The Savannah morning news., 1903-05-16

Where the Police Court prisoners are
kept, we found was very crowded. On
this floor there are thirty-four cells
and sixty-four prisoners. Each cell is
provided with one hammock so that
twenty-seven prisoners are compelled
to sleep on the concrete floor.
The appearance of the plumbing we
think can be improved upon by a lit
tie paint on the pipes. There was on
the day of our visit, 107 prisoners con-
fined in the Jail, of which six were in
the hospital. We found the hospital
we'll kept, clean and every case posi-
BILE taken of the sick.
The Court House has but recently
been put in thorough repairs, except
ing the linoleum on the floor, which
we were informed steps have been
taken for repairs to same.
We find the newspaper file in the
ordinary record room; also the files in
the record room of the clerk of the
court not sufficient to meet the present
demand, and we recommend that addi-
tional files for newspapers be given the
ordinary and fling shelves be added to
those already in the Office of the clerk
of the court. We recommend, further,
that larger space for the receiver of
tax returns be provided for; also clos
cts in judges room of the Superior
Court and also jury room of same
both are in bad condition. Respectfully,
A. A. Aveilhe, Chairman.
Ambrose Ehrlich,
John Q. Hodges.
Savannah, Ga, May l, 1903
Mr. A. c. Harmon, Foreman Chatham
County Grand Jury, Savannah, Ga.
Dear Sir: You Committee on Convict
Camps beg to report that they have
visited the four camps in the county,
and below give you our views and
impressions regarding same.
At the County Farm at the time
that we visited same there were 128
convicts. A few We're sick, but the
hospital arrangements at that place
seem to be all that is needed Camp
No. /, situated at the County Farm,
is in excellent condition, both as re-
CARDS buildings and surroundings. We
know of no suggestions that we can
offer.
Camp No. 8, situated on LaRoche
avenue, is simply, as we understand,
a temporary camp, and therefore the
buildings have not been erected with
a view of permanency, and for that
reason it did not create a good impress
sion on your committee as a perma-
nent camp. There is no we'll at that
camp, and the water all has to be
hauled a dustance of a quarter of
mile, and as a consequence water is
not used as freely for bathing pur-
poses as at the County Farm. If this
camp is going to be a permanent one
we would suggest that similar arrange
ments for bathing be erected there
as at the County Farm, but If it is
simply a temporary camp as we un-
derstand it is, we hardly deem 1t advis
able to go to any expense. At this
camp there were sixty-seven convicts,
only two of them were sick. The camp
has no hospital at all, and seriously
sick patients are transferred to the
county Jail hospital
Camp No. 2, situated on the road to
Montieth, is in excellent condition, but
from the fact that it is going to be
a permanent camp on account of the
work that the county has inaugurated
in the swamp, and which we are told
will take four or five years to COM
plete it is the view of your
committee that there should be a hos
pital at that point, as there must
necessarily be a great amount Of chills
and fever, due to the work in which
the convicts are engaged. At the time
we visited the camp there were ITO
convicts, two of whom were sick. We
would suggest that better arrange
ments be made at that camp for pur-
poses of bathing; in fact, we think
it would be we'll to duplicate the bath
ing facilities of the County Farm at
this and all other permanent camps,
which woud-give, we believe, every
thing that is necessary. Outside of
this, the camp is in most excellent
condition. and the surroundings seem
to be very sanitary.
Camp No. A, situated on Telfair
road,at the time we made our visit,
had thirty-nine convicts. a few of
whom were sick. This camp is also,
as we understand, a temporary camp,
and everything around it is in a very
crude shape. We are satisfied that
there is going to be a great deal of
work in that section for some years
to come, and If 1t is the intention of
the County Commissioners to make
this a permanent camp, then we be-
lieve they should arrange their build
ings more with the idea of permanency,
and put in appliances for bathing, and
also make some arrangements for a
better water supply. AS it is now,
all the water has to be hauled, and
is drawn entirely, we are told, from
surface wells. If the camp is simply
to be moved at an early date, ii would
hardly justify the expense, but if it is
going to be retained for one or two
years, then we certainly would advise
that this be put in as good shape as
Camp No. 2.
Respectfully submitted,
A. J. Ives.
Simeon E. Theus,
Nathaniel Harrison.
Savannah, Ga. May II. 1903.-To the
Foreman and Members, Grand Jury
Superior Court: Gentlemen--The COM
munication from Clerk j. K. p. Carr,
under date May s. and referred to us.
We beg to submit the following report:
Mr.. Carr submitted the old Record
Book, which we found in a very d.
lapidated condition. We were told that
endeavors had been made for its re-
pair, but condition from long usage
prevented rebinding.
We were at the same time shown
new Record Book-a transcribed copy
of the old one-which we admit a vo-
luminous undertaking. the penmanship
covering nearly 800 pages. and said TO
have taken about six months time.
The bill handed us for this work
$500 90 we herewith enclose As to
the equity of this remuneration, we
submit same for your consideration.
Mr.. Carr submitted to us that por-
tion Of the Code relating 10 Records
10 a dllapidated condition." and Re
quiring that such shall have trans
scribed by the clerk Of the court "