Arizona weekly citizen., 1882-10-08
Report of ihe Committee OF supervisors
 Ofnee and Court House.

Onlee and Court House.
 We, the undersigned Committee on the Supervisors Oiice and New Court House, respectfully submit the follow ing report:
 Having examined the books and ac- counts us thoroughly gs time would per init, We found them correct and neatly kept, and all papers properly filed.
 In regard to the purchase of lOca- ton of a court house (in our humble opiniou) the Board acted very iu!udI- c-Ously, for, as We learn, fine natural locations could have been purchased for from S2OUO to S40O0, but instead We fad that the sum of S}JJ0 WIS paid sOr the place upon which toput a lot. In our judgment, the difference Il price, the expense of getting dirt and grading Co make lot uI said place, and the extra foundation required, has caused uE- necessary expense to the county Co the amount Of from SlO,O0J to Sl5,OlO. In regard to the building 1t would make a very lengthy report to go into minute details. We wlll, therefore, coniine our selves tO the Jas we think serious de- fects. The building, generally, we con- slider an error, all the partitions being blllt of intllmmable material, instead of brick, winch, in case ot fire, does noi permit Of tine coutining of it to the local. ity where 1t may originate, but instead subjects the whole building to destruc- tion, as also the increase n the rate of insurance, Is certainly a great oversI ,ht IL those having the matter ln charge.
 The different vaults are far from be- ing fire proof, consisting as they do only of fOurteen-Inch brick walls, and ID the second story roOfed, as near as we could judge, with an eight-inch b1ck arch. The one in the Treasurer's office having a single sheet iron door. Even if by chance, they resist the heat Of such a fire as the inside of such a building would make they would be broken in with the falling timbers.
 We would therefore recommend that immediate steps be taken, particularly III the Recorders office, to provide a thoroughly fire proof vault to preserve the county records.
 The iaIl Tn particular we consider juvenile idea. As 1t Is the cells being placed in e forms of two corridors on each floor, and there being no con- muuicatiOn with the upper story except by ascending a flight of stairs which are Inclosed, necessitating the services of from two to four guards to perform the duty that might be performed by one, II the cells were placed on the sides leaving main corridor in the center. Further there should have been no second floor, but instead a second tier Of cells, with d platform anl railing in front, which would leave the entire jail in vIew from below. This would always give ample opportunity to the guards To see what might be going on.
 There are two water closets, one to each story, and as things are now ar ranged, 1t necessItates the climbing over the cells by ladders from one cor ridor to the other to use the same. Likewise the sinks (which, by the way, have become clogged up and nuisance already. Further there ls DO place where a guard nigh. stand and cover the prisoners with gun, out Of their reach, when being let out and In, and still further, the door of the iailor's of fee, where whatever arms they have are kept, is directly in front Of the door of one of the corridors, and being but a common panel door, might be easily burst in, giving the prisoners access to the weapons of the guards with which to overpower them. In this place in particular we would recC mmend that a spring iron door be hung, having q spring lock, ID order that 1t might nev- CT, by any chance or neglect be left open.
 We discovered also that the iron grat- ing is very insecureiy connected with ] q l,a, oil 1,as al | The iail yard wall We consider entirely too low and the windows of the Sheriff l and the District Attorneys offices fur nish an easy mode of escaP- to a man whose life IS at stake. We would recommend that the windows be grated.
 In regard to the proposed street m the rear of the jail We would recommend that the idea be discarded, as in our opinion it only furnishes easy cOmmuni- cation to those on the outside who might be disposed to assist prisoners to escape, and instead would suggest that proper wall be erected to cut of all | communication.
 For the information of those that may not know the entire cost of the court | house we give the following figures: Amount paid for lot S9,5O0; amount as per contract for building 356, ,55S: | amount paid for extra work SS,395. g; paid for preventing walls being washed $50; furniture S3,273.07; vault doors and freight S467 10; J. W. Culver for sur veying, S45.75; Mir. Smith for drafting bill, $50; for archeticts fees, 5000. Total cost to date, s75,419l7.
 Tbe amount required to complete the lot and make the necessary changes in the building we will not undertake to estimate.
 We next found an item of e1pence amounting to Sl1, ,S3S.52 net to fit out the gallant Tucson Rangers. We would recommend that hereafter the Board of Supervisors consider well if any service will be rendered to the county before they assume such amounts.