The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-12
DRAINAGE WEST OF THE CITY.
CERTAIN SECTIONS WHICH NEED
ATTENTION AT ONCE.

! CITY and County Auth critics May
Have TO Come to Some Understand
ing About the Vale Royal Section.
Health officer LcHardy Has Been
over the Ground and VIII Report
10 COunciI-A Number of Outlets to
which the City VIII Have to Give
Attention.
The need for better drainage In the sec.
ton embraced between the lowlands west
of the city and the Savannah river is be-
coming a vital question for the authorities
interested in preserving the public health.
It will first be necessary for the city and
county officials to come together, however,
as there are bad places near the city
limits, where work will have to be done
on both sides the line to produce desired
results.
Council and the County Commissioners
will probably have TO unite in properly
draining the Vale Royal watershed, west
of the city, as the recent foods have
clearly demon strated that attention to the
drainage in that locality is badly needed.
The corporation line cuts through that
swamp, however, and before the work
had for both sides the lines to receive
attention. Deepening the drains and other
wise providing for carrying off flood water
Will avail nothing when done on one side
and not the other, which is the reason
for the effort that will be made this week
to see what can be done in this direc-
ton.
Health Officer LeHardy has just been
over the outlying territory for the pur-
pose of getting a knowledge of the situa-
ton. The large sheets of water spread
over the western lowlands had about pass
ed off, and he went over the ground to
observe, if possible, the reason at stood
several days longer than 1t should have
done. DR.. LeHardy started at the south
| ern boundary of the Springfield plantation
| and worked his way along the drains to
the place where they empty into the Ogee-
| chez canal. A number of breaks were
found, which it will be necessary for the
city to repair early, in order to prevent
| another overflow of the lowlands when
| there is mother freshet
| 1t will also be necessary in some drains
| to enlarge the gates which are consid-
| cred altogether too small to allow the vol
ume of water that collects to pass with
| out being backed up and held for some
! time
In that part of the Springfield plantation
south of Gwinnett street, estimated to be
about 100 acres, all the water flowing from
| it must pass through a wooden trunk
| about three feet square. Where there is
! a heavy rainfall, it is impossible for this
water to flow off, it is said, without being
| held a considerable time. 1t stood so long
! after the recent rains that the submerged
vegetation became rank, and when in
| spected by DR.. LeHardy, the situation did
| not impress him very favorably. He be-
! lieves there is but one remedy, and that
| is to enlarge the trunk. It was found
! the same trouble exists at a number of
! other places. Dr.. LeHardy will urge in
| his report that this work be done before
any other, and to give his report definite
shape, he will specify the different trunks,
which, he thinks, need attention first.
The conditions that prevail in the Vale
Royal swamp have been brought to the
attention of Council and the County Com
mssioners. Ii is the intention 10 put the
convicts to work charging the drain
| through the swamp, if the city will agree
/ to continue the work from the corporation
| line to MusgrOve creek. 1t is possible the
matter may stop, however, as Mayor Mel
| drim has expressed the opinion the city
was not compelled or expected to improve
drains for outlying territory, unless the
conditions were such that the public
! health demanded 1t.
! The drain running through this swamp
should be improved by all means" said
| DIR. LeHardy. 1T seems to me the Coun-
! ty Commissioners should at once begin
| deepening The channel, and when the work
| is completed to the city limits, it should
! there be taken up by the city and carried
! ahead. This is a matter that appeals to
! both the city and county authorities and
l shall urge that attention be given it with
out delay. The lowlands have been GOV,
cred with standing water as a result of
| defective drainage, and the recommends
| lions l propose 10 make include improve
ments that have been needed for some
| time"