The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-10-20
GRAND JURY MAKES REPORT AND SCORES ROAD CONDITIONS PesthOuse Unnecessary EX- pense and Should Be
 Abolished JUDGE ABERNETHY
 IS COMMENDED Many Indictments Returned, Accord ing to Report, But Names With held-Public Institutions
 Are Commended

made public until late this afternoon, although it is understood that during the period of IT days the grand jury was in session 625 witnesses were eX amined, that 172 true bills were re- turned and 43 no bills. Five cases were passed over until the next grand jury The report submitted by the grand jury to Judge Fort, in part, follows:
 State of Alabama, Jefferson county. To the Hon. w. E. Fort, Judge of the
 Circuit Court, Tenth Judicial Circuit,
 Criminal Division:
 We, the grand jury, impanelled and sworn on the 9th day of August, 1917. for the July, 1917, term. having com pleted our labors, beg leave to make our final report. as follows
 We have been in session 17 days, dur ing which time we have examined S25 witnesses, returned 172 indictments, found no bills in 43 cases, and passed five cases for investigation by the sue ceeding grand jury.
 THE JAIL
 We have made a thorough inspection of the jail and beg to report that we find in it as near model of sanitation as it is possible to make such an in stitution, and offer it as a model for other counties of this and other states.
 HILLMAN HOSPITAL
 We have made a thorough inspection of this institution, and find. and now report: There is a rapidly increasing demand on its accommodations. It is frequently overcrowded, and we cannot too strongly urge that steps be taken looking to the early enlargement of the main building to meet the increasing demands for room for those needing the attention they look for in such an insti- tuition.
 The report of the superintendent for the month of June 1917, shows an aver age of 16S patients per day, maintained at a cost of 95 cents per day, the total expenditures being $4,792.60.
 In view of the constantly increasing duties of the superintendent of the Hill man hospital, we recommend that his salary be increased to not less than SS6Oo per annum.
 PESTHOUSE
 This institution seems to be maintained Jointly by the county and city. During the year from September 30, 1916, to Sep tember 90, 1917, there is a record of only |11 patients having been treated there, For seven months of this time there was not a patient in the pesthouse. Dlr- ing the period above referred to, lne county paid out s3161. and the city S6Oo. total of s376i.o3, making the average cost of each patient about 342; but th.'se figures do not include cost Of repalrs, equipment and their upkeep.
 The further conduct of this institution is, to the minds of this grand jury an unnecessary expenditure or the money of both county and city, and we cannot too strongly recommend its abol- ishment, and consolidation. as hereto ire suggested, with the Hillman hospital. The county farm is most interesting place We found 1t well and intelligent ly managed
 ALMSHOUSE
 This institution shows intelligent ana economical management, and good work l is being done here: but we recommend that there be installed complete rec ord system, showing the names of the patients received. discharged, and the average number being cared for per day, and their average cost of maintainance.
 CONVICT CAMPS 1 We find the convict camps in a splen- l did condition from sanitary standpoint The prisoners had no complaints tc l make as to treatment or fare. Severa l of the camps have raised nearly enough vegetables to supply their own demands l ROADS
 l Our duties have called us to various portions of the county, and this has en- abled us to travel over many miles ol l the county roads. We find. and regrei l to report, that there is very regretta3't 1 icondition existing in our roads and rht i avstem of building and repairing them l We find many of the roads leading oul l of Birmingham are as narrow as I feet. near the city, where traffic Is heavy 1 and continuous. and are in very bad con- I dition. We find that the further iron Birmingham we have gone the widel condition, and this where traffic Is al most nil. On one trip of several nlile' over the finest road, in remote DOT i ton of the county. we did not meet q pass a single wagon. and only one au tomobile.
 We find new construction being carried on at points distant from sup ply bases Some Of the camps uoams s.s.. l this work are located as Tar as IiVe l miles from a passable road. This IS 2 most glaring piece of negligence ano I should be discontinued.
 T TO reneat, the further we get iron Birmingham the wider we find tnf roads and the better their condition whereas, where traffic is heaviest, rht roads are narrowest and in the wors' condition.
 We recommend that complete rec ords be kept. showing cost of our road' in building, repair etc. and the ar ference in cost of same as compared between free and convict labor. ant they be published semi annually
 EXAMINATION OF BOOKS
 We have made no examination Q
 the books of the officers of the coun ty. not alone for lack of time, bu .i because this work is now done r. the state examiners.
 MUNICIPAL COURT
 We have been much interested in tn lconduct of the municipal court It hn three divisions, two for civil and on
 for criminal business. The latter divi sion. presided over by Judge H. B Abernethy, we find is very mucl crowded with business and is sad,, Iin need of an additional clerk an Eve recommend that the deficiency b
 supplied by authorizing the employ lment of clerk at cost not to ex iceed 3720 per annum. We do this be | cause we have been convinced of tn great aid this court has been to tn
 circuit court in ridding the Jail ( Imisdemeanors, resulting In 2 savin of thousands of dollars to the count! We recommend that steps be taixc Hooking to tho consolidation of th
 clerkships Of this court. and thusH ma
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