The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-02-23
Prcscntment of the Grand Jury.

y 10Y, Presiding, Spring Term, 1921:
The grand jury for the current year
lbegs to report as follows: That we
have passed upon all bills of indict-
ment presented to us and have re-
turned them to the court with our
findings endorsed thereon.
Following the line suggested in your
honor's charge we have appointed
special committees for work as fol-
lows:
Finance-W. P. Smith, chairman;
j. G. Crawford, r. A. McCollum.
Public Buildings-W. +. Carr.
chairman; l.. B. DuRant, r. S. Cher
Try.
Puflic Works-C. NJ. Emanuel,
chairman; T. j. Keels, l. d. Elmore.
Rural Schools - E. NJ. Staley,
chairman; A. J. Bynum, A. c. Bur-
rows.
These committees having just been
named have no report to make at
this term of court
There appeared before the grand
Jury committee of citizens of Sum-
ter complaining of the condition Of
the small street in front of a line of
buildings known as Law Range. This
before the board of county commits
sioncrs and asked to have this street
worked, but the commissioners ad-
vised them that they had no money
they could use for this purpose. The
committee also stated that they asked
the city of Sumter to work this
street, but the city refused on the
ground that the street is the property
Of the county of Sumter.
We, therefore recommend that the
county Of Sumter deed this street to
the city of Sumter, to be used as a
street on condition that the city ac-
cept the street and use it for the pur-
pose of a street only and agree to
properly work and maintain it.
In the report Of the county COM
missioners we quote the following re-
garding the court house:
AN act was passed by the last ses-
sion of the legislature authorizing us
to borrow the necessary funds to
thoroughly overhaul the court house
and put it in good repair. We had
architects to go over the proposition
and make up specifications for what
was needed IN this line and called for
bids on same. We got two bids, one
for $4,000 and the other for $4,000
with certain reservations as to the
roof. We considered these bids too
high, and thought that we would be
able to get this work done cheaper
this spring when the market on ma
terials and labor declines. Time has
shown the wisdom of this action. We
notice that this same provision has
been made by tn legislative delega-
tion in this years supply bill as to
providing funds for doing this work,
but we are inclined to think that
under the present financial condition
it will be wiser to postpone this
work, except such as may be needed
to keep the building in repair until
financial conditions get better"
The grand jury agrees with the
commissioners as to the wisdom of
having postponed this work last year;
but we think it would be a mistake
to postpone this work longer as labor
land materials are cheaper now than
they have been for some years or as
cheap as they will be for sometime to
come. The court house is a beauti-
full and valuable building, the pride
of our county and we feel that the
county cannot afford to let this
building be further damaged for lack
Of necessary repairs. We do not feel
that 1t is necessary for the grand
jury to name the different repairs
that should be made as we presume
that this is all shown in detail in the
report of the architects referred to
by the county commissioner. We
think the legislative delegation took
a wise step in making this same pro-
vision in this years supply ti" and
we recommend that this work be Jone
with as little delay as possible.
The grand jury has been delayed
no little in the performance of their
duties for the lack of proper infor-
nation not being given on the bills
handed in to us for our consideration.
We wish to call attention to this con-
dition to the solicitor, magistrates
coroner. sheriff, his deputies and ru-
raj police officers. 1t appears to us
that someone has been negligent in
the performance of their duty, and
we wish to urge that in the future
these officers see that all persons in
any way connected with a case in
court be properly bound over and that
ltHVy appear WIltU Ueeutu III COHUec-
tion with same.
The entire grand jury visited the
jail yesterday afternoon and found
it in a very crowded condition. We
consider the present building entirely
inadequate to the needs of the county.
An act was passed in 1916 providing
for the construction of a new Jail and
certain amount appropriated, also
a commission appointed to handle the
construction thereof. The world war
at that time existing, the material
going into building advanced to such
an extent that the commission found
it impossible with the funds provid
ed to commence construction. La
Dor and materials have declined con-
siderably and in our opinion may de-