The Georgetown news., 1856-04-17
COURT OF sEssIONs--April Term.
Report of the Grand Jury.


, herewith returned. They have also visited
the Jail and find the old building now
} occupied for the confinement of prisoners,
much decayed, and very insecure, but clean
ly and ir good order. The prisoners are
provided with wholesome food, as good as
criminals have any reason to expect. Since
the first of January last $752,50 has been
} expended for the payment of guards, and
during the year preceding for the same pur-
pose $l,68O. 1t has been deemed necessa-
ry by the Judicial officers and the Board
of Supervisors to keep continual watch
employed, in consequence of the heinous-
ness of offences committed by some of the
persons confined, and the Importance to So
ciety of bringing such offenders to condign
punishment. The insecurity of the build
ing now in use has rendered this course i'm
peratively necessary. In very short time
this source of expense will be obviated by
the completion of the Granite Jail now in
course Of construction by E. T. Raun, con-
tractor under the supervision of r. E. Dra-
per, Esq. The jury inspected this work
and found it further advanced than antici-
pated. The southern and eastern outer
walls and all the cells are now at full eIe-
walton, ready to receive the stone ceiling,
which work is now i'll progress. The floors
of the cells are composed of granite blocks
two feet in thickness, and all the division
walls composed also of stone, and altogeth-
er substantial piece of masonry. The
doors are substantially constructed Of heavy
bar iron and securely hung and fastened
The contract price for this work is $16,-
900, of which sum 81 ,664 has already been
paid the contractor, being 80 per cent. Of
the amount due on the work completed up
to the 8th day of March last; since which
time the work has been progressing, and is
to be completed according to the terms of
of the contract by the first Of June next.
FINANCIAL According to the Treasur-
er's books, it appears there is of registered
outstanding Warrants $13,153 Al, and a
balance of cash in the Treasury to redeem
these warrants in the order of their regis
try, of $4,6l8 40, leaving balance of in
debtedness upon registered warrants Of S8,-
534 96, to which should be added, as per
Auditors books, about $4,000 of warrants
not yet presented for registry making a
balance of total Indebtedness amounting to
$l1, ,534 SO. The average of receipts into
the treasury for the past six months has
been monthly, S5,347 81, while as appears
from the proceedings of the Board of Su-
peryisors, the current and ordinary expen-
Ses of the county government amounts to
nearly $4,440 per month, including pay
ments for the Hospital.
The present indebtedness of the county
has been occasioned by expenditures out of
the ordinary course, viz: survey Of Carson
Valley Road, 81 600; plans, 81 200; balan-
ces to retiring officers and to Road Super
visors accruing before October last, in all
amounting to $1,000, which, added to jail
payments Of 1864, makes an amount of
$l4, ,684 out of the ordinary course. De-
Quoting the county Indebtedness of $11,-
347 81 from this amount, it appears that
ordinary current expenses might have been
betrayed without incurring dollar of in
debtedness, and a balance accumulated in
the Treasury of 1886. With diligence
in the collection of foreign miners licenses
and other branches of revenue, it is believed
the current receipts for the future will fully
equal the average of the past six months.
If so, current expenses may be paid and
the present outstanding indebtedness of the
county discharged without resort to any
county tax. This is desirable inasmuch
if no county tax is levied the whole expense
of assessing will be chargable to the State,
thereby saving the county several thousand
dollars. In this connexion it is proper to
remark that the county has an unsettled
claim against the State of upwards of So
900 for Assessors services rendered last
year, which, without doubt, will be adjust
ed at an early day and will reduce the in
debtedness of the county in correspond
ing amount.
The disbursements for highway labor
have been considerable and hereafter should
be carefully conducted, to the end, that mo-
ney may not be expended on roads wanting
permanency in their locations.
The books and papers in the various
county offices appear to be well kept and
arranged by the present incumbents. The
jury noticed great want of uniformity in
the size of the books used in each office.