The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-08-16
LET The COUNTY
BUILD SPEEDWAY
so SAYS THE GRAND JURY
RECOMMENDS 100000 ISSUE OF
BONDS FOR PURPOSE.

In It's General Presentments, Re-
turned Yesterday, IL Had Much to
Say About the AutO-Wants Speed
Limit Country ROads-BeIieve
an Expert should Examine COun-
tvs Books AnnuaIIy-NO Mention
of Alleged Sabbath Dissertation.
The bonding of the county in a sum
not to exceed $50. 900 so that an auto
mobile speedway may be constructed,
the regulating of the speed attained by
automobiles on the county roads and
the employing Of an expert to annual
ly examine the books of the county Off
GERS are the most important recon-
mendations of the grand jury that was
discharged by Judge Cam in the Su-
periOr Court yesterday.
In discharging the grand jury with
thanks Judge Cam said the court de-
sired to express his approval of the
promptness with which business had
been attended to. The court desires
to say" continued Judge Cam, that,
notwithstanding the fact that the
SOhnAy VI L ullOllY lllG lcA SGol NOulllJ III
this state, has 5000 less court popula-
tion, the expenses of conducting the
business of the Superior Court is sew
eral thousand dollars less. The grand
jury and the citizens might be inter
ested in knowing this"
There was no committee designated
to investigate the publis schools as the
vacation season commenced soon after
the grand jury was appointed. The
county is commended, however, for
its wise and progressive step in insti-
tuting manual training in the public
schools"
Didn't Read RecOmme ndatiOns.
The grand jury made no mention of
the alleged violation of the Sabbath
at Thunderbolt. A departure from the
usual custom was made in presenting
the recommendations. without reading
them to the court. This the grand jur-
ors considered. unnecessary.
The automobile claimed fair share
of the attention of the grand jurors in
making up their presentments. In
three different portions of the present
ments, appear recommendations in this
connection.
With the large and increasing num-
Der of automobiles owned here. and
the large number that are brought to
the city from the North and West dur
ing the winter season, we think there
should be a speedway provided" say
the grand jurors.
I'VE therefore. recommend that the
County Commissioners take the proper
steps to bond the county for a sum
not to exceed $4,000 for this purpose:
that the commissioners locate the same
so that at any time in the future,
should it cease to be used as a speed
way, it could be utilized as a county
road and opened up as such. This
measure would result in increasing the
revenue of the county and, further
more, would induce a wealthy class to
make Savannah their winter home
Against Fast Moving Autos.
1t will be recalled that though the
matter was agitated, the last grand
jury made no recommendation In this
connection. The plan to have the
county bonded, however, was discuss
ed at the time
The grand jury also called attention
TO the racing Of auto cars on the pub
lie roads, and recomn ended that speed
limits and regulations for the road be
adopted and the proper notices posted.
1t is also suggested that the custom
of tying COWS on the highways should
be stopped, as dangerous to fast
moving" vehicles.
The committee especially appointed
to examine the books and accounts of
the county officers, reported that these
were found in excellent condition, APP
parently. The body, however, recon-
mended in strongest terms the en-
ployment of an expert to examine
these books and accounts annually,
saying that a committee from the
grand jury was not competent to de-
tect Irregularities should they be clev-
erly concealed with fraudulent intent.
This recommendation is of interest in
the light of recent experience.
Anxious for Experts.
About two years ago a grand jury
of the Superior Court employed two
experts to conduct this examination.
The County Commissioners declined to
pay the bill presented by the account
ants. Judge Barrow, then presiding,
Endorsed the action of the grand jury
and approved the bill. The Supreme
Court subsequently passed upon the
question. and gave the action of the
grand jury it's Endorsement.
One of the succeeding grand juries
Endorsed the movement. With the rec
ommendation of the present grand jury
it seems that sentiment is in favor of
the employment of experts as often as
once a year, the intermediate grand
juries to conduct the examinations by
their own committees.
The committees appointed to report
on the changing and drainage the
public buildings. magistrates and
county roads, all made complete re-
ports. These do not vary appreciablY
from those of preceding grand juries.
The Committee on Roads made an
exhaustive report, and, in conclusion,
called attention to the fact that the
county now had over forty miles of
good roads, and that citizens should
be pleased with the large amount of
work accomplished by the Board OF
County Commissioners.
The presentments are published in
another column of the Morning News.