The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-05-24

Win the main idnu 10 Oue VI lilS must
substantial wooden structures of its
kind in the county.
The Ogeechee road, while rough and
rocky has, in our opinion. the best
foundation of any road in the county.
We recommend that the road be rolled,
and, if possible, be made smoother.
There are many holes in the paving
of Dale avenue, which if not repaired
promptly will result in serious injury
to the road.
The drainage of the county we find
generally in good condition. The coun-
ty has a force of convicts at work on
Tybee Island. and when the work in
progress there has been completed the
drainage of the island will be in ex-
cellent condition.
The Public schools.
We have Investigated thoroughly the
condition of the public schools. We
find the system of bookkeeping en-
ployed in the receipts and expenditure
of the school fund thorough in every
detail. the safeguards thrown around
the fund ample and the expenditure
economically and intelligently made,
All of the public schools of the city
were visited during school hours and
also the school at Isle of Hope.
During these visits we examined into
pline and the general physical condi-
tions prevailing We take pleasure in
commencing the work being done by
the superintendent and teachers not
only in regard to the general advance
ment of the children in their studies,
but on the decidedly good behavior and
discipline in all the schools.
In regard to the lighting, ventilating,
alaptability and general hygienic con-
of ht1i1d NVbilp wv he
lieve care is being exercised, and each
building is being used to the best ad-
vantage with the funds available,
yet we are convinced that did
the citizens generally visit the
schools, they would soon advocate such
changes in the old buildings as would
bring them up to the high state of per-
lection exemplified in the new Chatham
Academy, where light, ventilation,
adaptab ility and healthful conditions
were studied out and acted on in the
best possible manner. From TINS
building, owing to it's large and well
planned halls, wide stairs and splendid
arrangement of rooms and exits, l,50O
children are dismissed in the same
time that is required to dismiss less
than one-third the number from either
the Barnard or St. Patricks schools.
This fact is apparent when one sees
the congested halls, connected rooms
and dangerous winding stairs, though
in these, as we'll as the other schools,
the best of discipline prevails. In view
of the possible fatal effect of panic
we recommend the erection of such
outside iron stairs for these buildings
as the authorities nave had under con-
temptation.
We commend the interest taken by
the teachers in their library, as well
as that taken by the children in the
libraries in the different schools.
The Board of Education now sees
its way clear to make such needed
changes in the hall rooms of the Henry
Street School as will make this por-
ton of the building as good for school
purposes as the balance is.
The country schools have all been built
| and Differed with especial care and
we are informed meet the requirements
| admirably.
The Suppression of Crime.
The prevalence of crime in what is
| known as the Ogeechee district has
| been forcibly called to the attention of
| the grand jury by the court, with the
| suggestion that prompt action should
| be taken to preserve order and pre-
| vent the people taking the law into
| their own hands. The grand jury has
| investigated fully all cases of crime
| on the OK66CneG lIldl nave ONCh IA
| scented to it and returned indictments
in every case. 1t recognizes the neces-
| sity for extraordinary measures to put
| a check upon the lawlessness that eX-
| listed, and submitted a special present.
| ment, recommending a reward by the
| County Commissioners and also by the
| Governor for the arrest, with proof to
convict, any of the perpetrators of the
! recent murders in that section of the
| GnUprnnT nrnmnflV Of
| fered a reward as recommended. The
| Board of County Commissioners ad-
Vised that while it was anxious to Of
fer a reward, it had no authority for
an expenditure of county funds for
| that purpose. The grand jury believes,
such being the case, that the existing
| law should be amended to extend au-
thority to the County Commissioners
| to make such expenditures of the
county funds as the peace and good
order of the county may demand.
AS to the punishment for the offense
| of gambling and the keeping OF gam
| bling houses, the grand jury recognizes
the ineffectiveness of fines as a pen
atty, and it suggests that the court
take under consideration severer form
| of punishment.
In this connection the grand jury de-
sires to commend the court for its
prompt disposition of the criminal cases
| that have been brought before it dur
| ing the present term. 1t recognizes
| that the certainty of prompt punish
ment is an effective deterrent of crime,
| and that the trial, without unnecessary
delay, of criminals will lessen to a large
extent the prevalence of crime in the
community. The grand jury desires
to express it's fullest approval and
commentator of the purpose Of the
court to deal promptly with criminal
matters.
The grand jury desires to thank the
court and its officers for the aid which
| they have extended it in the discharge
of it's duties Respectfully submitted,
May %. 1902.
w. w. Starr,
Foreman.
| J. J. Cummings.
r x BRA edOn