The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-20
GRAND JURY'S REPORT.
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS COMPLIMENT
ED AND CRITICISED.
The City Police Station Mildly Touched
Up. While the County Work-house
and It's onicers Receive q Rafting
Broadside.

The criminal court grand jury for the
January term submitted It's report yester-
day. Its full text is appended, and will
prove interesting reading for few parties
nj least:
To the Hon J. J. DuBose, Judge OF the Criminal
Court OF shelby county Tom"
We, the grand jury appointed Tor the
January term, 1888, of the criminal court
of Shelby county, beg leave to submit the
following report of our labors and investi-
cation during our term OF service, VIZ
We have had presented for our consid-
Grafton 707 bills OF indictment, OF which we
have returned rs true bills G0i, and ignored
forty-thrce bills.
In the discharge OF our duties, we have
examined the various official bonds OBJ
tanned from the Office OF the county court,
a full list Of which we herewith append 10
this report marked q, all OF which bonds
ARE in due form and satisfactory TO the
Jury as TO strength, In 30 far US we are
capable Of judging
COUNTY JAIL.
We visited the county Jail, and found II
In very satisfactory condition; we think
Jaier ]. J. Mason an efficient officer, no
far AZ we can Judge by the cleanliness and
order we found in and around the building,
though our visit was unexpected TO him,
and no extra preparation was apparent. as
having been made in expectancy oil our
visit.
The only suggestions we have to make
In the way OF improvement there In in
regard 10 the mattresses; we think them
entirely too thin for even criminals TO sleep
on, and would recommend something
thicker and moro substantial. The jail
inspectors or proper authorities should
look into this matter, and We understand
that insane patients are frequently de-
tanned there an unreasonable length oil
time before the transfer 10 the poor-house,
for proper attention.
PoLIcE sTATioN-HousE.
Language would fail us TO express n
proper appreciation OF this place, located
In the heart OF the city, and visited M IL Is
every day by 40 many people, and the en-
tire police department. OF whatever else
we may boast as n future great and growing
city, let us never once mention It's name,
or point the steps Of tho visitor 10 its
dingy walls. We would beg OF the Taxing
District authorities TO forcgo every other
class of improvement, for the time being,
and provide some decent, safe and healthy
location for the incarceration OF its prison
ers, as an absolute duty 10 the cause OF
humanity and civilization. And, u neces-
sary TO accomplish this, they should apply
for legislative authority and assistance nj
the earliest possible moment.
rooR-nousE.
This building and its surroundings as n
general thing, we found in good and COM
mendablc condition, 80 far as we could OBJ
serve. Though our visit was unexpected,
we found its wards all clean and It's in
mates as clean aud In rs good condition as
their several cases seem 10 demand. We
found them also rs general rule, as happy
and contcnted rs the same number OF pcO-
pie similarly situated would be found in
any other place OF the kind.
We think DIR. Gragg deserves credit for
his management. NO lar M We are capable
of judging from our short visit.
The supply OF water II. mt sufficient ~
the neccssities of the poor-housc proper
and the other houses surrounding IL, con
tanning tho hospital and insane depart
mcnts. At the time OF our visit storm
had blown away the wind mill, and the
water had 10 be pumped by hand, which
we consider altogether too slow and UNI
certain way Of supply for 30 large and
important an institution, OF which with
some additional improvements the county
may well be proud.
We recommend that the county court
should provide an artcsian well nj q con-
venicnt location between the poor.house
and the work housc, with sufficient ca
pacity TO supply a flow Of water for both
institutional
.. That an engine should be pro.
yided with capacity 10 force n supply OF
water 10 n point or points above the roof,
Of any Of Che buildings, both at the poor
house and work.house.
,. That n tower or towers be erected
nj such point or points, as may be found
most convenient 30 furnish flow Of wntci
90 every room and cell, In the poorh house
the insane department and out buildings
also tower or towers nj the work-house 10
the same purpose, aud upon these tower
Iron tanks OF capacity 10 furnish a suili
cicnt quantity ii water at all points, an'
also 10 hold In reserve large supply q
water, In case Of fire nj any OF the build
ings, and that the occupants be trained 4
iis use In case Of fire. 40 that the ontir
property might bo comparatively sccur
IRON destruction by fire, which Is q YER
important consideration 10 the county
considering the large and valuable invest
mcnt made In these properties.
We think the citizens OF Shelby count,
would heartily indono this plan II In com
pcteni aud sale hands.
woRK-IiousE.
We visited this institution, which IA un
der the management Of Squire X. NJ
Mason, and found the ground and build
ings In excellent ortler-clean and we
kept. We were also particularly graitnc,
at the condition Of the road leading fror
the city Quito the work house, poor.houss
etc, which has been worked aud kent h
order by the hands oi the work house, uu
der the managcmontoi Squire Mason.
all the roads leading To the city wcrp a
well worked and graded ~ this road H., or
county would bc In a moro nourishin
condition, and the outlaying property
the suburbs would be- much more yalur
BILE, yielding morc revenue 10 the count,
and tightening the burdens Of taxation b
increased values.
Cannot the county court apply this sam
system Of labor 10 other public road
Many wise men aro now advocating HI
plan OF applying the whole system OF erin
inal labor. both county aud State, 20 IA
working Of the highways, thereby relic,
ing iarm labor Of the burden Of workin
the roads, and enabling them 10 devol
their whole time 10 agriculture and IA
improvement Of their farms NJ the sanI
time removing the great objection 10 COZ
Wet labor coming In competition Wit