Litchfield enquirer., 1876-01-20
Meeting of the Representatives.

Oauo@ AunLlngbOn WaS cnOeen cDAlTman
 On call of the roll, the following mem bers were absent D. H. Stevens, H. C. Hill, Myron M. Dean, l.. J. Bushnell, C. H. Crandall. E. s. Roberts, J. P. Walton c. R. Morris, Wm. B. Marsh, E. c. H0tehkisa, C. E.~4 Broekery Geo. Wells.
 The county commissioners then gave tbsir reasons for calling the representa-. tives together They had employed Messrs. Lambert and Bunnell, the archi. tectsn from whom the representatives, committee had obtained plans and speci- fications for a new jail, to prepare specif. cations for repair of the old one, as pro- posed in the report of that committee. They then advertised an offer for sealed proposals on those specifications and the lowest offer they could get for the work was $19, ,945. The vote of the representa- tives limited the appropriation for re- pairs to BIO. 600, and they felt obliged to summon them together again, to take some action for furnishing the jail accom- modations which the necessities of the county plainly required. -... s-
 Mir. Barnum, of New Haven, explained the plans for new jail. The building is two stories high, 30 1t in night. with slate roo, and built of brick, to contain 40 cells for males 1; 4 for females. The main room is arranged with two tiers of cells Tn the center and halls each side. f-
 The vote of the last meeting was called for. 6.aaI ess -s, -sa4.r .--ea.
 Mir. McMahon enquired of the county commissioners if the specifications issued were ia accordance with the plan proposed at the last meeting. &E="t ..
 MT. Cleveland. We went to Messrs. Lambert x Bunnell, the very architects em- ployed by the committee, and told them to prepare specifications on the plan they had reported to the former con- vention. ... -. Mir. Bartram.-We had no plan on which specifications were made for repairs. Went 10 Bridgeport, saw the plans made by Lambert & Bunnel and saw they could not be complied with for $1O GOO. They added much to the expense of our plans. The foundations were different and more expensive. Drainage was not included in our estimate, nor platform for north door. Stones it. wide required, which was un- necessary concrete. under floor, also un necessary. Also steel bars and gratings, Yale Locks, and hard North river brick. Size, four feet larger than was voted. Understand much more is to be done on east side of the jail than we expected.
 Commissioner Birch said steel could be had for 7 cts. Bartram said "good" steel could not. r. .'....
 The report of the commission to the former meeting of the representatives was read. e. E.-.> ,...... ....,..,. ... ...
 Mir. Cleveland.-Mr. Hotchkiss was over here twice with Mir. Lambert, looking over the jail, and I did not interfere, but told them to build it as cheap as they could. ,, ~..'t '. ;. 7's- s'f. ,'.. -. :, Mir. McMahon. There has been a mis. understanding of the plan on the part of the commissioners. Messrs. Bartram and Hotchkiss are ready now to contract for the repair of the jail at $1O,0OO on their former plans. Had enquired at other jails and found that $2OO or $300 will meet the necessary expense of drainage. There is screw loose somewhere. There are gentlemen in the room who know the cost of drainage in Fairfield County and other places. I showed these specifica- tions for so-called repairs to New Haven builder who says they are as expensive as they can be made. The walls are thick enough for the tower of Babel. Iron bars will do in the place of steel. Think Q committee ought to be appointed in the matter and no such expensive plan adopted as the one proposed. One reputable builder says the east part of the jail can be repair ed and made suitable for prisoners for 5000. Ready to vote for the new jail when necessary. The County Commissioners may consider this business, but it would not be so considered anywhere else. Don't want to go it blind as fear some would have us do.
 Mir. Welton, of Plymouth offered res- olution laying mill tax for the purpose of building new jail, on condition that the people of Litchfeld furnish site free of cost. such as the County Commission CTS may select.
 MT. Dutton, of Winchester. under stood at our last meeting that the jail could be repaired for $10,OOO-can't see the consistency of voting more.
 In reply to question of McMahon Mir. Cleveland stated that the mill tax would raise about $27, ,OOO.
 Mir. McMahon.-Am ready to vote for a new jait if it is really necessary, but can't conscientiously lay such a burden on the tax payers when as I believe reputable men stand ready to put the jail in suita- ble condition for SlO,OOO. I am not afraid to point to my legislative career as an opponent of ali jobs. won't charge anyone with cooking up this resolution. We shall all be called to sharp account by the people.
 NIT. Frisbie, of Washington. havo ex. amined this jail myself and think it is fol. ly to add anything to it or attempt any repair of it. Its timbers are rotten; walls cracking; roof sprung, and shall no, vote to waste money on such a building.
 MT. Huntington, of Woodbury.-This is fifth or sixth meeting of representatives have attended about this jail and il seems to me that if we can ever act intelli.
 gently we can do so now. A committee
 appointed at previous meeting reported that it was absolutely necessary either to repair or to build new. It was built at time when much less jail accommoda.