Morris tribune., 1882-12-07
MORRIS TRIBJNE.
Published every Thursday.
.. RANDALL & BODEEN,
Publishers.
REPORT OF GRAND Jury.

| REPORI OF GkAND JURY.
For the first time since the organi.
zation of Stevens county, there was a
full panel of the Grand Jury at the
November term of the District Court
| That Jury was composed of intelli-
gent business men and farmers, and
! without intending any insiduous COM
parisons, was, in numbers and ability
better qualified to discharge all the
duties required of them as such jury
than any other we ever had.
If this be true, then the business
transacted would seem, from the very
nature of the case, considering the
character of the jurors, to commend
itself to the judgement of those who
are acquainted with them.
One of the duties imposed upon the
Jury was the examination of the
county Jail and other public buildings
of the county; and the Importance of
that duty is shown from the fact that
1t is part of the charge Of the Judge
to the Jury, and from the further fact
that after the Foreman had submitted
a report to the Court of the condition
of said public buildings the Judge
considered it of sufficient Importance
to the public to order it published in
all the papers in the county, four in
number. Let it he further understood
that the men comprising the jury rep
resent on their personal behalf taxa
bic property to the amount of over
one hundred and ten thousand dollars
(Sll0,000,) and whatever their views
may be as to future taxation in rela-
ton to the vindication of their report,
it shows they arc willing to share the
burdens of taxation. They first attack
the county Jail (what little there is
of it) and place the stamp of their con-
demnation upon it so tersely and fore
IDLY that it seems even more insignifi-
cant than a ''pill box" Then the re-
port in more general terms sets forth
the need of a court house and places
TO keep the records of the county.
Now let us consider these matters.
IS AJAIL NEEDED?
If we are to take into consideration
the universal experience of the past,
but one answer can be surmised; and
what is needed elsewhere is also re-
quired in this county.
The protection of saints from the
depredations of bad men makes it ne
cessary for the authorities to provide
some safe place to'keep them in when
apprehended, and that place should
not only be one of security, but also,
so far as possible, where the prisoners
health will not be endangered by the
confinement.
Surely nothing more need be stated
as to the necessity of a Jail.
1t does seem also that the court
house is, as the report states, '.entire-
ly inadequate for present purposes,
not to speak of the near future"
But while the court house is ZEN
tirely inadequate' of itself for the
court room and necessary offices, the
places provided for the county records
are much too small, and have cost too
much; but the county commissioners
are not to blame for that, for the peo-
pie heretofore have been opposed to
such an outlay at one time to provide
for the records, and safes have been
purchased as the books increased, and
while not seeming to be expensive,
yet in the aggregate have cost con-
siderable.
In case of a fire at the court house,
many records would be destroyed,
which could hardly be replaced, or at
least could only be done at great eX-
pense.
The valuation of the taxable prop
erty of the county is nearly one and
half million dollars, and with such
an amount to derive revenue from,
with such need of buildings and
vaults to preserve records, it does
seem as if some steps ought to be ia
ken to supply those needs.
The county has debt of about $5,-
500; very small amount considering
its taxable property, and with an ad-
dition to that of enough for suitable
court buildings, would in the whole
be but little for the future to meet
All that would be felt now would only
be the interest OH principal needed,
and economy would seem to indicate
but one course to pursue, and that is
to proceed at once to meet these nec-
essary public wants.
One mill on each dollar of the taxa
BILE property for three years would
build very fair buildings, and that is
a small rate of taxation.
Our public buildings should be COM
mensurate with the financial growth
of the county.
The village of Morris has erected a
school house of which we feel proud,
and if the whole county would emu
late that spirit the people will never
regret it.
We hope the county commissioners
will take the same view of this mat.
ter that the Grand Jury did in max.
ing their report and the Judge in or
dering its publication, and take the
necessary steps to provide what is sc