The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-05-11
A NEW JAIL,

sideration, it is not out OF place to discuss
that matter somewhat. Every citizen OF
Dallas county who knows anything shout
the rookery yclep, the county Jail knows that
it is an eyesore and Disgrace to county as
populous and as rich as Dallas. Jaiis are
aot built for the punishment Of prisoners
confined within their walls, but for their safe
keeping, and while they are being safely
kept, it is the object of the Law, and it is an
imperious demand of humanity that their
comfort, their health and their general well
fare be closely looked after and cared for
Every man incarcorated in county
Jail is not guilty of the otfenss with which he
is charged. An untowari fortune, a cruel
fate has doomed many u man to the cells OF
isil who WAS as honest. as honorable and
as tree from crime as the purest and the best
nan in all the land. 1t is wise and ust
provision of tie law that every man, no
matter what the accusation may DO that is
brought against him, is innocent until he is
proven guilty ina court of his country of
competent jurisdiction. This being truo it
is proper, it is but simple justice that
county Jail shall merely be comfortable
stronghold where u prisoner is retained,
when he cannot give bail, until ne can be
faced by his accusers and have fair and i'm.
partial trial by a jury Of his peers The jail
of this county is no such place. AT best it ia
but a tumble.down nuisance, where Il
prisoner swelters GU. the heats Of summer
and freezes through the chills of winter. 1t
is not a stronghold, but on the contrary, has
not the strenth TO hold a ten year old boy,
sndsss consequence the county has been
forced for some years past to maintain num-
Der of guards to watch tho prisoners within
its walls to prevent them from walking of.
II has no ventilation and necessarily is filled
day and night with foul air and noxious
gases. There are no facilities for heating it
in winter, and therefore tits as cold AS an ice
house In such an affair the comfort nor the
sanitary welfare of prisoners cannot be pro-
vided for, and neither can they be safely
kept except at the expense Of force of
guards on duty day and night, an expense
footing up to an amount during the past
few years that would 90 considerably
to lessen the sum tho county
will now have to pay for new Jail. 1t is
duo to the county commissioners to state
that they are aware of all these facts and
that it has been their earnest desire for a long
time to remedy the evil, and they would
have done so ere this, had it not been for the
fire which destroyed the court house, which
building they had to replace at once. The
commissioners now feel that they can take
steps toward buildings new Jail, that they
are justified by tho financial condition of tho
county in doing 50. Blu. we learn that they
are only considering Of $50, 900 or $4,000
Jail. This is the point we desire to especially
discuss. The amount is not large enough
Dallas should have Jail of such excellence
rs TO strength, durability, comfort and con
venences, that it will cost 00(
at the least and $4,000 would be
better. The Jail that is erected now by Dsl
las county should not be intended for yea
or i've years or ten years, but il should be ,
building that will answer the purposes cf thi
county for generation or more to come
Austin, Galveston, Houston boast of In,
jails, of jails that are handsome, ornate
stylish buildings, SURPRISING in outward ap
pearance their school houses. There Is II
necessity for any filagree work, for any GU,
ward display of architectural skill or taste
Dallas county wants "a jail that, while i.
not plain to severeness, will DO prise
indeed, and so durable that II will last fc
decade after decade. The skill of tn
architect and of the builder should DO OK
pended upon its strength, its solidity an
the comfort and convenience of It's innt
structure. The laws of ventilation and sar
i,aiion should be studiously followed, M
every facility possible for the safe kecpir
of prisoners provided. 1t is not our purpo
to outline plan for new Jail, but simp
offer these general suggestions to illustrate
lucidly as possible our idea of the charact
of Jail the commissioners should give Il
county. Tho statesman looks ahead. /
considers of the necessities Of the future
| we'll as of the present, and in his wisdom
Y perceves that that which is best and does q
/. most service, is the cheapest. There can
r statc,manship in little things as we'll as
Y great ones, in county commissioners cou
- ss we'll as in tho councils and the cabinet
= a nation Dallas county already has po
L ulation of nearly $4,000. The scnislity
o its climste and the fertility Of It's soil wi
}, its varied productions, is bringing
ls increased population every year. The raj
Y road enterprises that we see on every hai
o sre developing the oounty's resources al
&c rapid rate and arc securing immigration
e It's confines. Tho county has no debt
e speak of, and is year agicr year growi
= richer, richer in values and richer in {,
t. accumua,ions of the people. There ia
h economy in building $40 900 Jail this ye,
n that in few years will have to give place
m a $4,000 building. A $4,000 j,,l will |,
a. Dallas county until by the coarse and no,u