The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-14
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The authorities of the town of Tybee and
the officers of the Avondale Rife Range,
taking time by the forelock, have petit
toned the board OF County Commission
ers for the services of the chain-gang to
put their respective holdings into good
sanitary condition. It has not been long
since Tybee and the Avondale Range re-
ceived the attention Of the county. There
is, however no fault to be found with the
efforts of the persons interested In these
places to have them again put in good or
der at the public expense II they can in
duce the County Commissioners TODD 1t.
AS a matter OF fact. II is very probable
that what Is required, say a month or two
of work by a large gang of conyicts. will
be accorded to the petitioners.
At the meeting of the Board of Commits
sioners when the Tybee and Avondale pc
ttlons were received. the board passed an
order to build the proposed new road to
Buckhalter swamp
To judge from the proceedings of that
meeting, it would appear that the county
authorities have ample men and means
for public work; nevertheless, in spite of
the demands of the people OF Savannah
for the drainage of the lands of the coun-
ty adjacent to the city, the commission
ers. with persIstency worthy of better
cause, have neglected and are neglecting
that very important work. They can find
time and men and money to devote to i'm
provements which could wait indefinitely
without embarrassing any interest, but
they refuse to recognize, in the face of
overwhelming evidence, that the proper
drainage of lands near the city is urgent
ly demanded by circumstances and is
matter of vital interest to the city.
The lands around the city are now fair
iy dry. This is because of the fact that
length of time. The present, therefore, is
the proper time to go into those sections
and perfect the drainage 1t could be ac-
complished easier quicker, and better now
than to wait until the lowlands are all I'M
der water. If the lands now dry were
kept dry-not permitted to become flood
ed with water which would become stag
nant after a short while-the danger of
fevers would be reduced to a minimum If
the work should be neglected, those in
authority would be open to the charge of
extreme carelessness. 1t will not remain
dry weather all the time, and when the
warm days come it will not take water
long to stagnate and produce fever germs.
1t is, however, apparently of no use to
point out to the County Commissioners
the necessity for this nearby drainage,
and the demand OF the health authorities
and the people that it shall be attended
to. Various bodies have taken action
looking to influence the commissioners to
a performance of their duty in the prem
ises, and column after column of facts
has been published with regard to the mat
ter; but the board refuses to be moved
Possibly new line of tactics on the part
of those who are anxious for the preser-
walton of the health of the city might have
do well to follow the example of the Ty-
bee and Avondale petitioners. Possibly
an humble petition to the Honorable
Board of County Commissioners, signed by
the Mayor and aldermen and the executive
committeeman of the Liberal and the Cit
liens political clubs, might have the eff
feet of inducing the board to do some
thing for those taxpayers who furnish the
bulk of the money which the board is ap-
parently disposed to continue spending
in far away sections of the county.