The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-05-24
OUR CITY SlRES
In Adjourned session--A Message from
His Honor.
The Herald Chosen Tho Organ OF the
City.
Other Legislation by The SO

Secretary Parry read the MAYORS mes.
sage which Is az follows:
Mayors Once, ti'y OF Dallas, Texas, May o.
1854 TO the Horprabic City Council
GKNTLkMgs: / would respectfully call
your attention TO the dilapidnted condition
OF the old city hall and market house on
Main street, and the necessity that sxitts
for some action 10 be iaken, 10 protect the
same from any further injury or .oas to tho
city. This building ~ q frame, wooden,
building, located on lot, owned by the
City, fronting (S0) eighty feet on Main
street aud running back (lul) one hundred
feet. Tho building 10 (3v) tuiriy feet wids
aud (70) seventy feet long "a Nh porohea each
eide ten feet wide. The over portion OF
tho buiding 10 used as q market hous' aud
" IS constructed with that intention. The
upper part OF the building which Is built
on brick pillars, WAS intended aud used for
= city hall and city oilices. II is now used
aa printing Office having been abandoned
as \ city hall several years since. as this
building 10 In the fire limits IL isnucesesrilly
subject To the same restrictions, so far M
the ordinances Is concerned, defining the
right 10 build within those limits, ~ ere
prescribed to citizaug Of the city living
within the same. The oity'5 calaboosn Is
also a wooden frame building situated on a
lot, owned BY the city, fronting (25) twenty.
five feet on Commerce street aud running
back (s0) eighty feet. II is wtl.known 10
Won that IL Is In very poor condition; un.
fit TO confine prisoners, either In very warm
or very cold weather and that tho building of
o new calaboose has been under adyisement
and has engaged your most serious aiten.
ton for mors than year, but no definite
action has been taken 10 remedy this great
want Tor suitable building, TO properly
guard and protect prisoners--to pre-
vent their escape, and ut tho same time
not to injure Their health, either by eS-
posure to cold during the winter or incon.
venience and suffering from heat during
the summer months. Various plans have
been suggested 10 remedy this state OF
things, but none adopted. AS il 10 i'm.
portant that the city council should take
some action ! n reference 10 these buildings,
| would recommend that tho old market
house and city hall DO removed and that a
coed and substantial brick building be
erected on that lot, so that the fire depart.
ment including engines, hook and ladders,
hose carte, horses, forage, etc., and the Gala
boose should be on the frat or lower floor.
and the city hall and all the offices for the
various city offices and the iireman's hall,
In the upper or second story; that the
present city hall property, al the corner OF
Lamar and Commerce streets, which IL two
stories high, fifty (50) by ninety (0O) feet.
and on a lot (50) fifty by (l0O) one hundred
feet; also the lot on The east side OF the
Merchanta' exchangc, and adjoining the
same, fronting on Commerce streot, (25)
twenty five teet, aud running hgck COO)
one hundred feet; also tho old calaboos 0
building and he lot il Is on. fronting on
Commerce street (25) twenty-five feet, and
runuing back (SO) eighty ieet, DO sold by
the city council, and tho money realized
from the sale Of this property be ussd,
under tho direction Of tie city council,
60 pay for the removal OF the hall and
aud erecting the brick bJildiDg recon-
mended. This, Ia my opinion, would be a
WISE move on the part OF tho city council.
The building occupied by tho city now il
valuable, on valuable lot, and can be 60 ID
for good price. 1t Is Gt the corner Of two
important streets, in e business center. op-
poSite the Merchants exchange aud Major
X. Y. TompkinB large building now nccu-
pied by NJ, ssrs. Loeb q Freiberg. The
noise from wagons and other vehicles, hur-
rying to and fro on business renders 1t un-
suitable for city hall. The lot on tho east
side OF the Merchants exchange is idle am
not needed for any purpote by the city
The lot on which the celaboose Is situated
would not be naeded, and could be sold at
fair price. This building would DO in a
more central portion OF the city. The fire
department could have easy and rapid
access to any part OF the citv. The GAIA
boosc would be nenr the city hall, and
could be so arranged as not to be nui-
the health OF those confined by legal pro-
GEES. The growth OF the city will ia q short
time necessitite The building OF an engine
house in the northern part OF the city. 1t
IL, therefore OF great importance that the
principal oflice of the fire department
should be OF the city hall, and in as central
q location as possible. | ana satisfied that
tho property recommended for sale will
yield money sufficient 10 erect a building
on the old market house lot that will enable
~ to concentrate all the different depart
ments OF the city, and will be Ia
keeping with other buildings, both pri-
vate and public, and at the same time
be On ornament 10 the city Of Dallas. The
council can zee the tcfssiiy that cxists ioi
| building new calaboose and also taking care
of the properly known as tho old market
house and city hall propsrty. They also
see that thie Is valuable lot aud that it,
location is more central ard moro eccspt-
bio from every portion Of the city than tho
present city hall. / would therefore suggest
that you give this matter your most serious
attention and that the SAME be referred e
the committee on public buildings with in
structions to fully consider the suggestions
made and report TO the council at the EARL
est practicable meeting.
Respectfully submitted.
w. l.. CABELL,
Mayor.
Bids were opened and read from the BAL
i tAa "A n III