Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-11-23
REPORT OF THE GRAND JURY.

H6FOhI Of ne SHAND JURY.
The grand jury got through with its
business on Tuesday afternoon and
had its final report ready for presen-
tation at that time; but owing to a
misunderstanding on the part of the
court was not discharged until We'd
nesday morning. The final present.
ment was as follows:
To the Hon. George E. Prince, Presid-
ing Judge.
We, the grand jury of York county,
beg leave to submit the following re-
port:
1st. We have passed upon all bills
of indictment handed to us by the So
licitor and return the same to the court
with our findings thereon.
End. At the July term Of court we
appointed committee to examine the
books of the various county offices,
but 1t has not been able to do the work
and has been continued.
3rd. We recommend that a fire es-
cape be provided at the county Jail so
that in case Of fire in the stairway
(the only place Of exit the prisoners
therein can be taken from the building.
Also that another bath tub be installed,
and that the inside Of the Jail be white
washed as often as necessary, certain
ly not less than twice a year.
4th. We find the inmates Of the
county home are well cared for, but
think the expense Of that institution
Is entirely too much. The report Of
the county commissioners for last year
shows an annual expense of, approx
mately $4,000, which we think Is ample
for the maintenance Of the inmates ex-
plt Of th0 ~ No 70 orf,a
We recommend that all farm lands,
except a two-horse farm, be rented to
the best advantage.
5th. We have looked into the system
of working the public roads by the
county chaingang, and condemn, in the
strongest terms, the apparent inefh-
cheney, loose business methods and so
sorth. Since this institution has been
In existence II has cost the county, ap-
proximately $4,000 per annum, in-
2luding the labor Of the prisoners) or
a total of $150000 for a period Of ten
years, and we only have a few miles Of
permanently improved roads to show
for II. That this is a result Of gross
inefficiency, and non-attention, on the
part of the officials directly in charge
of this department Of county govern
ment, is an open secret. The system
Of shaping UP and preparing" the
highways, as It is called, Is In many
instances worse than no work at all;
and at best, is only temporary. This
kind of work should be done by the
road overseers.
We recommend that where town
ships vote a two mill special tax for
permanent Improvement that such
townships have the use Of the chain
gang for improving the main highways,
and In the case Of two or more town.
ships voting the special tax, the chain
gang be sent to them in the order Of
such elections. In the mean while we
recommend that the chaingang be en-
ployed on the most generally travelled
road in the county, and permanent
work be done. That competent road
engineer be employed to survey such
road, and furnish plans and specifica-
tions so that the work be intelligently
and economically done. We strongly
condemn the practice Of jumping
around from township to township,
which results in much loss Of time,
and Is evidently done for the purpose
If pleasing the voters.
9Th. We call the courts special at
tention to the 3rd paragraph Of our.
report, dated July 9th, 1906, which
reads as follows:
Reports from different sections of
the county indicate that the public
roads are in a generally bad condition;
bridges are In more or less dangerous
fix. and many Of the road sections are
without overseers. In this state Of af
fairs we recommend that the super
visor at once give the matter his care
full attention, see that overseers are
appointed where now there are none,
and give instructions that all bridges
T. - .f.-e IL. 80 kaNwa
forthwith. All the roads should be put
in good shape during the summer"
We have no evidence that this re-
commentator had been complied with
further than that the supervisor in
serted advertisements in the county
newspapers calling on all road over
seers to work their respective sections.
There Is no record kept Of the names
Of the various overseers, and we state
as matter Of fact that the supervisor
does not even know who they are, nor
II all the roads have overseers. This
shows a very loose state Of affairs,
and is the reason that the roads are
not kept in better condition. We rec
ommend that the supervisor be re-
quired to appoint competent overseer
for each section of road in the county,
and that ne personally see that they do
their duty, or In case Of failure report
same to the grand jury.
7th. We are informed that in some
cases the Communication tax is being
collected by road overseers and ex-
pended by them. We recommend that
this practice be stopped. and that ex-
penditures for road purposes be first
authorized by the proper officials, and
that the tax be collected through the
county treasurer's office as provided
by law.
9Th. We recommend that the law as
to road duty be changed so that the
Communication tax may be increased to
four dollars.
9Th. We recommend that the salary
IF the supervisor be increased to
$500 per annum, and that the term OF
service be made four years instead OF
two years.
10th. We understand that in many
instances the various bills contracted
by the officers Of the county are not
properly checked up and approved by
such officers themselves. We think
this is a loose way Of doing business
and recommend that hereafter the pay
ment Of no bill be authorized by the
county commissioners unless 1t has
first been checked up and vouched for
by the officer who made, or author
iZed the purchase Of the goods.
18th. We present for indictment w.
A. Porter and Alice Walls Of Rock
Hill for living in adultery, witnesses:
Dave Raney, John Walls and Mrs.
Cora Walker.
Thanking your honor, the solicitor,
and other officers of the court for the
courtesies extended to us in the dis
charge of our duties, we beg, in the
discretion Of the court, to be dis
charged from further attendance upon
this term.
All of which is respectfully submit
ted. w. j. CAVENY,
Foreman.
Before the discharge Of the grand
Jury the following six jurors were
drawn to hold over next year: j. b.
Harshaw, r. B. Lowry, r. 7. White,
J. G.. Anderson, c. L. Moore, j. E.
Burns.
LOCAL LAcoNlcS.
The Bethel Road Petition.
Mr.. T. ]. Nichols has handed in the