The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-02
GENERAL pREsnNrMENT
of the Grand Jury of chatham coun

l.
of the Superior Court, Chatham County,
We the grand jury for the December term
of 1897, beg to report that by committees
the records have been examined and in
spections made of the county Officers,
dockets of the justices, public schools.
county buildings and convict camps, and
county drainage, and respectfully submit
the following general presentments;
COUNTY OFFICES
In the offices of the County Commission
ers, receiver Nof tax returns, receiver of
taxes and the county treasurer. we found
a complete system of books and accounts.
AS complete as 1t is possible to have.
Everything starting in the Office of the
County commissioners and ending there.
They have a perfect system of checking
the accounts of both the tax receiver and
the treasurer. We, as far as it Is prac-
ticable for us to do in the limited time
usually allotted to this department., have
seen that everything is in shape and kept
right up to date. The books in the Of
fees of the Clerk of the Superior Court
and Ordinary are all in complete order,
and written up to date.
COUNTY BUILDINGS.
The committee appointed to examine the
county buildings found the Jail and court
house in good physical and sanitary condi-
ton, The tower in the Jail, which was
damaged by the last storm, is soon to be
replaced by a new and much more orna-
mental one.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The committee, in company with Super
intendent Ashmore made a visit to all of
the public schools in the city, and while
the time spent was not as long as the OBJ
ject merted, sufficient information was OBJ
tanned to make a fair report.
1t was noted with much pleasure that
the attendance was most uniform, for un-
less a good reason is assigned, no scholar
can continue to be absent for any length
of time without being dropped from the
rolls.
Harmony and good feelings between
teachers and scholars prevail in every
grade. We cannot too highly appreciate
this most desirable condition of affairs, for
where such feelings exist. work becomes
a pleasure and all drudgery is removed.
Children from the humber walks of life,
and whose environs are not the most de-
sirable have just the same care, and have
as good chance for training as those who
are more favorably situated.
During our visit we noticed a general
tendency to excel; questions were asked
and answered with a rapidity that was
marked, and all the work inspected show
ed that competent training was given and
good results attained. There was desire
apparent in every grade to show good
results of work, and we think as long as
such feelings exist the public schools of
Savannah will continue to merit the high
praise they justly deserve. We think the
schools would be better appreciated if our
citizens would visit them oftener, and not
be contented with a few reports from the
grand jury each year. 1t would stimulate
both teachers and scholars and make
them feel that their efforts We're appre-
ciated by our citizens.
The buildings are, In the main, in good
condition and order, and neat
ly kept; ventilation, heat, light
and matters of hygiene are care
fully considered. There is some over
crowding in the Junior grandes, in both
white and colored schools; the ground
floors in most of the older buildings are
deficient in light, and'not as quiet as we
should like. 9Nfa tHt19
If we have any unfavorable criticism TO
make il is relative to the toilet arrange
ments in st. Patrisck's school, the con-
struction of which, to our minds, is un-
sanitary. We would also suggest that a
few window shades, in all the schools
might be purchased with beneficial results
as we found but few rooms equipped with
them.
The upper rooms in the Henry Street
School are so constructed as to make IL
very difficult for the scholars TO hear the
teachers, unless they speak unusually
loud, which is very trying; this is great
objection, and should, if possible be rem
edied
The Anderson Street School is model
building, and we take great pleasure in
congra tulating the county in the acquisi-
ton of such an excellent building for
school purposes.
It gives us much pleasure to state that
under the efficient management of Supt
Ashmore great savings have been effected
in the purchasing of supplies. All requt-
stions have to be made in writing ana
examined before grated, TO see whether
the articles last fuEnfshed have not been
wasted Such a check prevents much
waste and encourages economy Articles
needed are procured by competitive bid
ding. the lowest bidder, all things being
equal, getting the contract We think
economy, consistent with efficiency, is
pTacticed by the board, and all moneys
received judiciously expended.
In conclusion, we would say that our
report is based upon schools in the city,
there being forty-one in Chatham county,
which we were unable to inspect. We re-
greet to make this statement, but we found
it an impossibilty TO carefully visit and
give them the same attention that we did
those schools located in the city
DRAINAGE
OF the estimated sixty-fve miles of
drainage canals and bitches in the county
we found that a part is clogged by sand
and weeds. We are informed that but
small part of the drains has been cleaned
since last summer or the early fall
The new DeRenne canal demands early
attention. The water is damned up by
sand and rank weeds. At Its junction with
the Casey canal sand bar has formed in
the latter canal, a distance of about 800
feet to a depth of eighteen inches to two
feet, stopping, to Va consider
able extent, the flow of
water in the Casey canal east of that
point The banks of the deep cut east of
the Waters road through which the De
Renne canal runs. are broken and caved
in in places and the sand is carried down
into the Casey canal, causing O partial
stoppage of its flow. We recommend that
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