Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-11-03
TIE New Jail.

The following wel-digcsted article az
peared in the Republican of last week. Tn
writer so nearly expresses our views on tn
subject, as well as the views of majorlt
of the people of the county, that we re
print the article entire:
THE NEW COUNTY PRISON.
much public and private discussion ha
taken place in our midst during the past 81,
months with reference to the location OF th
building in question As we have no lots T.
sell nor money to buy one, and therefore NJ
personal interest in the matter, we may witt
propriety give our views upon the vexeC
| question, and will therefore proceed to dis
cuss it wholly from a financial point of view
THAT the prison should be located nea
the Court House no one denies; but that i
must be erected on the present site is no
essentially necessary When disconnected
one, two, three or four squares off it makes
no difference. 1t costs no more, nor is the
risk any greater, to convey prisoners thi'
distance than to bring them from an adjoiu
ing lot.
Suppose the Commissioner. proceed to
erect the new building on the old ground,
what follows2 We will have no place to
keep prisoners or convicts for three gears to
come They must be kept at Bellefonte,
Hollidaysburg, or still farther off, What
will it cost the taxpayers during this period
to employ The Sheriff and half dozen dep
L.. -. l..
sixteen prisoners, from four to six times a
year, during the sittings of the Court This
cannot be done for trife And then there
is no place to keep them during Court after
they are brought here. There must be a
good round sum expended to erect build
ing to contain them, as they cannot be kept
in the Court room. This arrangement alone
will cost thousands Of dollars.
This is not all A Sheriff. residence
must be procured for at least a similar pc
riod, at cost of not less than 5000 per an
mum; with large amount of other Incl
dental expenses not dreamed of now
Again, it is stated that the present site
can be sold for IS, 900 after the new prison
is completed. If this is true, why not erect
the new structure in the upper Park, which
would not cost the taxpayers one cent
Where is the individual who would fail to
make an exchange of this kind on his own
hook? Besides, the latter is by far the best
location. The question of keeping up drain
age, and the ease by which water can be Sc
cured, alone, in our view, is enough to pro-
duce change. We are aware that an OBJ
lection is made to erecting the prison in the
Park, upon the ground that the County
Commissioners have no title to the premises.
This is true, but it will cost nothing to secure
one through the Legislature, from the fact
that it is every taxpayers interest to get
prison lot for nothing, sell the old one for a
large sum and apply the proceeds towards
the erection of the new one, besides saving
at least 1000 in incidental expenses. Men
are not often found acting against their own
financial interests; never in cases of this
kind, unless they are wholly personalin their
motives, aud then they are of no gubEc con-
and need only be probed little
to reveal their nastiness. Public interest
should first be consulted upon this question,
and if private interest is adjusted by this
standard, then neither will receive injury
Citizens of this borough, more highly en-
lowed with pirate than public interests,
have the right to object to our views and
designs, but no one else has, hence we pro-
pose to compromise with SUCH Our bo-
rough is very much in need of good lock-
,p or local prison. Now, why not allow the
Jounty Commissioners to erect their build
ng on the Park, and in consideration for
Dur title erect Jointly a complete lookup on
he same ground? A building of this kind
must be built ere long by our borough au-
horities. and where else will they locate il?
Il they are compelled TO buy lot and then
erect the building, it will be found to be
very expensive. Besides, county prison
md lookup can both be erected in the
Park in question, and still be ample room
or a promenade ground. Moreover, the
commissioners propose to erect a prison
hat will be an honor to the county and an
ornament to the town,if properly located on
he bank of the river and disconnected from
,ther buildings, where the cost of water and
lrainage will not amount to the interest. if
ocated on the old site. And, better than
III, ten thousand dollars saUed to the tanpay-
rS, and not dollar lost to single inndi-
Tidual
Such are our views. IF they are over
irawn, or entirely theoretical. let some
writer overturn them. The
columns of the Republican shall be kept
vide open for all who feel disposed to dis
uss this question"
Eilhu Gregg, convicted of burning the !
'ourt- house at Kingwood, Preston county,