The Savannah morning news., 1903-11-21
GENERAL PRESENTMENTS

GENERAL PRESENTMENTS
OF Grand Jury for June Term, 1903,
of Chatham Superior Court.
To the Honorable Pope Barrow, Pre-
siding Judge:
AS grand jurors, sworn in for the
June term of the Superior Court OF
Chatham county, we now come to you
your honor to present to you, and,
through you, to the people, what we
have found concerning the condition
of the peoples affairs.
Regarding those special things which
you, under the law, are required 70
charge US about. and which you have
done, we beg to submit the reports of
committees appointed by this jury
(Which is customary and authorized by
Iaw) which reports have been consid-
cred and adopted, are on file in the
office Of the Clerk of the Superior
Court, and are open to the inspection
of every citizen of the county, the sub
stance of which we beg now to sub
NIT, as follows:
Pensions.
We submit herewith a list of those
receiving and deserving pensions, which
list we have carefully examined, and
find the same to he correct according
to the books. We find the name of a
new pensioner, c. Hernandez, whose
papers have not been filed. The fol-
lowing pensioners have died during the
year: w. w. Carter. Thos. L. Her
nandez, Robert w. Law. Hugh Smith
and Daniel O'Leary.
Justices of the Peace.
Our Committee on Justices of the
Peace have examined the dockets and
accounts of fourteen 04 justices Of
the peace, which they have found in
proper form and correct. There are
two, however, who have not submit
ted their books namely J. H. Fisher.
Bloomingdale, and Van r. Winkler,
Monteith A record of those exam
ined will be filed along with the other
papers.
Public Buildings.
Our committee, which was appointed
to examine the Court House and Jail,
made the following report, which has
been unanimously adopted We find
the Court House, with the exception
of a few trivial repairs in the jury
room, floors and chairs, to be in excel
lent condition. although some rooms
we've not as tidy as they should be,
notwithstanding the fact that there are
three porters employed to perform this
duty, We found rubbish. such as ex-
celsior and waste paper, in basement,
that should be removed at once, so as
to reduce danger of fire.
The bad condition of toilet room COM
planned of by the court has been rem
edied by an increase of water pres
sure at the works.
The Jail, we are pleased to report, is
in very good repair. and its sanitary
condition, considering the large num-
Der of prisoners, is excellent, and short
~ to be much improved by adding
new water fixtures.
The jailers residence is being reno
waited and put in nice order.
Drainage.
Our committee appointed to look aft
er the drainage makes report, which
has been adopted, and which is as fol-
lows:
We have inspected the greater por-
ton of the drainage of the county,
which we are pleased to say we found
in good condition. The system shows
that careful attention has been given
to this work. and we are especially
pleased with the work now under
Roadway at Pipe Maker creek. The
norton of the canal finished is a fine
piece of work. and the chairman Of
our County Commissioners and his etfi-
cient aids deserve much credit r the
manner in which the county's inter-
est in this respect is being looked
after.
Roads, Bridges and COnvicts.
Our Committee on Roads Bridges and
Convicts make the following report,
which has been adopted:
We have examined all of the paved
or improved roads and find them in
excellent condition, and cannot too
heartily indorse the work of the Coun
ty Commissioners in giving the county
free well-paved roads and substantial
bridges in place of the sandy and toll
roads and dilapidated bridges which
we had some Tina since. While the
Ogeechee road is in good condition, If
not top dressed with some binding
material, it will, in a short while, be
in a very bad condition. We cannot
too severely condemn the grade cross
ing of Florida Central and Peninsular
Railway and Ogeechee road. 1t is as
near a perfect death trap as your COM
mittee can imagine. and from the ma
tiire of the approaches to the crossing,
a bridge could be built over the rail-
road track at very little cost and effect
the grade of the Ogeechee road being
very slight. We find the County Com
missioners ready at any time to do
their part of the work, and think some
thing should be done at once before
more lives are lost in this horrible trap.
We visited the camp and found the
convicts we'll looked after. well fed
clean and comfortably quartered.
Education and schools.
Our Committee on Education, Schools
and School Houses have made their re-
port the same has been adopted, and is
as follows:
We have examined the system of ac-
counting. and find that it is thorough
and up-to-date, with proper check on
all disbursements. The total appro-
priation for 1908. amounting to $685.
600, is being disbursed under the super
vision OF the Board of Public EduCa-
ton, all payments being made by
checks. and upon vouchers carefully
prepared, verified and approved by Off
GERS of the board, as we'll as by chair
man of respective standing commit
tees The schools are inspected fire.
cuently and thoroughly by the super
intendent and the assistant superin-
tendent those in the city being visited
weekly, while those in the county, in
Guiding such points as Wilmington Is
land, Skidaway Island and other dis
tant points, are all reached at least
once each quarter. Chatham county
has f'ftyfour schools, as shown in the