The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-09-17
Adjourned to $ o'clock tomorrow.
FRIDAY.

FRIDAY.
The Board met at 8 a, NJ. A quorum present
Minutes read and approved.
| The Chair announced the commissioners TO
build the new Jail Messrs. Reddick, Mcintyre
Gum, Fleming, Williams, Clark and Wiley.
The Chair stated that conveyances We're at the
door for the committee to visit the Poor House.
also that the Chair would add to the committee
any other gentlemen DESTROYS of going. Messrs.
Ferguson and Edgecomb were made additional
members of the committee.
On motion of Mcintyre, II. Mayo Esq, the
County Attorney, addressed the Board giving
his legal opinion in reference to the questions
concerning the public square. The county was
organized Oct. 10, 1881. He had examined the
act of the Legislature organizing the county.
and finds that the publ, buildings are required
to be located on the public square. This square
was laid off by the canal commissioners to O,ta-
wa and Chicago by an act approved January -,
1881. The canal commissioners were authorized
to donate TO counties having county seats along
the canal, lots or tracts not exceeding 10 acres
ii it would increase tho value of other State
property. Under that act we got the property
| on which our court house and Jail are located,
and the commissioners sold all but the west one
half of block H. The sales were iegalized by
aN act of the Legislature, the second section of
which declares the present ground occupied by
the court house and Jail shall be and remain ior-
ever public square. This act has never been
repealed. The board cannot dispose OF this
square, or remove the buildings without an act
Of the General Assembly. The law before men.
toned must be repealed before public buildings
can be erected elsewhere
Mr.. Mcintyre moved that Mr. Earl be excused
from serving on the committee on settling with
the treasurer, on account OF illness, and that
Mr.. Wiley III his place Adopted.
Croker iokingly asked, whether Mr. Nichols
dignity and white cravat would not entitle him
to be promoted to the position OF chaplain Of the
Board? Considerable merrimentl
Mr. Fleming offered resolution that 500 be
allowed 10 Christopher Anderson for keepin 2
Ann Larson, an infrm pauper, from May lst to
the present time.-Carried
Mr.. Williams, from committee to settle with
the comfy Superintendent, reported his account
correct, and recommended an appropriation OF
$3.50 for expense in holding County Teachers
Institute here this fall Adopted, and an order
directsd 10 be drawn for the amount
Mr.. Hetherington submitted the report of Mr.
Jackson, superintendent of poor house. Read and
filed. There are Al inmates, received during this
year, OF the poor Mouse g. males, II females 10
insane 30 now in the house; geneaal health.
good. No complaints have been herrd about
the management
Mr.. Hetherington introduced preamble recit-
ing gross evils and abuses in the poor house,
| with series of grave charges, follow with q
resolution for investigation by the board He
desired TO have an examination into these char
yes brfore full board, ard to have superinten.
dent Jackson, DR.. Highly and Mr.. Phelps, the
keeper, brought before the board to answer cues
| tons.
Spicer thought the resolution one of censure
and its adoption would be very unjust to the
| management.
Mason said, in his section the poor house
stands ia utter adherence. People preferred to
board their paupers IN their own town TO sending
them TO the county house To investigate this
matter is not to censure but to do justice to all
concerned, and also benefit to humanity. II
there is erroneous management or wrong, these
can be corrected by having an investig .ton.
Fleming had heard horrible stories about the
goings on at the county house.
Hetherington had seen the keeper knock down
poor sick, insane girl. He judged the keepers
only qualifications for that position are physical
strength and brutality. He denounced the en-.
tire establishment as u rotten, corrupt eye sore
to the public,-A nuisance needing prompt
| abatement.