Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1901-06-15
HAVE COMPLETED
THEIR BUSINESS.
Grand Jury Has Adjourned After
Three Weeks.
DISPOSED OF MUCH BUSINESS.
General Fresentments of That Body
for May Term of Sumter Superior
Court. is Discharged With Thanks
Of Judge Littlejohn.


May Term, 1901, of Sumter Superior
Court beg leave to submit the follow
ing as our general presentments.
The criminal business coming be-
fore US has been exceptionally heavy.
So much so that very little time has
been given us to examine into other
interests of the county. Our commit
tees have, however, made the most
thorough Investigations possible into
the condition of the offices and books
of the various county officers, the pub
lie buildings, the public roads, the
poor house and farm, and the public
schools of the county.
The offices and books are neatly, and
so far as our committees could discov-
er, properly kept, and evidence care
and efficiency on the part of all the
officers. We have not attempted to
verify any of the financial accounts for
the reason that the committee appoint
ed by the last Grand Jury to make
thorough investigation of all accounts
of that nature, inform us that they are
not through with their Investigations,
and consequently not able to make
full report
The partial report, which has been
made by accountant Mr.. VIM. Jones
satisfies us that this investigation is
proceeding in a most satisfactory man
ner. We therefore continue said COM
mittee to wit: W. Ell. G. Dudley, j, j.
HanesIey and John A. Cobb with the
same authority and duties as was con-
ferred upon them by the former Grand
Jury with instructions to continue
and if possible, finish their investiga-
tions and report to the next Grand
Jury at the November term of this
court.
We found the public buildings in
fairly good condition, and this is es-
pecially true of the jail. The court
house is in need of some minor re-
pairs, to which we call the attention of
the proper authorities.
The poos house and farm is in quite
satisfactory condition, except that
some of the buildings are IN need of
covering. There are IS inmates, 2
white and IA colored, and they are
we'll cared for.
PUBLIC ROADS.
We find the roads in poor condition,
owing to recent heavy and repeated
rains, and we recommend that they be
put in order as soon as practicable.
In accordance with the recommen-
dation of previous grand jury the
system of road working was changed
from the old road law to what is known
as ''The Alternative Road Law of 1895.
The chief points of difference be-
tween the old and the new road laws,
as we are informed are: First, under
the new law there is.one district super
intendent for each militia district who
takes the place of the three road COM
mlssioners, as under the old law.
Second. Undo- the new law the
county commissioners have the power
to provide road gang for the purpose
OF supplementing the road working by
the people, or of supplanting 1t alto
gether.
They have also power to equip the
same, and to pay the expenses out of
the county treasury, The board has
organized the road gang and have it
now in more or less successful opera
ton. They have also appointed the
district superintendent, and in most
of the districts, indeed we believe in
all, these superintendent have per-
formed their duties by selecting over
seers, dividing the roads and assign
ing the hands to work the same.
In the third place the county boz ID
has power to fix the number of days
each person subject to road duty shall
be required to work the road, and to
assess a Communication tax, by paying
which any person shall be exempt from
road duty during the year. This COM
mutation tax is collecGed by the dis
trict superintendent and paid into the
county treasury and then subject to
the disposal of the county board.
Fourth. Heavy penalties from a
fine of one dollar day as the lowest,
to 80 days IN the changing as the
highest, may be imposed upon default
ing road hands by the county board,
but no penalty can be imposed, either
upon the district superintendent or
the oYerseers for negIecting or refusing
to,perform their duties. But the board
may dismiss either superintendent or
overseer for such failure and appoint
new ones.
We believe this system, under which
the county is now caring for the roads,
is the best that is now practicable I'M
der existing laws, and we recommend
that it be rigidly and energetically car
ried out.
Let the board appoint the best men
as district superintendent, and dis
miss such as prove to be inefficient, ap-
pointing others until all the districts
are supplied with good ones. Let the
superintendent select the best owe :
seers, and fairly divide the roads and
apportion the hands, and when an
overseer proves inefficient let him be
dismissed and another appointed, till