The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-04-10
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
Regular Meeting of the Board Yes
terday-Dr. Mcmillan Takes Issue
With the Grand Jury's Report as
to the Condition at the convict
nm Federal Point Fence.

The board of county commissioners
of New Hanover county met yester-
day at 2:30 p. m, Chairman ID. NC
Eachern presiding. Commissioners
Homles. Robertson. Alexander and Vol
lers were in attendance.
DR.. w. D. Mcmillan, county superln-
tendent of health, made his report TOT
March. He treated 100 patients at his
office and visited q at their homes. He
reports the homes the Jail and the
convict camp at Castle Haynes as IN
good sanitary condition, the only case
of sickness being one patient with
chills at the convict m During the
month there has been one quarantine in
the city for scarlatina,
Chairman McEachern. in this con-
| nection. called attention to the recent
| report Of the grand jury. which severe
| ly criticised conditions existing at the
convict camp. He asked DR.. Mcmillan
to make a statement with reference to
the matter.
DR.. Mcmillan made a statement, and
It was al variance with the report OF
the grand jury. He called attention TO
the reduced rate of sickness at the
camp which he has visited for the past
10 wears. He remarked if the camp Is
as filthy as the grand jury would make
believe it will pay to keep it that way
for it certainly seems conducive to the
health of the inhabitants. The sick rat
he said. was no greater at the camI
now than it is in any other position O
the county. Every provision is mad
for the proper care of the convicts, ane
the orders of the superintendent ar
carried out perfectly. He gave 1t a.
his opinion that a separation OF IN
white and black convicts would not en-
nance the sanitary conditions, wit
which alone he deals. On the contrar,
it might do the camp an injury. AS 10
the other reason for separating the con
victs he knows nothing, as he coul
speak only Of the sanitary conditions
He said if the wards are divided by
: plank wall it will call for the employ
= ment Of two additional guards.
: On motion it was ordered that D.
= Mcmillan put his statement in wrltin
r and that the same with a practice
statement by Chairman McEachern b
made to Judge PEBBLES of the superie
court now in session.
The board elected the following ia
assessors:
Wilmington Township-T. O.. Buntin
t L. S. Belden, NJ. w. Divine.
Cape Fear Township-R. W. Bol
deaux, D. G. Westbrook, j. Herbel
Johnson.
S Harnett Township-J. D. Woody,
H. Alexander, and Oscar Pearsall.
Masonboro Township-D. j. Fergu
H. L. Horne, and B. S. Montford.
d Federal Point Township-Thoms
Burnett, J. A. Biddle and M. L. Winnie
: Chairman McEachern read the pr
posed contract with the law firm
d Bellamy & Bellamy for the c~ollectit
G Of Back taxes and the finance comm
Re tee was empowered to close the matt
with them.
g On motion the chairman was autho
Re lied to call for bids for the sale Of Il
vacant part Of the old court house va
% at the northwest corner of Third al
Princess streets.
An opinion from the law firm
Rountree & Carr was read as to t
act of the general assembly as to t
Federal Point fence. They hold tn
the supplemental part Of the act is u
constitutional, and that the first pa
l. Of the act is valid. This make t
d cost for the fence fall on the land tn
"a is fenced off in Federal Point. L
committee was empowered to have t
= fence built.
to The board accepted as a public TO
al the highway built at WrightsVllle
" Mr.. Pembroke Jones. The old road "
1e discontinued as a public road.
n After t~ransacting other business I
board adjourned.
I'd
Don't become excited over the repol