Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-09-14
Grand Jury Presentment, Sept.
Term, 1888.
To the III n, the Judges of the Court of
! Quarter Sessions, the County Of Butler, In
the Common wealth of Pennsylvania.

Ouarter Sessions, the County Of Butler, in
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The Grand Inquest of the Common wealth
! of Pennsylvania iaqIiTing ii aad for tn .
said county of Sutler, at September sessions
in the year 1888, do respectfully present, tina.
| in obedience to instructions OF the Court, We
have made careful and thorolIh ezamnd-
| ton of the public buildings, Court House
and Offices therein, aso of he basement and
upper stories Gf III builC ing, and OF the Ja.l
! engine house st bIes and grounds surrouau-
| ing and attached to these buildings.
We are pleased to report that we fad the
offices all clean and in good, healthy con-
| dition and we commend the officers in each
| for the tidy and cheerful appear ana OF the
| county offices. We find that the grass plots
in front of tie Court building are well cal Ell
| for and present an attractive appearance to
| those who enter the building.
! We would recommend that the ground
opposite the Court House, across Main street
known as the Park, should, as soon as prac-
ticable, be improve ! and trees planted walks
made, &c, so that it would add to the ap-
pearance OF the borough and county build
| ings.
We find that the iron blind in the vault
| aitach5d to the Register " Recorders oihce
| Is off, We recommend that it be replaced,
or that the wooden shutters be removed and
| replaced with iron, in order that the records
| of that Office N ~ he IL ore securely kept.
| We find that III the private Office OF the
| Prothonotary table large enough to accom-
modate four persons at a time should be fur
! nished, aud the uery dliapidated desk now
| there should be removed; also in the pro
tho notary's Office desk with pigeon-hoies
| for the purpose of tiliug unfinished papers, Is
needed, and we recommend that such desk
| be furnished.
| We fl nd that as the water closets are now
| arranged, it is impossible to have them kept
| in a clean or healthy condition andNe rec
ofnmend that they be rem0deled after the
most approved style, so that they may be
large enough. and can be kept III a condition
| fit for the accommodation of those having bus
| mess in court.
| After a careful examination of our county
| jail We tEd it in as good condition as 1t is
| possible for the Sheriff to have it, consider
| ing the structure and arrangement of the
| building. 1t is the unanimous opinion of
| this jury that the Jail now constructed, is
not fitted for the use to which it is applied,
/ and that so far as the cells are concerned
| they are little less than dungeons, without
| the necessary ventilation or light for the
preservation of the health of prisoners. Ia
| this age OF humanity, II is a shame for
| county such as Butler, haying the intelligent
| population it has and possessing the wealth
| it does, to allow prisoners to be incarcerated
!
| to occupy. We recommend that there be a
small window with iron bars placed in the
back part of every cell III the jail-at least
| in the lower tiers-iOr ventilatiiation and
| light. 1t certainly would be more produc-
| tive of health and cleanliness than it now Is
| We also recommend that bath tub for the
| accommodation Of the prisoners be placed in
the Jail.
We recommend that the grounds attached
l IL 4 IL. - L.
| fenced in with a respectable fence, and that
the grounds be cleaned Of all rubbish, level
ed off and sowed in grass; also that a few
| shade trees be placed there so that it will
have the appearance of belonging to some
| one.
1t haying been reported to this jury that
| during the extreme cold weather of last win
| ter the Court House not properly heated +,
| and it became necessary on several occasions
to adjourn court for want of heat to render
| the court room comfortable, we therefore
| recommend thrt the Commissioners make
| provision for heating the court room and
| offices.
1t has been reported 10 us that Main
| street, which is the most travelled thor
| ouehlare Of the borough and also public
highway, has been so blockaded that vehicles
| could not pass at certain points. We recon-
mend that notice be served by proper au-
|
| the stJeets that all such distractions be re.
moved. so that public travel may not in the
| future in any way be impeded; and, further,
| that West Jefferson street is in a bad condi-
ton and needs immediate attention. We
find nuisance in the alley back Of Jacob
Boos' grocery store, caused by the lack of
proper sewerage from prIsy. We recon-.
mend that the proper authorities be notified
and that this annoyance be a. oncs re-
moved.
| IL has also been reported that the road lead
ing from Millerstown to Karns City in
| Donegal township, is in a very bad condi-
| ton ard needs immediate attention. Also
that there was a bridge in Butler township,
ON the three degree road, washed away
| some time in las July, which should be
! rebuilt for the accommodation of the trav-
| cling public We recommend that the
proper persons be notified and the bridge
rebuilt.
| And now in conclusion, we cannot close
| this report without expressing our appre-
citation of the very able and instructive
charge of the Court given to us upon en-.
tering upon the discharge of our Official
duties, and also to the District Attorney
for the assistance rendered to US IN the
course of our sessions, and the very care
full manner in which all papers submitted
to us were prepared, thereby rendering
our work easy and aiding US in closing
our labors much sooner than we otherwise
could have done.
Il. |. BoGGs, Foreman.
Now, Sept 6, 1888 After due consider
alton it is ordered, |, That this present
men be duly certified by the Clerk OF
Courts to the Commissioners of Butler
county for their information, consideration
and attention, and to the end that they, be
ing so informed, my cause the several rec
concentrations, relating to the Court HOUSE
County JAIL lot and public square, to bt
carried into effect without unnecessary y de
lay. And, 2, That this presentme mt b'
published for information to the public.
BY THE COURT.