The record-union., 1891-11-24
WHAT EXPERTS SAY.
Messrs. GoodeII and McCaffrey's 0pin-
ions on the Old Jail.
They Think That $4,000 VIII Make II
Safe, and the Committee So Re-
ports to the Trustees.

After having looked over the old City
! Jail the committee appointed for the pur-
pose-consisting of Architect Goodell,
Builder McCaffrey. Plumber A. NJ.
Smith and Health Officer DR.. c. b. Mich
| ols-have reported the result thereof to
the City Trustees. The committee have
come to the conclusion that, with certain
repairs, the old building could be made
habitable and safe for ten or fifteen years
! to come
lnasmuch as the old building has been
several times condemned by experts, and
as there has been so much said recently
about the question of its safety, the full
report of the committee, given below,
will be full of interest to the public No
action was taken on the report by the
Trustees at their session yesterday. The
report is as follows:
WHAT THE COMMITTEE SAY.
To the Honorable BOuqd of Cff5j TyuS-
teeS-GENTLEMEN The committee APP
pointed by the board to ascertain what
repairs are necessary to put the old City
| Hall ira safe and sanitary condition, beg
leave to submit the following report:
We have carefully and thoroughly ex-
amined the building in regard to it's
/ Sdl6ty . GIlO casual observer the Dullu-
| ing appears in several places not to be
safe; this state of affairs arises from its
! having been neglected, and the wear and
| tear caused by use and exposure. Some
i parts of the building require to be re-
| paired, few OF the timberS have decayed,
and new ones should be substituted for
such as are of no use. The building, as a
whole, is absolutely safe. In evidence of
which the committee find that the repairs
| made two years ago in the walls show
that the building has not moved particle
! in two years.
The tank, which was supposed TO Dethe
one source of great danger, was filled to
! its fullest capacity; it is 4SxSl feet, and s
| feet deep; 964 tons of water were placed
in the tank, and kept there for some time
with not the slightest change in any part
of the building or foundations. Members
| Of the committee We're on top of the tank
and all about the building, and the only
thing that attracted attention was the fact
that the tank leaked.
This committee wish it distinctly un-
derstood that the leaking of the tank is
no indication of weakness in the building
which supports it, but is the result of cor
rosion OF iron around bolt heads and
seams caused by neglect. With the re-
pairs recommended by the committee the
building will be perfectly safe for several
years to come.
The committee is unanimous in their
condemnation ofthe unSanitary conditions
of the whole institution; it is the plurality
of foulneSs, and we cannot too strongly
recommend the entire removal Of all the
| old cells, and the entire system of plumb
ing. We have prepared drawings and
| specifications of what the committee con-
siders necessary to put the building in
a tirst-class condition, and they are sub
mitted with this report. The repairs in
detail are:
| First-The repairing of the walls, stop
| ping cracks, and placing new buttress
at the southeast corner as high as the sec
ond story; eight new iron celIs two
large wooden, and two small wooden
cells; stone work on floor; some new, and
other parts repaired.
Second-Replacing decayed timpers
with new; repairing the woodwork about
the sides of the tank and other parts of
the building.
Third = An entire new system of
plumbing and ventilating.
Fourth-New plastering and calcimin-
ing; painting the building inside and
out, two coats.
There is one subject to which the com
mittee wish to call the especial attention
of the Board of Trustees. The present
system of sewerage empties directly into
the sewer not many feet from the suction
pipe which supplies the city with water;
this cannot be too strongly condemned
anu SiOulu DS StOppeQ IIluleuldCely. Inc
remedy is to build new cesspool with
an overtlow-pipe for surplus water.
Iron doors composed of grating are re-
quired for safety, both at the front en-
| trance as well as into the iail-yard.
These repairs can be made for the sum Of
| $3.50.
There are some items that part of the
committee did not consider came under
their jurisdiction, and are not figured in
the estimate. They are the repairing of
the tank SO as to prevent its leaking; the
papering of six rooms and the corridors
upstairs, the room of the Chief of Police
and that OF the Captain of Police down
stairs; the putting of carpets in the
Judges room, City Attorneys room,
courtroom; placing mating in the corri-
dors, hospital, witness and iury-rooms:
new shades to all windows where re-
quired.
This can be done at an expense of
about $500.
These added to the other repairs men
toned would place the building in
sanitary, safe and comfortable condition.
Respectfully submitted.
G. b. NICHOLS,
n. ID. GOoDELL,
THOMAS MCCAFFREY,
a. NJ. SMITH.