The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-05-04
THE PRISON QUESTION.

On the 9th April Bill Of Complaint In
Equity was presented 10 Judge Elwell at
Chambers. by Messr-. Knorr, Buckslew and
Bsrkley as Solicitors for William Peacock,
Matthew Wynkoop, Matthias .. Applemau,
John A. Funston, Hiram d, Appieman and
Abner Welsh, Plaintiffs, against john Her
ner, Joseph E. Sands and Silas W. McHenry,
Commissioners of Columbia County, and
Charles Krug, Dcteadants, in which the pur-
chase of the pursel lot for the location Of
the new County Prison and the letting Of the
contract to Charles Krug for S56,97j, were
objected to, and a preliminary and also a
perpetual injunction wsre prayed for to re-
strain the Commissioners from locating the
Prison upon the Pursel lot, and from con-
tracing with Krug for the erection of the
same, aud also to restrain Krug from enter-
ing into such contract, &c,
The preliminary injunction asked for was
ordered, 10 continue until the bearing uf the
case, and lesve was granted 10 the parties 90
move to dissolve or continue The iljuuction
on Wednesday Of the present week, Upon
affidavits to be presented. b. subsequent
agreement OF counsel the time was extended
to Saturday and again to Tuesday evening
next, May 9Th, when hearing is to be had
The legal points raised by the Bill in
Equity will be for the determination Of the
Court, but the merits of the case in a wider
sweep which shall cover all considerations
of expediency, economy aud propriety, are
still completely open for the examination
and judgment of the public.
First, as to the Cost The Contract is to
be for $57, 900, nearly the new lot, $4,000 !;
Architect, $500, and Extras and Supplement
tai outlays aa unEno,en amount, but pretty
csrtain 10 ercscd s2O,o0o. In fact, we will
be lucky to escape with an expenditure of
$4,000 to $4,000, and it may reach $780,
060. When we shall have paid for all the
inevitable extras consequent upon changes
and notifications of the work during its
progress for all items of construction out.
side Of the contract; for supplemental con-
tracts for heating, for water and for gas, and, +,
added to all this, the furnishing Of the Prison
in a suitable style, it will be found that the
above figures are moderate statements and
estimates of expense. The one supplemental
contract made the other day at Sunbury,
upon the Wetzel Prison there, was for $l8,-
900.
This exhibit cannot be- viewed otherwise
than with indignation when We remember
that Wetzel's estimate for construction un-
der his plan, on the old jail lot, was from
S37, 900 to $4,000, according to modification
of details, inclusive of an absurdly high es-
innate for grading the lot. That expense Of
grading, (which ne put, we believe, at 49,.
600, but which other competent men put at
5000 was to be saved by new location of
the Prison upon level lot. But the new
location is to carry the expense enormously
upward instead of reducing it, besides the
price of the new lot. 1t is known also that
= most competent contractor and architect
proposed in writing to construct the Prison
with equal capacity to that of the Wetzel
plan, and of approved arrangement, for a
total coat not to exceed $4,000, and to
guarantee the proposition by good security.
Second, the Location This is both ex.
pensive AMI unfit, the cost much above
market value, the ground subject to leakage
from run, and without sufficient space for
its proper use. And the old Jail lot is to
be abandoned, and perhaps sold for small
sum If the County can make good title to
purchaser.
We shall hereafter give the substance of
the evidence produced in the Equity case,
and full history of the proceedings for
loading down the people of the county with
mass of unnecessary and proAigste e1.
Pense.