The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1874-03-28

insecure jan requires constant guard
TO be employed at heavy expense to
the county and while we think and
believe that our sheriff is now and has
ever been faithfully discharging his
official duties toward the Jail and those
confined therein, yet, owing to the
difficulties as suggested above, the pris-
oners cannot receive that care which
humanity and religion demand ut our
hands.
While the law knows and recognizes
the differences grounded on color yet,
for the comfort and general welfare of
all, we believe that the whites and
blacks, as well rs the males and fe-
males, should be kept separate, If pos
sible, in all places Of confinement, We
believe, therefore, that it should be the
duty Of the county court, at AS early II
day as is practicable, to strengthen and
enlarge, or rebuild anew our county
Jail.
Second-We have also visited and
examined our new court house, which
is nearly completed, requiring only n
few more weeks before it will be form
ally turned over to the county. We
believe il to be n substantial building,
with ample room for all the necessities
Of the county, and feel that we have
reason to congratulate the people of
the county in having u court house
that In point of durability, finish and
appearance, stands second to none
within the limits of our state
Third-Wc have investigated the
condition of the roads and public high
ways of our county, and regret to say
that II Is not such as should be desired.
Good roads and bridges are apublic ne
cessity of well regulated communities,
and the city of Dallas, having become
the commercial center of u large and
extensive scope of country, the public
ronds of the county should receive that
attention from the county court which
their Importance so imperatively de-
mand. We beg leave to say that we
attribute the wretched condition of our
highways mainly to the inadequacy
of our road laws, and believe it should
be the duty of our Legislature to amend
and thoroughly revise the road laws of
our state at its present session, if posi-
BILE. We would further say that for the
want Of diligence on the part of the
county court, and the corporate author
tiles of the city of Dallas, one of the
most important roads in the county,
to-wit, the ford road, below the
bridge across the Trinity, and opposite
the town of Dallas, has been closed,
and we believe that justice to the peo-
pie of the county demands that said
road should be kept open aud in good
repair. We further believe that the
charter of the wire suspension bridge
company requires, and public travel
demands, that they should make good
and substantial causeway through the
bottom on the. west side OF the river,
opposite the city of Dallas, and it is the
opinion of the grand jury that said
bottom extends to the high lands or
hills.
d Fourth--We have investigated the
books and papers appertaining to the
county treasurers office, and while we
find tho treasury empty, yet the books
reports, etc, of the Office are eminently
satisfactory.
We find that there came into the
treasurer's hands, from all sources,
during theyear 1873 S27, 900 80, and dis
bursed by him within the same time
the amount of $4,000 49, From the
first day of January last, A. d., 1874,
we find that he has received the
amount of 81, POI 90, and within the
same time he has paid out to date the
amount of$4,26l SO. We find that, for
the year 1871, there remains unpaid for
county taxes the sum of S4,337 6S; for
the year 1872, the sum of $4,000 Oh;
for the year 1873, the sum of SIG, 400 SO. |
Makingan aggregate of S3S, $50 65 taxes
now due, and unpaid to the county for
the past three years.
We find also court house scrip due
and unpaid to the amount of Sl2,S74 26;
jury scrip due and unpaid to the amount
of S426 90, and county warrants due
and unpaid to theamount of Sl4, 27l 10. |
Fifth-We have examined closely
the books, etc., of the sherifFs office,
and find that the delinquent tax lists,
as turned overto the present sheriff by
his predecessor, amounts as follows:
For the year 1871, school tax 81, 49S 90;
state tax 1862 81; county tax S6,17S 10. |
For the year 1872, state tax 1895 81;
county tax S2,94S 46; court house tax
g, 463 50. For the year 1868, state
AK Sl7,3E 81 county tax $l5,356 %.
making total Of taxes unpaid at the
lime the present sheriff was installed
If Sol 1927 ~. We further report that
he sheriff Is making every effort to
4