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I'ItESKYm I.NTS
Of the (iraod .Jury of Chatham Sn
fwrior Court. June Term. IS’T.
Sjrannah, G-a.,
i nor Robert Falligant, judge Eastern
.judicial Circuit. The grand jury respect
iy submit the following as their pre
tirunt.
TAX COELECTOR.
The tax digest being closed ar.d defaults
i irned over to the sheriff (who had hot
t made retuins) there were no t ran sac
■ .ons to examine. The conduct of business
wa s thoroughly explained and investigated
an 1 we cannot refrain from adding our
mmendation to that of our predecessors
, to the scrupulous neatness that has
iracterised the conduct of this office un
,l, i th. present incumbent.
TAX RECEIVER.
The committee appointed to investigate
t tax receiver’s office, find the books and
in, s in this office are neatly and well kept.
COUNTY TREASURER.
The committee whose duty it was to in
vestigate the county treasurers books:, re
port ihe books correctly and neatly kept.
JAIL.
The committee appointed to visit the jail
report they have made a thorough inspec
tion, aJid find everything in good order.
There were at the time of the committee’s
sixty-four prisoners, all of whom
w v apparently in good health and seem
ed to he well cared for. The records and
books of the sheriff were well kept.
CLERK SUPERIOR COURT.
The committee appointed to examine the
hooks of the clerk superior court, report
t t it all of the books wore neatly kept and
tl>* work of the office well up to date.
DRAINAGE.
The majority’s report of the special com
niittce appointed to look into the drainage
o-f ihe county and which was adopted by
tie grand jury is annexed hereto, as is
ajso the minority's report.
Tn closing wo beg to express to your hon
or our grateful recognition of the very
able and eloquent charge given us on en
tering upon the discharge of our duties,
•and for the courteous assistance extended
bv Solicitor General Osborne and by oth
, c officers of the court.
We respectfully ask that, these present
ments h. published in The Morning News
lid Evening Press.
Fn accordance with the above recommcn
ifj'ioii, it is ordered that this presentment
hr published in the Savannah Morning
Vetvs and Daily Press. In open court.
R. FALEIGANT,
Judge E. J. C„ Cos., Ga.
Aug. 30, 1897.
To the Foreman and Gentlemen of the
Grand Jury of Chatham County: Your
committee appointed to investigate cer
tain complaints against the county com
missioners respectfully submit the follow
ing report:
We first addressed a letter to the. com
missioners on the subject, and received
from ihem a reply, copies of both which
let!e:s we have atached to this report.
before commencing our investigations
"i were advised by the chairman of the
eo-i.ty commissioners, that with our per
mission. he would Invite the sanitary
board of the city to accompany us. We
regr. i to say that they were not officially
represented except on one occasion. We
also invited all having any complaints, to
point them out to us during our official
’■ sits, as it was the desire of your com
mittee to get at all the facts and report
i you the true condition of things as we
might find them.
1 >ur first visit was to Dundee canal,
■w, found it full of river water, and on
its w estern bank a rice field with the har
'■ f, st flow on. The ditches of the Vale
Royal canal were grown up in weeds, as
is the case also with the Dundee canal
from the Augusta road to the Louisville
road At the same time all the low lands
in this section, excepting the rice Held
'"•■re, in a dry and' sanitary condition.
This canal was not completed because of
<u' inability to secure the right of way
fin ugh lands south of the Louisville road,
file Ogeechee canal Is in a very unsani
* ir> condition, being full of decayed vegi
•allon and stagnant water. It not being
under the control of the county commis
i 'oners we recommend that the ow ners be
i eipdred to clean it.
We proceeded through the Telfair rice
h''ld and found it needed drainage, and
were informed by the chairman of the
■1 linage committee of the commissioners
that estimates were on file in
his office and would be acted on by the
commissioners. We then visited the Minis
"fid Lamar swamp cana.s ; ml found them
' lean, and all the low lands drained by
1 . an ils in good sanitary condition.
We minutely inspected the northwest
c ' in i of ilie Deßenne swamp, under the
guidance of tile lessee of these lands, and
"’iii'i the ditches to be full of weeds, not
v ii-iamling they hud been cleared in
spring. The- low lands on this tract
" r " particularly dry. and we were In-
n Titled by the tenant that there had not
*'' 11 any water remaining in his fields
•"fiee May last.
"' want to the county farm and found
magnificent crop of corn, potatoes, peas,
■ *, sugar care and vegetables. This
was made by fifty-one convicts, who
■ a*inot be used a< hard work. Another
' ,:n l* of convicts we found engaged In the
""irk of completing the Montgomery cross
"' visited the ltuckhalirr swamp and
' where there are 113 convicts at
"■"'U on the canal. We found the camp
comfortable and under good discip-
From there we proceeded to the
Juntatlon of the chairman of the county
■ "inmissloners, and from the locution of
b" land and the plat shown us, wo are
* ""'-'d to report that we could not -ee
u !ua. 1m,i.1 would derive any direct
'' l |in from the drainage of this swamp.
hi lieve that th# drainage of this
"amp should he continued for the follow
ing reasons:
Tin iittii liil map shows that by rui
ng a ditch nine feet deep the entire wa
-1 Lorn Lunar swamp and low .anda
•iteent an lie carried through the pro
' '*"<l 1 ana! and have a fall ol one loot
mery 3,000 feet ol length, the difference
Hi# high! of 1 h*■ tide At the flgrechei*
■r having 119 appreciable clTe. t on this
* dfiAgi.
Il te wisdom 10 relieve the Mangrove
; of all water |#os*lbie and
save Mprlngfield nlaniatlon of us
"11 susceptibility to overflow We are
"iiud that Its dams had to he raised
•bn. ago to avoid this disaster
Ihi carrying of this water to the
■ her tivrt will latgrly redo #• the vd.
1,1 “wamii water that Is locked up In
"‘•k. twelve hours nut of eveiy
* -I "ii . In i lose firoslmlty to the city
ns# I,lienee of lhe tides from ibe Ns I
*h river.
•'a drainage at the Htukhslter
'* * 11 "I" 11 a larg# ir#. t of ibe finest
,* 1,1 'fi' county fin cultivation, ami
“ •> w# find iw h**e icit tht •■enctu
* tot ttte 1 engineer of the • aunty,
*• and hi a inter by him to ih 100 nl
iiiiill. uoitrt, dated June G, It*;, to
which he says that the map show s that it
wi. ; rtjquire u canal about lour miles, that
can easily lie drained, which will develop
a large area of splendid truck farming
lands.
In recommending ihe continuation of the
wuik on this canal, we are satisfied that
the commissioners are fully alive to the
fact that the drainage already established,
will need their usual attention, and as an
evidence of our confidence that this atten
tion will continue to he given in the future
We refer to their letter and report of their
work done this spring, which are attached
to this report.
We think it proper to call attention to
the fact, that the county furnishes canals
and ditches to carry otT the water and
the individual property owners are ex
pected to drain their respective properties
into these "water ways. We take occasion
also to suggest to the public that ail cam
plaints concerning bad drainage should,
in the first instance, lie carried directly
before the commissioners. They are the
officials elected by the citizens of Ihe coun
ty to discharge this responsible duty,
and are vested by law with a
wide discretion in the exercise of their
powers and duties. It is their duty to
consider what is the greatest good for the
greatest number, keeping in view the most
economical use of the means under their
control. It is to be expected that in the
discharge of their duties, they will at
times fail to satisfy some whose interests
are purely private, but from their com
petency nnd standing in the community,
they are entitled to the confidence and
co-operation of the public in their efforts
to improve the county. Purely private
grievances should not be brought before
the grand jury', nor should individuals
mistake their private interests and griev
ances for public evils.
ROADS.
We traveled over the twenty-one miles
of roads built by the commissioners since
June, 1895, and found rliem ail to lie in
excellent condition, excepting about a
quarter of a mile on the Ogeechee road,
which had been cut in a few places b.v the
city wagons, and which can lie repaired
with a few loads of gravel.
We beg to differ with the commissioners
on the question of the propriety of pur
chasing Ihe shell roads. It is our opinion
that, these roads should be bought at rea
sonable prices, and we. therefore, recom
mend their purchase, and if there are no
funds on hand available at present, we
recommend that in the next budget such
appropriation be made. We are convinced
that the people want good roads and com
mend the commissioners for what they
have already done; at the same time, the
people of Chatham county desire, and the
time is opportune for, the abolishment of
toil roads.
We see no objection to the new road to
Thunderbolt being built, as the facilities
at hand for carrying on the work will save
a large expense. If. however, the building
of this road will prevent the purchasing
of the shell roads, we recommend the
abandonment of this scheme, nnd that the
funds for this purpose be applied to the
purchase of the two toil roads.
It gives us pleasure to announce to the
•people of this county, that our investiga
tions have led us to the conclusion that
the gentlemen, now in office as commis
sioners. are discharging their duty faith
fully', and are governed by what they
conscientiously believe to be best for the
whole.
We traveled through the county over
sixty miles going and coming, within a
radius of three and one-half miles from
the city, through all sorts of places and
did not find a cup of water outside of the
ditches. We are gratified to have found
the county in this condition, notwith
standing the fact that the official report
of the weather bureau shows that more
rain fell in July, 1897, than in any year
since 1895. Puddles of water are to be
expected after a heavy lain in such a
largo area as t’hatham county, but stag
nant ponds or pools, we are glad to say
could not be found and none were point
ed out to us by those interested. This
indicates splendid drainage, and this con
dition of affairs should suggest to our
people to bury their private differences,
and thus stop the cry about the health
of Sa\'annah and Chatham county. It is
a known fact that we live in as healthy
a city as any in the state of Georgia, or
any other state; then why lead the out
side world into false ideas of the place
where we live? Respectfully submitted,
A. C. Harmon, Chairman.
C. B. Malone.
Joseph Phillips.
C. D. Baldwin.
T. T. Chapeau,
Foreman.
C. B. Malone.
D. Baldwin,
John O’Gorman,
Thomas Screven,
Joseph Phillips,
H. H. Hull,
C. F. Cler,
A. R. Launey,
W. F. McCauley,
A. C. Harmon,
A. S. Delannoy,
L>. B. Morgan,
J. C. King,
E. S. Abrahams,
W. M. Davant,
Daniel Hogan,
Tlios. Daniels,
C. G. Anderson,
M. L. Ex ley.
Savannah. Ga , Aug. 3. 1897 —To the
Honorable. County Commissioners. Sirs—
The following complaints having been pre
sented to the grand jury of the superior
court, a committee of five were appoint
ed to confer with your honorable body
with a view to ascertaining the facts in
the premises. .The committee have fixed
Thursday for their investigation, and will
be glad to have you meet with them on
that day and furnish any information that
may be desired. Trusting that you will
kindly co-operate with us, I remtiin, yours
truly, (Signed) A. C. Harmon,
Chairman Committee.
1. From the southwestern boundary of
Musgrove territory up to the limits of the
city a large area is reported in a most un
sanitary condition and virtually without
drainage.
2. In the Dundee swamp, soulh of the
Central railroad, and on the Ogeechee
canal, is a section in the same condition
as that reported above.
3. The drainage of the upper part of
Cuyler swamp and several of its tribma
ries remain unfinished.
4. The Hempstead and Cooper swamps
and the northwest corner of Deßenne
swamp Is repotted to he in bad condition.
5. Why Is It necessary to build anew
road to Thunderbolt, when the one now
going there ran he purchased for consid
erably less money than it would cost to
build anew one.
A. Harmon, Chairman Committee
of Grand Jury. Chatham Superior Court.
—Dear Sir: The eommlssioners of Chat
ham county, oil receipt of your comm uni
ration of Aug. 3d. Inst., promptly made
arrangement* to co-operate with your
committee in tile Investigation of certain
complaints that had been presented to the
grand Jury of the suix rior court.
The absence of particularity of des rip
tton of the location of the undralned or
improperly drained section* precluded arte
sis'clfic explanation from this board, but
opportunity had l>ecn afforded your com
mittee to visit the several sections of the
routny mentioned Iti your communication,
and your committee are able to form
you!' own conclusions as to the merits of
the complaints so far us they refer to the
actual condition of the territory embraced
therein.
It miy be remarked in this connection
that unsanitary and undralned parcels of
land may be found where the county sys
tem of drainage hs < been completed, owing
to the failure of the owner* of litre#- par
cels of land to avail themselves of the
public drain* by constructing thoir pri
vate drains connecting with the ayatem.
And It should further he nob and that while
III# county commissioners have the power
lo require Hint private drains already
constructed be kept open and In good order
and in harmony with ihe general system
of drainage, they have no power to comp#-,
the construction of private drain# in har
mony with the general system.
In reference to a general system of
drainage. It Is proper lo slate that, wim
the excel*lon Of Ihe power conferred upon
ihe mayor and aldermen #if the city cf
ttaieimah by tti a# is ##f the gen#'ral as
sembly of 111#' state in 1 1*77 and l#y the
• hatter of the fllty incorporated In the cod#,
in section 4s,#t. 110 r# wms n#) alii hot it> In
the puhl.i uiilhorltle- to establish and
maintain a system of drain.#** fur the
tOuitly utotl 1 l#c tear 1(1*
After ih- < ilow fever rpulemi#
1 • a., a o I
THE MORNING NEWS: TUESDAY. AUGUST 31, 1807.
assembly, in order to protect
the state from liability from sim
ilar epidemics, deemed it necessary that a
thorougth system of drainage for Chat
ham county should be provided, and ap
propriated one-third of the state tax of
the county for the year 1877. and appointed
a special commission to receive the money
and construct the drainage in such man
ner as they should deem proper under the
control and supervision of the governor;
with power to locate said drainage cither
within or without the limits of the city
of Savannah.
The commission, in the discharge of its
duty, confined the drainage to the imme
diate vicinity of the city of Savannah,
and upon the exhaustion of the fund be
came functus officio.
In tlie year 1878 the general assembly
passed a general act, whereby each and
every county in the state, whenever the
constituted authorities should see proper,
are authorized to establish and maintain
a system of drainage of the whole or any
part of the low lands thereof. The act
ratified and validated ail established sys
tems of drainage. This act conferred no
power to condemn private property for
the construction of drains, and only au
thorized the county authorities to acquire
the rights of way from the land owners
with their consent in consideration of the
benefits conferred on them by the drainage
established. The power to condemn has
since been given,
In the year 1885 a special act was passed
for Chatham county, vesting the control
and management of the drainage canals,
public drains and ditches in the county
commissioners, who are empowered to reg
ulate and control the manner of connect
ing with the drainage on the part of per
sons owning lands adjacent thereto or
through which the same may run, by
trunks, culverts, etc.
Authority was also given to the county
commissioners ”to compel all persons
through whose lands drains or ditches
have been dug by the owners thereof con
necting with said drainage canals, pub
lic drains and ditches, to keep the same
open and in good order and in harmony
with the general system of drainage in
the county." The county commissioners
were aiso authorized to compel th/e owners
of toll roads to keep the ditches parallel
to or bordering on these roads open and in
good condition. These powers of the com
missioners were not to be constru
ed to deprive the corporate authori
ties of the city of ’Savannah of the right
to have. hold, construct or maintain in
their own right any ditches, sewers, drains
or oilier work anywhere in Chatham coun
ty for the purpose of drainage in and
around the city for sanitary purposes nor
to deprive the said corporation of any
rights or privileges given them under sec
tion 4854 of the code or under any laws of
this state.
Under these powers the county com
missioners have established systems of
drainage which include the Casey canal,
ReDefine canal. Harmon canal. Hemp
stead canal, Placentia, canal, drainage in
the vicinity of the Isle of Hope, Minis
swamp, Ltmar swamp, Dundee, Vale
Royal, the McAlpin canal, drainage In the
vicinity of Pooler, Bethesda, White Bluff
and Buckhalter, canal now being con
structed, besides many laterals and
ditches.
The enumeration of these systems,
though not exhaustive.ls sufficient to show
that the drainage of Chatham county is a
work of vast proportions. The large num
ber of extensive swamps traversing the
county in all directions and the compara
tively small force of able-bodied convicts
under the control of the county commis
sioners. make the progress of the drainage
slow and difficult.
It has been the practice of the commis
sioners to have a general cleaning out
of all the canals and ditches In the vi
cinity of the city of Savannah every spring
or early summer; and this practice has
been observed by the present board. The
attention of your committer was called to
some of these drains which had been
cleaned this spring, but which now seem
ed obstructed by weeds and grasses. The
humidity and semi-tropical heat of our cli
mate promote the rapid growth of these
weeds and the enormous amount of work
to be done has rendered it Impracticable
to keep these drains entirely free from
vegetation: but the drains have, even in
their present condition, great capacity for
carrying off the water, and no case has
been brought to the attention of the board
where adjacent lands have been overflow
ed by the summer rains on account of the
obstructed condition of these drains.
It is the purpose of the county com
missioners to continue - the construction
of canals and drains until every portion
of the county shall have a system of
drainage adapted to its necessities and
conforming to the natural drainage of
the respective water-sheds. Until these
systems have been completed it will not
be possible to maintain perfectly clean
drains throughout the system; but it is
expected that when the heavy work of
construction has been completed it will
be practicable to keep the several systems
in good order and condition.
Very beneficial results have lieen at
tained by the drainage constructed. Much
valuable and fertile land has leen r##-
clalmed and made susceptible of cultiva
tion. and the sanitary condition of the
county ami city appreciably improved.
In reference to the public roads the
commissioners have to say that since
the control and management of the public
roads has been Committed to them. a
continuous effort lias been mad#* to im
prove th#m. In September, 1895, the work
of surfacing and hardening the roads
was commenced on the Ogeechee roa#l
and experiments made with various ma
terials. By practical tests the commis
sioners have selected wltat is known as
"Augusta gravel” as the material best
adapted to the improvement of the public
road*.
Dp to this time the following roads
have (sen Improved to various distances
so as to provide the most sandy portions
with u. hard, smooth surface:
Ogeechee. road 5.5 miles
Louisville road 4.7 miles
Augusta road 1.1 miles
Hay street extension 1.4 mile*
Schwarz avenue 5. miles
F.still avenue 1.0 mile
Walers avenue 5.1 miles
Montgomery cross road 2.5 mll#
Total 21.8 mile*
Anew road has l#een established from
tile Intersei llon or Junction of Estill ave
nue and Wat# rs toad to Thiin#l<*rholl,
which wdi be surface#! in the same man
ner as the above mentioned roads.
In answer to the question propounded
by your committee in th# fifth itaragiaph
of your communication, the county com
missioners sn.v: Th" necessity for a n#*w
road to Thunderbolt arise, from the ap
plication mail# to ihe board by a larg#'
number of Ihe # Irixen* and taxpayeis or
the county for the establishment of the
r.'ti'l. and Ih# r# i#nrl ..f tht committal on
public roads recommending its utility Tn#-
commissioners do not njltT it the statement
In your rommuidcHlinn that the "r..,d
now going lo Thunderbolt can la* pur
chased for considerably less money Ihan
It will cost 10 build anew one" The
Ski'lousy shell road, "Ihe on# now going
to Thunderbolt." with itm Hon..venture
branch road Is ulsitii six miles in li-tigili
iw# think this is sieint tin length given
b> Ah#' #ltr. tot sof Hie road) It Is laid
with oystir shells and is rou h worn. The
liicieu#il travel that would follow the
removal of the toll charges would soon
wear out the eh#*tl atel would require the
relMill.ltng of tin- road throughout Its #n
in. b'lisili The could 1 >nirn.#*loai
nr#, not in favoi of the use of oyai. 1 shells
I t rut (u lus public roads. They have
found the Aug.tain gravel a more durable
lliatetlal tor lilts purpose s#> that 111. pres,
ellt shelo-fl attrlMM •I* # # * #co ell 10 tht
ilue of the r.#ad till 10l bo use; and pra# ■
H.ny lh< pur#'base of nils ioa#| u.iool lie
simply tbs acquisition of a light uf way
at a cost of ten thousand dollars (SIO.OOOI.
The new road front lie junction of Es
tiil avenue ar.d Waters avenue to Warsaw
is two miles and six bundled feet in
length. The right of way has been grant
ed to the county without cost; and live
ditching and grading neress try to prejtare
the road for ihe Augusta gravel will not
cost any more proportionately titan the
preparation of the Skids way shell road
for resurfacing with the same material.
The cost of surfacing the new road
a width of 18 feet is estimated.
say 2 miles, 800 feet $ fi.rtOO 00
A width of 24 feet 12,-500 00
Surfacing Skidaway road ti miles 21,00 no
Cost of right of way 10,000 on
Total cost old road $31,000 Ot
The facilities for conveying ami distrib
uting the material for surfacing the Skid
away road are not as convenient as on the
new road. No railroad track parallels the
Skidaway road along its entire length,
while the Merchants an.l Mechanics rail
road runs close to the new road ils entire
length, and the use of this track has lteen
granted to the county without any other
charge than that of returning it to the
railroad company in like order aud condi
tion in which it shall lie received.
It may also be stated tlitl the new road
will atYord to a large number of citizens a
more convenient route to the town of
Warsaw and its vicinity that is demanded
by a large number of citizens, its con
struction and maintenance will cost much
less than the purchase, repair and main
tenance of the route by the Skidaway
shell road, and the commissioners are
constrained by what they deem to be me
public interest to comply with the appli
cation of the citizens to establish the new
road rather than to accept the offer of the
directors of the Skidaway Shell Itoad
Company to purchase their property.
The Skidaway Shellroad Company was
chartered in 1867. It has had a corporate
existence of. forty years. While it was
in the power of the legislature to confer
perpetual succession on corporations, the
policy of the slate has been rather to limit
the existence or life of private corpora
tions. The original limit was fourteen
years, increased by the act of 1865-66 to
twenty years, with the privilege of re
newal. So that this corporation has en
joyed its franchises without interruption
or competitioni for the full period usually
granted. It should not complain, if in the
progress of civilization, the community
unite In common contribution by taxation
to provide conveniences and facilities
which formerly were furnished by private
corporations for a compensation and thus
interfere with an exclusive privilege which
lias iicen enjoyed, although not guaran
teed. Respectfully submitted,
J. J. Dale. Oharinian C. C. O.
Statement of canals and ditches cleaned
from April I to July 31, 1897:
April— Lineal feet.
Hamstead eanal and laterals 31 .Win
Harmon canal and laterals 13,950
Casey canal 3,500
Deßenne canal and laterals 39,200
Schwarz ditch 4,500
Minis canal 2,500.
Avondale and Rifle range ditches.. 2,500
Casey canal 4,200
Waters road ditch 950
Total 108,300
May—
Harmon canal 22,700
Hamstead canal 17,000
Salt Water creek and laterals .... 9.500
Laterals crossing White Bluff road. 2,600
Bast Savannah ditches 4.600
New Casey canals 22,000
Kehoe’s ditch 4,(100
Cooper’s ditch 800
Bonaventure ditch 6.000
Isle of Hot'' ditch 17.400
Waters riffd ditch 600
Total 107,200
June—
Isle of Hope ditches 16.300
Lester ditches 3.000
Total 19,300
July—
Minis swamp, canals and laterals.. 7.5(g)
Cherry Butcher Ten ditch 2.l"0
Lamar swamp canal and laierals. 5,200
Total 15,100
Summary— Liueal feet.
I>iteh(*s and canals slushed April... 102,300
Ditches and canals slushed May.. 107.260
Ditches and canals slushed June.. 19,300
Ditches and canal slushed July... 15,100
Total for past four months 243,960
Pooler ditches slushed 24,9(
Grand total 278,860
Sundry Drainage Work-
Lineal feet.
Drain pipe laid Eastvllle, Waters
road from Gwinnett to Anderson
streets 3,110
New ditches and ' anals cut and
deepened 100,060
Your committee not concurring In the
views of the majority, submits the follow
ing minority report.
The opportunities for investigation, were
necessarily limited, both for lack of time,
and the means we had for making Che in
spection. We have therefore lo a great
extent, been compelled to coniine our at
tention to such places, as were pointed out
to us, and to information we could gather
from sources, we considered tellable. Our
inspection was first made in a westerly
anil southwesterly direction, and within
an area of 3% miles from the city, whl# Ii
took in the Dundee canal, Telfair swamp,
Tellair place, and the ogeechee canal.and
Springfield plantation. The two latter
points not coming within the Jurisdiction
of the county commissioners. We find a
large number of ditches belonging to the
county overgrown In weeds, and badly In
n#*ed of cleaning, notably, th<* Vale Royal,
and it;- laterals, which we an* reliably In
formed, have not been cleaned for aeven
t##n months. A similar condition < xists in
the M< Alpln canal, also the lateral ditch
which passes thro'usii, what is known as
the Houston land. The Dundee canal, from
the Augusta road, to Hie Ixniisville road,
is also overgrown in weeds, and should he
('leaned'out. This canal has never lieen fin
ished, and Is one of the imporlunt works
yet to be ilone, draining as It will all the
swamps lying between the Augusta and
Louisville road* and beyond. Tbo Telfair
swamp, which is a tributary of the Mus
grovr, has never ls*en drained. From Its
nearness to the city. I> should be attended
to immediately. The Telfair place which
was once a rice field, we undt'rstund In
rainy weather, that much of the land Is
tinder water The old dlt#'hes are all over
grown in weeds, in i in some places flllid
with water. Th# county commissioners
reeognlxe tli#* Importance of this work and
inform ns, they h.tv# It under considera
tion There should la* no furlher delay
In the matter. Mince the report of
the lasi grand Jury with reference to the
neglected, and unsanitary condition of th#*
Og# ccln>e canal, nothing nppauntiy has
been done to Improve It. The HprhigfliJd
plantation, which I* within th# my limits,
is not In a# thorough sanitary condition
as It might lie. We were glad to note,
though, that some work was being #lon*
titer#- The Bucktialter swamp, of much
recent notoriety, was next visaed. It Is
about eight and one-half mile* from Ih#
city. In a southwesterly direction, and at
tit#* time of out* visit there wer# 11.1 eon.
vlets engaged st work on the # anal, 5n on
road*, Slid the bainrt#c at the farm. Th#
work #>n th#* Hit# khal'.er canal at 'hi* time
does not commemt 11-e,f 1•* our judgment,
wh#n th# more Important work of thor
ough Jrslnuge of th#' swamps contiguous
to Mavanttah would . ore!in # to the It# alth
of the city. Kogltiei'ra of reciignlg# i abil
ity condemn a Imnr nub-able, tit# claim
se> up by III# •'runty eominlsstitner#. that
the null ling of Ihe # anal will rtenlually
• nab'.# llirtn to drain sum# ol the w*i. r
ft'irti th# Mu-grit# watershed which mow
find* Its outlet ,nto lit## Maiannah river,
and which i* tin outlet nature lias pits
vide I for it to run. Granting, though.
Glut tile plan is feasible, will it not call
for work Involving large outlays and
heavy cost? This we endeavored to as
certain, but without success and were
glad to note that subsequently ii was
brought up by a member of the hoard of
county commissioners, with a view of as
certaining tins fact. Aside from tills, i lie
taurefit, if any, to the health of the city is
so remote, it being two years oefore the
einal would tie completed, that we are the
more convinced that the work should be
suspended for Hie present.
IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION.
Tile DeKenil" swamp, lying just two
miles from Estill avenue, wa find that the
.ateral ditches leading from this swamp
not only need cleaning, but are
inadequate to carry off the water during
tin* rainy spell. They were only dug for
temporary relief, until the system of
drainage, which was then contemplated
was completed which lias never been
done. The result is we are told, that tile
land is subject to overflow, and frequent
ly there are lbi or more acres under wa
ter. which remain so for months. We
also understand that the Hampstead and
Cooper swamps, about 2b. miles from Ks
till avenue, an in the same condition.
The close proximity of these places to
the city, make it important that they
should lie thoroughly and immediately put
in order and kept in good condition.
EASTERN PORTION.
We had no opportunity of visiting this
part, but from information we consider
reliable, we learn that tin* county ditches
in sonic localities are overgrown in weeds
and need cleaning.
In Justice iierhaps in closing this report
we should say, that the existing stale of
affairs which our report shows, may not
lie entirely attributable to Hie present
board of counts - commissioners, as they
have been in office a very short lime, hut
wherever the fault lies, the remedy is
prompt attention to the thorough drainage
nearer tin* city, in which are located the
homes of more than three-fourths of the
population of Chatham county.
C. G. Anderson,
M. L. Exley.
Committee.
Filed in office April an, 1897
JAMES l\. I*. CARR,
Clerk S. C., C. C.
B4TH.KS W ITH II \ 1,1, (Ml BAT.
4nson S'srlM n llnw mid Spoils the
ttfinie in New 4 orl*—Other Gnnics.
New York. Aug. 30.- -Anson spoiled the
clean victory for his Colts this afternoon
by urging Emslie to call the game at Ihe
end of the eighth. Emslie refused to call
tlie game, It brought fourth a vile epithet.
For tills Anson war, fined $25 and put out
of the game. Then Everett and Decker
commenced an argument with Emslie and
lie assessed them $lO each. With Anson
out of the game, Hie Colts wen* one man
short, and Emslie pulled ills clock and
called tlie batter up. Ryan endeavored to
hat. but was called from the plate. One
minute having expired*, and no man com
ing up, the man who should have faced
the pitcher was declared out and the play
was resumed. When the trouble arose
the score was seven to five in favor of
Chicago. They made three more runs in
the ninth. When tlie .New Yorks eame
to the hat in their half of Hie rilnlh. Deck
er was on first base In place of Anson, and
Friend covered left field with his form
enveloped in a regulation Chicago club
dressing gown, while on Ids head was a
Chicago cap. The New Yorkers raised vig
orous objection to the playing of Friend,
who they claimed was nol in uniform. Two
men went out in succession and Joyce and
Gleason tiegan to protest again. McCreery
was instructed not to go to the bat, and
Emslie called Hie game. Ihe score revert
ing to the eighth inning.
Sullivan stalled to pitch, but three home
runs and a two-bagger in two innings
caused his retirement. S. ymour relieved
him and pitched good ball up to the eighth
inning. Griffith was in good form, and
to the errors behind him at least (woof
Ihe New Y'orks’ runs were due. The fea
ture of the game was the batting of Ever
ett. Attendance 4,000. Score: R.H.K
New York ...0 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 o—s 6 4
Chicago I 4 0 o o o o 2 x—7 16 6
Batteries Sullivan, Seymour and War
ner; Griffith and Kittredge.
Umpire—Emslie.
Time—2:3o.
Boston, Mass.. Aug. 30.—Cleveland could
not bat to-day. Howell was batted for
three runs in the first inning, but afler
that he kept the Bostons well in hand.
Magnificent plays by Collins, Lowe and
Tenney and the all-round play of Childs
were Hie features. Attendance 3,000.
Score: Jt.H.E
Boston 3 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 x—6 12 29
Cleveland I 1 0 o o 0 O 0 o—2 7 3
Batteries Nichols and Bergen; Powell
and McAllister.
Umpire—Lynch.
Time—l :50.
Baltimore, Aug. 30. The Champions to
day made it five straights from Cincinnati
on this visit of the Reds. The Orioles
were unable to bunch their hits in all un
til ihe sixth inning. The batting ami
base running of Ihe Champions were the
features. Attendance 3.025. Score: R.H.K.
IlHliimore 1 0 li 0 II 4 O 2 o—7 14 3
'Cincinnati 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 o—l 7 0
Batteries Corbet* and Robinson; Dwyer,
I)amain and Vaughan.
Umpires—O'Day and Kelly. Time 2:05.
AN AttIDEMAI, .SIIOHTIML
One Brother Shoot* Anotli#*r
Through fart*len<***.
Abbeville, Ga., Aug. 30.—E. T. Howell, a
popular young man, was seriously wound
<-d at the horn# of bis fattier, J J. Howell,
two and one-half miles west Of Abbeville,
last night. W. N. Howell and his brother,
K. T. Howell, were .ihout 10 retire for the
night, when W. N. Howell p|ck#*d up hb#
brother's pistol from a lublo, and removed
nil Hie cartridges, as he su|tposed, anil
then b# gan to snap the pistol. His brother
In th# meantime, approached the table,
wh#n the weapon was discharged, the ball
entering hls ah#lom#n, ranging downward
and loilging m the left lilp Dr. Gi'orge,
who was called to the wounded man,
probeil for llte ball, hut was unable lo lo
#'ale It accurately. The ball bare 1 / pene
trated the coat lug of th#' stomach, and the
doctor ha* no fr as to III* recovery.
Cotton Is coming n rapidly, and Abl#e.
Villi* Is paying the high# #! mark# t price
for 11. A bale wa* sold hete last Halur
day for 6 7 x '#m* l#et pound.
*KJI TO 111 AII A VI'I NE.
Two I Telling * macks Thought lo
llsir It# ed ( uncerued aa lib ( aha.
Washington. Aug :m The marine hos
pllal service ha* been unfilled of the cap
tur# ofl the w#*t i'#i4l of Florida, of two
tlshlns sma# ks by the .mltsry Inspection
servfie.
The vessel* were from Cuba, or connect
ed with Cuban less# is, and wet# taken
p ntseasion of ss a health precaution. They
w#*te sent lo >4UHrarilliie to be detained us
ill their sanitary condition ran i## deter
mined.
Went to f leaiaon t t#lli*ss,
Washington. Aug *> -Chief Engineer
W I'. i\ of I ulngtiui figs Inert ile### fie#l
from th# Montgomery and ordsicf t #■
Glemsoii Goilrgi. Kurt HIM F (*,, |i, p a# ,
of I’asse.l A*i*f##iii iiiHtlriier 1# AA Me-
Elroy, altos# ##rd#is are i.tos#
White, Black and Colored
Wash Dress Goods.
Sheer, gauzy, seasonable, stylish, desirable, this
season’s much-wanted wash fabrics, in plain white,
solid black, iancy colored, figured, brocaded and
woven Linen, Cotton and Silk mixed weaves, be
ing closed out at less than half former prices.
Fancy Printed Colored India Lawns, Eta
iiiinen, Ia pilot k. 44 Idle 4Voveu Colored striped I. swim, extra sheer. tim* qiiHlities
in tills season s new, stylish patterns, colorings, effects an extraordinary lot of
goods the remainder of some of the BEST fa ones in stock thl-season at Be‘j 10c
I'-O.c ami 15c, have been consolidated In orm lot ami will lie sold at the low !*’
price of *>C
( lllnrPii Is' t isitovi Instrlpes figures floral patterns, excellent sheer
LUIUI4U 1 4.l l UNI 4,0, quality, light gild dark colorings for waists and
and dresses, 40 Inches wide, worth 12(,c and Isc, a , O4C
White India Lawns, Dimities, Lace Striped
LAWNS, .splendid sheer qualities, good assortment, worth 10c, 1
at OC
White Dotted Swiggpq large and small dots, for dresses and cur
r I*l4 4- I'HIIUI e>44 IlNfsCJs, lams, scolloped and braided on both H 4„
edges, worth 15c, a t "UC
Mack Lawns, wdr!'. h"!' B<l * nd ch|,cl,,,d - as,omM pattorns at ßJc
Colored Swisscs, Tambours, Organdies, Dim
-ITIKS. BATISTES. I,AWNS, light medium and durk colorings, this Henson's new
eet patterns, colorings and effects, extra sheer qualities, worth air and 25c. |o
at only Jlv/W
Pi ones. Marseille** solid colors plain white white fancy figured,
x 14(114,9, iHill 94.11149, also blue and red figured, worth 26c and 35c X Rf
at * OC
Linen Batistes and Crass Linens,
woven and plaid ofTects, very finest fabric for waists and costumes, washable ■ ■* ’
materials, worth 25c and 35c, , lt I.)C
French Erin ted OrS*JllltlieS " h * er gauzy quality. In delicate
. ■4l vi *- i IIIIV.II n„t 1111.149, mus and colorings, for street and
evening wear, large and small pattern effects, becoming colorings, worth 35c, „
at ZZC
THE “PLANTERS HOTEL”
WILL up; opened
TO-MORROW (WEDNESDAY), SEPT. I
It has been made new from ceiling to roof. New car
pets, new furniture; in fact, it is and will be kept a bijou
of neatness and comfort, offering maximum comfort at
minimum prices.
The bar is one oi the handsomest in the city, and will be supplied with
only pure liquors oi the best brands, while the daily lunches, from tl a m
to 12 in., will be such as only hotel bars can afford to serve free of cost.
GEO. W. LYONS, Manager.
A LOSS OF TEN PER CENT.
I'UNUITIOA op’ THE SEA I8L1M)
COT ION I It OP.
Great I'alliiia Off Since the Issti#- of
tin- f.ast 1 Irculor—Rust unit Cnln
plllers at Wort,— A \llnltler of Let
t#-r Frotu Various (.rowers In
Georgia anil Florida Showing the
t'oiiilitloii of the Crop rit I'resent.
Gainesville. Fla.. Aug. 30. Since the pub
lication of the annual report of H. F. Dot
ton & Go., giving a prospectus of the gen
eral condition of the cotton crop many
changes have# occurred, ami from the
many letters received Iry that firm in re
ply to a circular letter, it would seem that
ihe crop is 10 percent, below that of pre
vious report, rain, just, caterpillar and
other drawback* having greatly reduced
the prospect for n yield. This relutett to
Georgia and Florida. Below Is given some
of 1 ii#- most lm#a#rtant letter* showing an
nulling reductions In the yield as a result
of conditions named:
The correspondent of Pelham, (la.,
writes: "The s#a Island crop in this sec
tion will be Hbout tt) |*r cent, of last
year's crop, provided we have favorable
seasons from now on. The farmers In this
region lost money in making sen Island
cotton last season, and the result was that
more limn half of them discontinued mak
ing of It. The rains have ilone consider
able damage, causing the stalk to go to
weed and the fruit to <lrop off. wlril#' the
lower Isilis, a gnat many of tlieni, have
rotted from lit#' eIT.-cts of contlaued rains.
When one takes hold of a stalk und
shake* it, not only forms and blooms lrop
off on lit#* ground, but also a great msny
half-grown (toll*. How far a laic fall can
compensate for this damage no one can
tell. The receipts In this section last year
were altout 5,001 bales, and this year tv#
can't estimate on mor<* than 2,<Kiu. The
conditions prevailing here are Ihe same In
Thomas, 'Miller, Decatur, Baker, Colquitt,
Dougherty and Worth counties, where
there was something like 25."00 bales mar
keted last year,”
In the Valdosta section conditions are
referred to as follows:
The rain and hot sun has played havoc
with sea island cotton all through this
section. The crop with no more rain will
lie at least 33 1-3 (ter cent, off from what
prospect was one month ago. We notice
some fields dead from rust. Crop being lat
er than usual great may will not get near
a full bottom #-rop. There Is no chance for
th#* crops to come out any now even with
good weather. What cotton Is green has
shed badly. Had no rain since 23, hut in
dications are for rain to-day."
The .Madison, Fla., correspondent says:
"The weather here for the past two w#*eka
has not been favorable, and we are begin
ning to hear complaints from the farmers
of studding boll worm, etc. From the
present outlook w#' should say the crop lit
tht* vicinity will not be so large as last
season, probably 10 per cent, less."
The crop around Jasi>er la somewhat
more favorable as will lie seen hy the fol
lowing :
"Hear Hire: Replying to yottrs of the
25th, would sta'e on laat Sunday 1221111
Inst.) I visited and Inspected l.tist acres of
cotton, which was an averag# land of the
county, I never saw a lietter prospect lor
cotton. W" have no cotton caterpillar. We
(lave no t otion boll worm We have no #*ot
ton blight. W have the usual amount of
rut, and dea#l cotton un the very wet
lands. Ninety-flv# p# r ••ent, of our cotton
Is glowing and blooming tmiutlfully. If
Ihe weather should tie fairly aoud from
now out, I • onfidently calculate on an in
creased amount in our # ounfy from 111 10
15 per cent, over lasi sraou. , '
live Oak, Fi t District W. tb# r has
teen unfavorable for cotton for th* past
ten #lays. Blight I* in many Heals *ptj
• utiort on ol#l lands show but f* w bloom*
So #al#'fpillar* No boll worms will In
more cun on mode In our oecitoM from ii
to 10 !x*r cent. If season Is favorable from
now on.
Bradford County, Florida —The weather
has been very unfavorable for cotton In
this section. The dry weather early in
Hie Si-ason stopped it from growing, and
Hu*, blight has been bad on it. When tins
rains sei In (hat or something caused it
i#i shed very bad. Caterpillars art* report
ed In sprue sections. The crop will be cut
off 2(1 or 25 per cent.
Suwannee County, Florida.—Replying 10
Ihe within, will sav that the weather
through this section for the past fifteen
liars has been v#*ry unfavorable for rol
lon. It Is badly damaged In p!a#'es by the
blight, and then- has been lots of com
plaint about It sh.'ddlng badly. There Is
no caterpillars or boll worms that we have
heard of. The average is about the same
as last year, and If the weather improve*
from now on It may lake on anew growtlx
and fruit.
f H'ZOnil ALU’S SEWS BUDGET.
Important l•ul•■lc School Arrange
ment* Mode.
Fitzgerald, Ga.. Aug. 30,-The election
for the county seat removal has been call
ed for Oct. 21. ami politicians will now ga
to work In real earnest.
The colony company has decided to havw
>lll auction sale or lots on Nov. 16. asul a
large excursion from Ohio, Indiana atul
Illinois wiH be run in here for that occa
sion. Many transfers are already being
mail#*, and the clerks in the office are eon
tinii tlly rushed. Many letters art* received
from people who are Inhmding to mov#
south this fall.
A negro cabin on South Lee street, which
had Just been vacated was burned on
Wedn# sdny night. The loss amounted to
about 175.
At a reeent meeting of the city school
Itoar.l It was decided to admit to the city
sch'stls any and all pupils In Irwin county
without tuition and to furnish live hooka
to nil. This ruling Is to hold until the close
of the first term, Feb. 15, and after that
ttm#* It may be found necessary to charge
tuition to Ihos living outside Ihe city
limits. A teacher was elect###! for the col
-01 ed schools, which will open with about
forty pupils. Colore#l children will also tvi
supplied with five hooks. The first term
begins He fit. .
Fitzgerald received the first bale of cot
ton t its ws*k from the plantation of D„
B. Faulk it was purchas#-.! hy D. f.
Drew for 12'A cents, and w# Ighed 5M
pounds. It Is expected that the ware,
house will he ready for use this week. an<
a number of business m#*n are ready to
buy col ion In large quantltlw:.
A large number of citizens of this pis •#*
attended the big barbecue at the river
yesterday and report a big crowd *nd
plcaaant time.
An .litlnnate programme has been ar
ranged for a Sunday school convention to
Is- held ill tills city Brill. 11 amt 12, ami
all the Sunday school* In Die county will
participate in i'i.* x#-i. i-.-s |> , 1
fill II". day w ill iw# handled by
thinkers In 11 . count) tnd ih
sessions will no #louht prove Interesting.
Weal ii# r exiwrta report the dosing daya
of lust w##k ns Ihe hottest of ihe year at
this place.
Th* city h#vid election will take ploc*
on dept. 7.
FOB nt 11, I’t Hl*4>K*.
The Government Sets Apart t rrlal.x
f.aail la I’easacala.
Washington, Aug Jo -The President, by
exe#'ut|ve order, has set apart two tracts
of 'and in Pstutacula harbor, Klorbla, for
military an#l tiaial defenae purposea
The ir* Ih are .h-serihed a* follows:
"Lot 2 of se# lion 4, and bats 1 and 1 of
sect lon 9. in township 3 aoutli. range 29
west, .'obtaining 367 25 acres. Fractional
itrcilufM 1 of township 3 south, ■aug# j 9
tfii, funic 3.14 •• rc<
M V% r| 1 nilon Mt#.
Hutif Un., Ami 3m firt tJj Ej
Is* W • 4|Ho#| It it * lu-fliiy, 1 1
w.#s raised atwait seven miles fioia iuk,
end was sold tor '* proto.
5