The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-09-11
THRILL coNrRAnr
Captain N, r.. grove. s,a,eme,

IA there seems to be considerable disturb
ing Influences at work among the unsueeess-
full bidders, and perhaps some misspprehen,
sion upon the part of portion OF the citizens
of the city and county Of Dallas ss to the
manner in which tho contract TO build the
new jail in the city of Dalla, was awarded,
wish to give few bsiOf, plain statements of
the facn pertaining to the same.
There we're but two Modes Of proceeding
suggested by the court and both of these
we're fully and freely discussed-,he one 10
advertise for plans and specifications, and
from these 30 make such selection as 10 the
court seemed 10 the best interests of the.
county; the other, to advertise for bids for
the entire building, requAing each bidder TO
submit plans and specifications in connection
with his bid. The first mode was tried some
two or three ysari ago, and after entailing
considerable cost, proved failure ard
therefore the court thought il better TO
adopt the second plan, which was DONE no
member Of the court raising his voice in ops
position.
Colonel Keller wrote up rough draft of
the order of the court authorizing the call
for bids, and handed il to mo with the re-
quest that l should rewrite it in q little bet
ter form. Alter doing this, and not being
pleased with my own work, passed Ii over
TO Judge Burke and ssked him to shape il I'D
properly, which he did; and from his pen il
went to the minutes OF the court, without
one single objection being offered by him,
self or any one else belonging to the court.
In due time, and upon this call, there
we're seven bidders before the court, with
plans and specifications, ranging from S27,-
600 TO $50, O00-two of the bidders after,
ward proposing TO renew their bids Ger.
tain amounts provided some chsngea and
notifications were allowed in their specihca-
tons. After careful and patient exsmna-
ton OF each paper with the ACCOMPANYING
specifications, the court became con.
WINGED that the building of Mr.. A Brown.
Ice WAS the best adapted for the pur.
poses aimed st, bu. it was not 40
well satisfied With his system OF cells, heing
little doubtful rs TO whether or not thev
would afford sufficient ventilation for the
comfort Of prisoners during the summer
months Colonel Keller md myself pre.
pared plan for different cells 10 those of
MIR. BrownleG, and he was then called in
|
| the Jail 1T the same cost Of the other. if the
court preferred it. After making tho nee
esssry calculations be said be would do go
on certain conditions. lie then csrod IN
Mr.. Ligon, the representative of the pauley
Sytlem Of cells, and after conlcring with
MIN Tor few minutes made this proposition
to tho court lie would take q com uittee
appointed by tho court ana go with them to
Palestine, Austin, San Antonio and CALVES
ton. and let thom see the different systems of
cells in use in the jsils of these respective
cities, and if on a thorough examination
they were not perfectly satisfied that the
Psuey system of cellS was the best
system in use in the state
he would agree 10 put in The cells We
had proposed at the came figures in the
meantime defraying all the expenses of The
trip.
| AT this point and after the court had de-
clared in favor of the building of Mr.. Brown
lee, Judge Burke presented his protes
against the manner in which the contract
had been let, and asksd.that it be spread upor
the minutes. Colonel Keller made moiior
to that effect, to which | added second. Al
the protest passed to the records. Colose
Keller and myself then drew up counter
protest, and asked that it also be placed
upon the minutes of the court, or the pro,
test OF Judge Burke expuDged lhersfrom
| neither of which was done.
A committee was afterwards appointed
visited the jails at the different cities men
TONED, examined thoroughly the cells in use
in each Jail, and becoming fully convinced
that the Panley system Of cells, with few
slight notifications, Is much the best, and
so reported to thc-court and recommended
It's adoption, which was done; and by reso.
luton the contract was awarded TO Mr.
A. Brownlee, upon his plans and spsciHca.
tions, with the modification in cells excepted
Now, so far as am concerned, and think
l can include the other members of The
court, this whole business has been traiesAct.
ed on basis of good faith, and | supposed
each and every bid was offered on the same
basis by the gentlemen presenting il, and l
can't see any ground for the unsuccessful
competitors manifestiDg so much dissstis.
faction with the result.
If the plan selected by the court Is not
worth the money 1t proposes to pay for It, il
appears to me that 1t should DO the citizens
OF the city and county who should complain
and not the gentlemen whore bid was not
accepted.
What assurance has the court that had the
contract been awarded to either one of the
other contractors that some Of the unsuccess-
full bidders would not have evinced the same
degree OF dissatisfaction which is now mud.
ding The whole business? /, for one, am
prepared TO say that l fully believe
The plans end specifications of MIR.
A. Brownlee much the best selection
the court could have made out of the
material presented, sking into con sidera-
ton security and comfort of prisoners, durs.
bility and exemption from danger By Gre
and cost of the entire building,
The court may. have erred flor no man is
infallible), but IL 1t has, IL was done in good
faith, believing it wns acting in q manner
calculated to promote the best interests of
the citizens Of both the city and the county.
N. X. GROVE.