National Republican., 1880-03-01
oUR POLICE FORuE.
The Grand jury Present a Plain Statement
, Entts,

The Grand Juiy Present a Plain Statement
No.. OF Facts.
The Grand jury, before closing their inbors
last Saturday. presented to the court the fol-
lowing report in regard to tho police force:
That Our police force is insufficient. Our
force of 235 men guards 6i square miles, u
greater area of territory than any other city
IN tho United States. New York has M area
of 30 square miles aud 2,560 men, phiade-
phin G5 square miles and l,292 men. Chicngo
81 square miles and 5l7 men. Brunilyn 81
square miles and 62i ulen, ST. Louis 23 squarc
miles aud d57 men, Boston 700, New Orleans
5dS, Cincinnati 81 square miles aud 335 mon,
Washington I square miles aud 2jS men.
The Metropolitan Police exists by uu a;t OF
Congress approved August g. 1861, and when
organized consisted uf l50 prvucs. ln
1866 Congress increased tho d, humber
to 300 pTivRtes! Since 1861 tho pIpu-
lation of 81 ,l22 has moro than doubled.
With tho present force the heat OF patrol
man IN the principal streets aud alleys will
average eight aud a.half miles per man. The
large proportion of our troublesome popu la.
tion was loft hero by the latc war Large
numbers of former slaves are here, WHO ut the
Organization Of our present police force were
| under the strict supervision Of their then
| masters and were not allowed 10 he absent
| from their homes after 10 O'clock at night.
| Tho absence Of manufactures and regular
| emInOynbht loaVeS ldlHr nuiuDetS Without
occupation during the winter season. The
means of transportation all over our whole
country have largely increased aud cheapeDed,
aud In consequence the number Of excursion
lists, those attending National onvenlions,
aud other citizens from all the States of
the Union who visit our city bus ton.
s6er,bly augmented. A larys number of
Government officials reside here. aud their
official aud social receptions require thr at
tendance of large details of our police force to
preserve order in tho streets adjacent, as is
usual. Tho number vi public buildings and
| the value Of public property have much in
| creased, as have also the areas of public parks
aud grounds recently improved. At the
Patent Office hre, u few years ago, 1t will be
remembered that the military of the United
States in the city aud also the District militia
were profttby employed for the public good
We have found that witnesses hesitate to ut
tcnd sessions Of the Grand Jury from fear Oi
oonstq uenoes, because Of the lack Ol police pro.
toCtion. Tho lighting of our alleys aud streets
| is not thorough enough. These dark places
should be made light, aud murders, buTglaras
and thotts. etc, prevented rather than pun
ished In closing our report we would oal at.
tentiun to tho City Hall" now used by our
District courts, which is notoriously insutii.
ciont for their proper accommodation, and the
public business Is consequently conducted with
great incOnvoniepccs and loss Of tinioi besides,
| he safety of the public Is not now assured
His Honor cOinGided with the views pre-
sentod, aud hoped thut Congress would take
prompt action in tho matter. Tho report Wa
directed 10 be filed with the court records.