empty into the Sixth or Eighth street
ditch.
That the bitches on Reynolds, RAM
dolph Grove and Vine streets, south of
Lovers lane be cleaned underdrained and
filled.
That the ditch which passes under the
Merchants and Mechanics property about
opposite Lovers lane be cleaned and I'M
derdrained.
That the bitches in Eastvilie, opposite
Gwinnett street, both be connected where
the Waters road store is underdrained
through Meadows street, extending east
wardly 500 feet, emptying into the open
drain leading into the Casey canal, and
that they be cleaned and otherwise prop
erly attended to.
That the sewer leading from the Waters
road to Bilbo canal be run down Grove
street and connected with the Waters
road sewer.
That the drains on St. Julian and Ran
dolph streets be opened and cleaned, and
that the drain extending along the north
side of st. Julian street to Randolph be
and filed.
That the Perry street canal and all lat
erals be cleaned
That the bitches on the Lamar tract
and on the TwiclSenham plantation be
cleaned.
After considering this communication
and specific request for work from the |
city, authorities the county commission
ers passed the following resolution provid- |
ing that the work be done accordingly;
Ordered, That the committee on drain |
age be and It is hereby authorized to have |
executed by the county convicts now avail |
able for work within and near the city |
limits, such drainage work as has been |
outlined by Health Oficsr j. c. LeHardy |
and 7. S. Wyly, Jr., chairman, in their |
Joint letter of the 18th inst: said wohr to |