Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-10-14

Foreman of Grand Jury.
ST. Paul, Oct. 49, 1879.
THE COUNTY FARM
We, committee OF the grand Jury of Ram
sey county, State of Minnesota, appointed to
examine the poor farm and buildings of said
county, have performed those duties. and re-
spectfully make the following report: =
we found the house we'll kept, clean and in
good order. - - - -
All outhOuses and closets are clean and :,
good condition. - - -.
The inmates seem to be provided with plenty
OF good, clean and substantial food. All an
purtenances connected with the dwelling are in
good order. = ~o 49,
The farm buildings show good husbandry.
ana are III good order, cleanly and well kept.
Stock and farm machinery seem 10 he we'll
taken care of, and, in fact, all appearances in
dictate good and healthy condition of things
there, which we think reflects credit on those
who have the interests of the poor farm in
charge, also those who have the detailed man
agement of the premises.
All OF which is,respectfully submitted:
JOHN +. LINCOLN, Chairman.
r. w. RANSOM,
BENZ. TIC Epson.
st. Paul, Oct. Sth.
THE COUNTY JAIL,
Your committee appointed to examine the
county jail and report upon its condition and
management beg leave to submit the follow
ing result Of our investigation:
we lind that through number of wears
past, the report of the grand turies to the dis
| trlct court have repeatedly directed the atten-
| ZION OF the county authorities to the generally
de1ect!ve condition of the Jail, as a place fol
tne sate confinement of prisoners. Successful
| made, and we fail to find that adeouate rene.
dies have been provided to guard against re-
currence OF such cases. Considering the fact
| tnat the most dangerous characters. charged
Win the most serious crimes, are FREQUENTLY
committed to this Jail for confinement. it aug.
gests as an important duty towards the citi.
zens and the public peace that the building
should be provided with all proper and neces.
sary safeguards to prevent escape of such pris
oners. f-'
In the basement of the building We find 8
number of unfinished cells, which have neve,
been IN use. We cannot see why these cells
should not be finished and the basement be
put IN proper condition to be utilized to good
advantage IN connection with the upper
stories, which are now frequently overcrowd-
ed. This improvement will necessitate remod-
ellng the floor in the first or main story in q
manner to prevent leakage of water through
the noor into the basement, which improve.
ment may add materially to the security of
the building, as precaution against fire and the
e=cape of prisoners. 80
Our attention has also been directed by the
sheriff to the lack of proper safeguards for the
protection eff the lives of prisoners in case of
fire. -
Upon the first and second floors of the
building are tWenty-fOur cells nearly all of
which were found occupied These cells are
provided with doors of heavy iron grating,
which when tho prisoners retire at NIGHT are
closed and secured by means of locks of quite
| an old pattern, and as each door is locked or
unlocked separately considerable time must
De consumed in an effort to release all the 0c.
of fire. 0'~'@
From standpoint of simple humanity, we
deem it natter of duty to condemn the old
locks now IN use, and to substitute the mod.
ern styles of attachments to facilitate speedy
opening of the cell doors in case of emergency,
Inc bedding in the cells is not in as clean
| and healthy condition as it might and should
be. Provision should be made to have tho
blankets and ticks washed and repaired from
| time to time, to guard against Accommodations
OF filth and vermin, which cannot otherwise be
avoided in places of this kind. III
From the annexed report OF
Sheriff King (Which gives the
names of thirty give inmates Of the iail1
showing the Names date of commitment. ma.
ture of ofense and the sentences in each case.
| 1t appears that at the time of our visit there
were thirty-fve prisoners confined in Jail.
From inquiries among these prisoners we have
received none other than a favorable impress
sion regarding the generally humane treatment
at the hands of the sheriff and his subordi-
mates. Some complaints were brought before
US, however, as to the character of board fur
nlshed by the sheriff, and it is claimed that it
IS not equivalent to what the prisoners are bv
law entitled to receive.
The regular rations are said to consist of
coffee and dry bread for breakfast soup. meat.
potatoes a For 1.,,
bread and water for supper. 1t is also asserted
that those who are able and willing to paw are
furnished with a cup of tea or coffee for supper
at the rate of fifty cents per week, and that oc-
caslonally favorite prisoner receives these
and other little extras for other considerations
or gratis.
Approaching that complaints of this charac-
ter should, perhaps, be received with some
due allowance, we deem it our duty to embody
them IN our report, inasmuch as they have
been brought to our notice, and as they may
lead to and aid in establishing proper regula-
lions for the general management of the Jail.
We have not been able to discover. the exist
which prisoners are or may be entitled to re-
celve, and, in the absence of such regulations.
the complaints upon this subject must
certainly be unfounded. Your committee
Is -. OF the opinion that as long
- HooAoAoyS Wiz VAoAoVgCI VI VIC Auc6lS aS luz
nished il all that should be reasonably expect
ed by convicts, who have by their own unlaw-,
full acts became burden and a heavy charge
upon the community. -
In closing this report, we may be permitted
to add the following recommendations:
First-That the county authorities be re-
quested to employ competent person to pre-
pose suitable plans for a general remodeling,
and repair of the Jail building, az above
Indicted, and that early steps be taken towards
the construction of the necessary improve
ments.
We also suggest, in connection with these
improvements, that proper means be devised
Tor suitable division of the prisoners into
different departments.
Second-That the laws governing the man
agement OF the jail be revised; that fixed reeu-
lationss be established regarding rations, and
all matters pertaining thereto; that proper
steps be taken to secure regular supervisor
over the management in all its details, and that
such committee as may now exist, or that may
be hereafter appointed for that purpose, be re-
qulred to submit regular monthly reports to
the county board.
Third-That the question of providing suitable
employment for the prisoners be again SUBJ
mltted to the attention of the county board for
its earnest consideration.
F. WmLUs,
d. D. MERRILL
JOHN BELL,
ROBT. HICKMAN,
81. 81. LYNCH,
E. c. BECKER.