The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-30
WANT THE DRAINS OPENED.
Complaints From sections south and
West of the City.

West of the City.
Unless attention is given the drains in
West Savannah, around Southover juno
ton, and in the vicinity of Diumersville.
which are at present said to be choked
and filled with stagnant water, complaint
will soon be made. The people there claim
the situation is becoming serious.
Health officer LeHardy has been receiv-
ing letters for several days from property
owners, asking If something could not be
done to relieve the situation. Before TAX
ing any steps, however, the health officer
took a trip over the sections mostly COM
planned of, to see what reason there was
for the complaints. His trip was just af-
ter the storm, at a time when the Spring
field plantation portions of the section
bordering on the Central Railroad, and
The Vale Royal plantation, were covered
with water Thinking this the best time
to locate the trouble, if possible, he went
over the entire section.
In some places it was found the water
was checked by conduits, running under
roads, which were entirely too small TO
admit the large volume of water to pass
without standing a considerable time. 1t
is only on extraordinary occasions this
condition prevails however such as dur
ing the recent heavy rainfall.
From the complaints the people make
though il seems the drains are stopped up,
and their efforts are to induce the County
Commissioners to put the convicts to work
clearing the distractions. 1t was with
this in view that DR. LeHardy wrote
Chairman F. s. Lathrop OF the drainage
committee, asking that the matter be
looked into as soon as possible. Commits
sioner Lathrop's reply was 10 the effect
suggested that the places complained of
be specified, so that an inspection might
be made. The health officer compiled with
the request promptly, but received no re-
ply.
Some time after the late storm" DR..
LeHardy said, II received a number of
complaints from persons living in these
sections, with reference 20 the choked
drains. 1 at once communicated with Mr..
Lathrop. and shortly afterward received
a reply to the effect that the county engi-
| neer, and superintendent of public works,
| had visited these sections, and reported
| them properly drained; but If / would
specify the places complained of, the mat
| ter would be given attention. l then had
! a diagram prepared, showing the localities
| in bad condition, and specifying the par
ticular bitches that were choked. Mr..
| Grimm, who lives near Southover juno
| ton, described some of the places that
needed draining, and offered to point them
out to the officials. Mr.. Guilmartin sent
| me a detailed account of the same thing
''These communications were sent to Mr.
Lathrop," continued DIR. LeHardy, but
| have not yet received a reply, notwlth
standing much time has elapsed since
sent Them recently met Superintendent
| Chaplin and asked him If any draining haC
been done near the city lately, and he an
swered In the affirmative. Since that time
however, l have received a letter from
Chief of Police McDermott in which h'
says: Referring to your favor, request
| ing information as to whether there ar
convlcts working in West Savannah, an
reliably informed th1t 'pSle.s are %. there
| Their nearest location is between the 81,
and seven mile posts on the Augusti
| road" Another letter from Mr.. Guismartil
says: THE county people have not ever
| looked at the drainage mentioned in M
letter to you, which was forwarded to Mr.
F. S. Lathrop, chairman drainage commit
tee The De Renne canal does not flow a
place mentioned, the water standing Their
! until the sun dries Ii up" A letter from
| Mr. Grimm says: 81 know of no draining
being done by the County Commissioner
in this vicinity this season. There has beel
none done around Southover Junction"
Mr.. S. L. Lazaron stated he had beel
approached by a number of people in thes
sections who complain of the eonditioi
of the drains. The complaint, he saic
seems to be that they are stopped, an
that there is need, not only for cleaning
but deepening them In many places.
The present condition causes the waite
to soak into the ground and sour, and
remains this way long time on accoun
of the heavy growth of vegetation, whic
keeps the sun from drying the ground. TIL
section is thickly populated, especially
along the line of the Central Railroad, an
something should be done, he said, to Du
the drains in better condition.