The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-11-22

teriors to health
That in regard 20 security this jail lis consider.
ed as highly discrcditab.e to the county and ifno
better provision is to be made for the confne
ment Of prisoners this jury would rocommend alb.
olishing the use Of jail in this county. Under
tue floor which, in the main hall. consists q one
and half inch plank, laid on light s'eepors, there
is a space Of three feet to the rock entirely va.
cant. On this rock the walls Of the Jail are ioln.
ded They are, Throughout, composed Of stones
entirely too light and small fDr such n purpose,
and of mortar so worthless that the finger nail
makes a respectable hcadway in scoopng il out
That in the present used bcdscals tie mate
rials are such as will be very serviceable nipple.
menis in the hands Of prisoners for assaultng tie
jailor anil facilitating escape
That for remedying all these defects, the Grand
Jurors aforesaid do recommend;
lst-Proyiding for the free passage 10 the gut
tiers Of the streets Of the water which falls on the
roof Of the court house, aud which, now on the
west side, collects into pool at the side Of the
jail wall and on the east side, sinks directly into
the Open porous soil without even the ccremo-
ny ola pool For the purpose Of ventilation, il is
recommended a movable sash or sashes, on hin.
yes, be provided at either end Of the hall. II is
believed no improvement can he made in the Sc.
ence to the contracted limits Of the Jail but it il
recommended that rules be established for pre-
serving, in future. decorous regard for cleanli
ness, and that infraction. Of such rules be punish.
ed by confinement Of the offender for stated time,
in his cell /, is recommended that the sheriff
should take the charge Of all moneys found on
the persons Ct prisoners, and disbur'e the same
on the order ot the prisoner, when in his opinion
consistent with the public safety and the wants
Of such prisoner 1t is recommended to subs,i'
tu,e some sor, of swing cot or hammock for the
present beds,csds.
reconsideration of what the Grand Jurors have
set forth above, and of their own conviction OF
their duty, they suggest 10 the proper of
iicers the propriety Of preparing the way
at once for the erection Of n new and independ-
ent building for jail assuring them Of the abso
lutte necessity for securing offenders ina manner
far more unquestionable Of the injustice, on the
part of "the powers that be- in combining the wea
ker, and in some cases innocent parties IN quar-
tiers sufficiently contracted and mhealthfui to en-
danger IN not ut seasons to ensure the sacrifice
Of the health OF these unfortunate persons to-
wards whom the tender mcrcies Of this county
shew themselves to be hard indeed: Of the equal
ly unsuitable character Of the quarters provided
for the ailor, which should be proper for the &C
copaton Of his family, Of the improperly OF com
uniting female prisoners to the same apartment
with the males. Aud the Grand Jurors aforesaid
do not hesitate to express their belief that pru
dence requires the preliminary steps should bC
taken which will place the finances Of the coun
ty, at an early day, in condition to meet tho OK
pcnse Of erecting the said building, which, there
can be little doubt may be erected on land nov