The record-union., 1891-11-10
AUDITOR YOUNG'S HINT.
He Puts a Damper on the New Jail
Proposition.
A Section of the Law to Quiet the
Trustees-To Rejuvenate the
Old Jail.

Police Judge Cravens and Captain Lee
dropped into the Trustees chamber yes
terday during the latter's session to con-
suit with the members regarding the
proposed removal of the city Jail and
Police Court.
The Mayor said that since the last meet
ing of the board the building at Fifth
and streets had risen in favor. Those
who had seen it were satisfied that it was
the most available place yet inspected.
contractor ID. Sprague had done some
fguring regarding the fitting up of two
courtrooms, Judges chambers, City At
torney's office, ETC., and estimated that
this part of the work would cost So, 200.
JUST THE THING.
Captain Lee said the building was
roomy, light and healthy. There would
also be yard room there that is now
much used. The most expensive part of
| the downstairs work, not included in
Sprague's bid, was for the tank cells. Of
course, a good deal could be saved in the
way of iron doors, locks, ETC., by using
those in the present Jail.
Trustee Conklin thought fthe total ex-
pense Of putting the building in condi-
ton for occupancy would be about 81, 500.
Mr.. Mclaughlin thought it would be
more than that.
Mr.. Conklin said the Second-street
building would, according to his figures,
| cost S., 500.
SEVERAL OBJECTIONS.
Both the Mayor and Captain Lee were
opposed to the Second-street building, It
was not large enough in the first place,
and It's arrangements were such that it
would be hard to convert it into prison
building. Beside this it was dark and
unhealthy.
Judge Cravens said the difference be-
tween the Second-street building and the
one at Fifth and l was 200 per cent. in
favor of the latter The difference in rent
would be made up in the saving of gas
which would have to be burned at Second
street all day.
Mr.. Conklin said he wanted to do the
| right thing by the people, and ifthe Fifth
and L property was the most desirable
and would be the most economical he
would cast his vote for it. There was no
sense in figuring on its costing less than
So, 600, though.
The Mayor said he had his eyes wide
open and was confident that it would be a
wise thing to take this building.
MONEY TOO SHORT.
Auditor Young, at this juncture. called
the boards s attention to the condition of
the citY's finances and to the law, The
| DOdIu was piOHlDllGu from contracting a
| debt against the city for more than 1000
when there were no funds available. At
| present there were about SO, ,000 in the gen
eral fund, with prospect of getting S15, ,OCO
more in shortly. The salaries and cleo
trio lighting would take the first SIS, 900:
there was levee work out and an 5000
pipe contract, which, together, would
coming on and $1,000 would be needed for
| that. According to the law, said Mr..
| Young, each Trustee who voted for such
debt would be personally responsible
and would be guilty of malfeasance in
| office.
CASES OF EMERGENCY.
Mr.. Conklin said there were emerg-
encieS which were not anticipated by the
law, and this was one of them
Captain Lee wanted to know WHY the
old City Jail could not be sold, and Mr..
Mclaughlin advocated again the taking
Of the Perry Seminary from the School
Department He also thought that there
would be more economy in purchasing a
site outright than in renting one
After some further talk on the subject
the Mayor said that the Fifth and l.
street property was the only site he
would recommend, and he wanted the
matter laid over.
Trustee Mclaughlin had been waiting
for this. He opposed Conklin's motion,
Illtt ofllu liS was GlIGu OI nearing the 1all
subject mentioned. 1t had bobbed up
every week for six months, and he was
sick of it. There was no economy in fix
ing up place temporarily. 1t was q
poor way to spend the peoples money.
1t would be far better to purchase q
| building outright. But inasmuch as the
funds were low this would be impossible
but at the same time he would vote
against every proposition to rent an old
rookery.
TO KEEP THE OLD ONE.
The Mayor and Second Trustee were
wondering what the Major would
vote for, when the latter pulled
a resolution out of his pocket and handed
it to the clerk. 1t was to the effect that
the present Jail building would be good
enough If repaired and overhauled, and
that commission consisting of Health
Officer G.. b. Nichols, Architect Goodell
and Contractor L. McCaffrey be an
pointed to examine the building and rec
ommend to the board what should be
done.
The mention of DR.. Nichols or any of
the health officers CRATES on Mayor Com
stocks ears. He was willing to vote for
McLaughlin's resolution, but he wanted
the name of A. NJ. Smith substituted for
that of the doctor. Mr.. ConkIin ''stood
in'' again with the Mayor.
Trustee Mclaughlin insisted that the
Health Officer would be a valuable mem
Der of the commission, and he would not
consent to the name being dropped.
The Mayor was stubborn, but he found
Mclaughlin equally solid, so a COM
promise was finally effected by leaving
both DIR. Nichols and Mr.. Smith on the
commission.
This ended the Jail discussion. Itisun
derstood that Mr.. Mclaughlin proposes
to still keep the water tank on top of the
building.