The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-09-02

gational parsonage. occupied by the Rev. Geo.
Lewis. All efforts to eItinguish the flames were
unavailing. The parsonage house was burnt TO
the ground. and at the time Of writing q A.
ny the buildings owned BY Mr.. Amos Allen
and Mrs. II. K Trip we're in great danger.
Rev. Mr. Roberts. is supplying the pulpit
Of the Baptist Church In Alfred. M
Mn Eprroa lin communication some two
weeks ago made certain enquiries and sought
answers from those able and authorized 70 give
them, relative 10 the proposed erection Of new
buildings at Alfred. There has been no re-
spouse. This silence arises either from coward
Ice or inability to justify the course adopted by
our county officials. I assume that what was
there statel vas true Is there any reason for
jealousy Of one section Of tie county Of the
other. Alfred and Saco arc each half shire
towns Jsils may then be rightfully and prop
erly located in each. There Is now Jail at Al
fred. II Is not proposed 10 disturb that. There
l. also Jail ut Saco, now rendered 10 the coun-
~ free Of charge. The county commissioners
are requested TO accept that. No new building
Is needed TO be butt at Saco. Small eKpeDdi-
lures for repairs and perhaps for en!argemens
may be eIpedient at beth places. The question
for consideration Is one as 10 what Is for the
best interest OF the county. No sectional feel
ing should arise In viewing IL. II Is one sd-
dressed to the Judgment Of the tax payer a. to
his pecuniary interest.
The Jail Mt Alfred may need some little I'm
prcvement-no one will object 70 having 1t
male. The Jail should never be made an orna-
mental structure. Sufficient Is II, and suitable,
IL Il be healthy and will safely keep the scum
Of our population. We do not desire an atrac-
tive home for the confinement Of thieves and
murlerers. do not think the good sense Of the
community considers our criminals Of 50 much
consideration that architects shall be employed
at great expense to design magnificent build
ing for their accommodation.
The county house ut Alfred is q sufficiently
comfortable dwelling-now used as hotel, and
Il would seem ought to be deemed handsome
enough for the abode Of our jailor-and 1t Is ut
present as good and comfortable as nine-tenths
Of the farm houses in the county. IL 1t needs
painting. papering, blinding-and even carpet
Ing, 10 meet the refined tastes OF our commits
sioners, or Of our jsllor, let these eIpe- ses be
incurred. We do not wish to abandon either
this or the Jail, which for many years has an
sw,red our purposes and been found sufficiently
capacious. $50.
The jail at Saco Is q brick building with a
large lot, conveniently situated, with twelve
good cells, and a sufficiently good dwelling un-
der the same roof, for the accommodation Of the
jail-keeper and his family.
Ii would seem that the buildings ut both
places ought to be considered sufficient for our
present wants. The Jail nj Alfred for the de-
tention Of our worst criminals, and that ut Saco
for Jail and work-house combined.
II would save annually large expense for
TO have the criminals in this
section Of the county sent to Saco Jail rather
than to Allied. Why need then the people IN
the upper parts Of the county he jealous OF the
purposes OF S,co and its vicinity! We do not
seek to take anything from Alfred. We only
desire to avoid an unnccessay Indebtedness for
new buildings at Alfred which are not needed
by any except contractors or those who seek to
benefit Alfred nj the expense Of the rest OF the
county, and perhaps hoping IL they can put up
the expensive buildings now proposed, they
may eventually rob us Of our one term Of court.
We don't seek to disturb the Registry at Al
fred or to interfere in the least with its inter-
ests, we are only STRIVING for self protection,
and hoping to create public inquiry into the
acts OF the commissioners Of this county, and
get the honest Judgment Of men Of both polit-
ical parties On their Conduct.
Ifs said that before the snow dies our CON-
missoners will have expended such sum Of
money at Alfred that we shall feel obliged to
carry out their plan. Can 1t be possible that
these officers Of our working men win dare to so
outrage public sentiment The county has not q
n q - r. l.. l.. "a. EA.A.
nately our commissioners cannot legally incur q
county Indebtedness exceeding ten thousand
dollars without our consent, this they have not
got. They have not even had any expression
Of opinion by the county rs to the necessity OF
a new Jail, and yet without any advice from the
people who are the source Of their whole au-
ihority. these officers are hecdlecsly and need
lessly involving us in trouble and pecuniary
What would be thought OF
the Judgment OF an individual who should In
his private Affairs so conduct, incur large ex-
pense without means to meet his liabilities,
wculd he not be deemed unwise II not criminal,
to say the least.
We are toll that our commissioners have con-
suited an architect and procured plan and
specifications. That the architect estimates the
expense Of the building $4,000. We all know
that these estimates are always nearly quite
doubled in being carried out. weare then toll
that the usual charge Of the architect for draw
ing plan and specifications and seeing the
work carried out Is Ave per cent on the sum ex-
pended. We are then told that in this case his
charge is to be two and half per cent and
seyenty-fve dollars for each journey from Dos.
ton TO Alfred to see how the work progresses.
His bill will probably be from 1000 to $4,000.
by the time every thing is carried out sue.
cessfully, I have no doubt We shall either have
paid or incurred an Indebtedness Of about
100000.
viii the voters Of York County approve Of
this course-or will they demand Of their ser
wants that this work stops until needed-and
will they not exact assurances II not pledges
from those proposed as candidates for the office
OF Commissioner that no such scheme does or
shall receive his sanction.
A TAX PAYER.
SOUTH BERWICK.
SoUrn Berwick, August 16, 1870.