Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1870-06-09
OUR COUNTY JAIL.


]
WAsnlSGroN q. H. June |, IsT0)
To he Hon. Board Of Co CommissioAsys;
GLSrLEMES:-H Having recently had oc
chsion 10 use the county Jail, in the sup
preston Of the tippling shops Of our vii.
lnge, has induced me TO observe the con.
dition in its wretched construction. IL Is
believed to be strong enough aud clean rs
it can be made, aud yet 90 lily construct
ed that the ventilation is almost entirely
neglected.
/ In this respect il is full half a century
behind the age, and disgrace TO tie
county. The time was, within the mem
ory many Of US, when the only requi.
site to a prison, in the opinion Of the au-
thorities, was that il should he strong! no
thought being given to tAe health Of the
occupants, or their comfort Bnt we are a
progressive people, and have improved
on barbaric notions Of punishment. The
law permits the use of jails in extreme ca.
ses, but it gives us no right to poison the
inmates. Sunlight and pure air belong
to the human family as their birth-right
and VIXEN we deprive a fellow being Of
the pure air which Heaven designed to lie
used for existence, we are committing
moral wrong, and our faces turned TO-
ward the dark ages Of the world
The spirit of the age is onward and we
should keep step in the march. Our an.
tiquated notions that the wicked and un-
tractablc are not entitled TO the common
amenities of life, and that we have the
right to abuse them when in our power,
are opinions that are fast giving way to
acts of benefcence and Christian feeling.
Society demands reform, not unnecessary
or barbarous punishment Let US aid in
the former and avoid the latter.
May ask you to visit this building,
under your charge, and observe its defects.
1t is believed that it will be apparent that
it is unfit for human habitation; and that
were you or to cOnfiue our domestic ami
mails in a building SO destitute Of whole
some air, we would at least be Justly
chargaLle with cruelty to dumb beasts.
But | will aot say more, believing TINT
reference TO the condition Of the county
Jail is sufficient to causs some improve.
ment to be made, SO far as the same is
practicable. l do not wish to intimate
that this building should.be pulled down,
and another, with modern improvements,
substituted. Not now. Y4t I beg that
something be done--puneh holes in the
wall, insert short iron tuLes--anything
to give the unfortunate plenty Of pure air.
The inmates have the right to demand this
at your hands, and it cannot be that you
will deny this favor to any member of the
human family.
conclusion allow me to remark that
the time is neurUt hand ,and eau be post
poned but few years, when we must have
new public buildings. Those we have
belong to pact generation, and when
built, seem to have taxed some
hody's genius so to construct them as in no
particular to be convenient When the
time comes that we shall DO this thing, it
is not doubted that the wise and liberal
policy for some years adopted by your
Board in regard to roads and bridges, will |.
be continued. Possessing rich county of
i0nd, unequalled by any other Of the State
free turnpikcs and bridges in every
evinccs state of prosperi
tY of which we may well be proud,
Desiring that this letter may be received
in the same spirit Of Kindness in which it
is written,
l am very sincerely yours,
J. 5. BERLMAS, Mayor.