The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-09
The JAIL STILL EMPTY.
A Tender OF the New Building
Made, Which Is Not Ac-
copied.
Settlement Of Some Claims Puts
q Stumbling Block In
the Way.
Preliminary steps to n Lawsuit Taken
Last Night by \ Judgment
Creditor.

Lewis and Clarke county will most likely
have 4 lawsuit on its hands over the new
jail building which the contractors are
ready to turn over. There has been more
or loss talk about the building and the de-
lay in ito construction. The preliminary
steps in this litigation were taken last night
when Hon. William Wallace. jr., ordered
the issuance OF an execution to County
Clerk Iooker Of a Judgment obtained by
the First National bank Of Helena against
Henry Neill, for $1,000. Neill was one OF
tho members Of tho firm Of II. A. Bell d Co.,
who were given the contract for the jail.
Thu firm made an assignment some time
ago to John s.. M. Nsili, = brother Of Henry
Neill. A special meeting OF the county
commissioners was called for July 2, TO &c
cept the building. The session lasted MI
day without any result. E. j, 6ohatter. the
supervising architect, made his report to the
commissioner to the effect thatthe building
had been completed. In the mean time claims
we're handed in to the commissioners for
labor and material furnished in the con-
struction Of the building and the guardians
of the county wore confronted with a state
of affairs which made them pause. The,e
ia about 81. 600 due the contractors from tho
county. The commissioners passed the day
in examining the claims, In which they
were assisted by Henry Neill. II looked as
il a settlement would be reached Thursday
evening and the building accepted. but the
commissioner adjourned without taking
the Jail off the hands of the contractors.
Yesterday Commissioner Il. D. Edgerton
was called to Park county, which left
the chairman Of the board. Il. w.
knight, and Commissioner A.. J.
Barns. OF Marysville, to take up the
tangled sksin. During the day additional
claims amounting to about $1,000 were
brought in and the prospect of an accept
ance Of the Jail seemed further off. The
commissioned want to accept the building.
but wish il to come into the possession of
the county with a clean bill of health, or in
other words without any encumbrances on
it. It 10 Understood that Henry Neill
claims he 10 out Of pocket about $4,000 ON
the contract.
A tender Of the building was made yester-
day but not accepted. There was no for
maj refusal and the commissioners ad-
journed. The board will meet
again on July II no a county board of
ers over the assessment of this year. If there
are any to be made. Commissioner Burns
said yesterday afternoon after the board
had adjourned that he thought tho Jail
matter would be brought up when the
board meets on July II. He thought the
difficulty would probably be settled in such
a way as will place the county in posses.
sion Of the new jail and Nttl3 allec Aims
against tie building.
In the supervising architects final report
to the commissioner the total cost Of the
Jail is placed at $50. 951 30 The contract
figures were $43, 495. Changes were made
in the steel work of the cages and cells
which made an additional cost Of 81. 700.
On top of this comes s.. 756. so for extras.
When the bills for extras were presented to
the board there was some feeling aroused
against the architect who designed the
building. When the board we're in session
o n June 10 thev threw out a bill for $277.76
presented by N. j. Mcconnell. the archi-
tect, for some service claimed to have been
ordered the entry of a minute on their rec
| ords as follows: I'VE consider the archi-
tect to blame for our ever having extra
steel work, and as to the balance called
extra, when building the yard and fence,
we never made any contract. and had n
competent superintendent and awe to pay
him for the same work three Dor cent"
The new Jail stands ready to receive the
prisoners who are o confined in the old
church building at the corner of Fifth ave-
nue. and Ewing street. north of tho court
house. No doubt the change would be
agreeable to them. They hhv, been
looking forward to such an event us q relief
in the monotony of prison life, but the
sheriff is unable to tell them when they will
be given accommodations in the new place.