The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1894-04-18
CHANGE OF PLANS.
Old Question Renewed in the Matter of
the City Jail.


In the course of his work of repairing
the city Jail, Contractor Founts sawed
holes in the side of the building next to
Third street, and being observed by
property owners in the immediate vicin-
ity a protest was at once raised by such
individuals. These were Messrs. ]. w.
French, s. L. Brooks, j. B. Condor and
others, and their objections were of such
a nature as to call for special meeting
of the city council at 2 o'clock in the
afternoon. At this meeting it was de-
cided to call for their presence in the
evening and accordingly, at z clock, the
council met the gentlemen to hear their
protest.
The council first annu1led ordinance
No. 202, making it of no force until July
1st, 1894. This is the impounding of
stock ordinance, and hereafter, until
July 1st, no stock can be impounded.
Mr.. J. B. Condor then addressed the
council in support of his objection, and
related considerable interesting history
pertaining to the building, new to the
council. The building was erected in
1858 for court house, and besides fur
nishing county Jail, served for the
offices of clerk and sheriff. The cells
were on the west, and the only ventila-
ton was through apertures to the
corridor, thence through the clerks
Office in the southeast corner of
the building. The question of cutting
holes through the wall on the street
side for the purpose of light was then
discussed, as it has at various times
since that time, but the conclusions
have always been that it would not do.
The inmates were sometimes very noisy,
and would make night hideous. The
same fact now presents itself to the city
council tonight-a question, which, as
have said, has been discussed thirty
years ago, and at intervals since that
time
Mr.. Brooks was then asked for. He
said his objection was merely as to the
openings on the street side of the build
ing, and would have no objection to
placing them on the west side, where
they would be of much less annoyance.
The street, being a public thoroughfare
and woman and children constantly
passing, if apertures through which
noise could escape were left, their ears
would be'constantly assailed by obscene
and profane language, particularly by
drunken men. Before the shed was
built at the rear of the building and the
other buildings near by, which have
largely obstructed the sound, have fire.
quently shut the doors and windows of
my residence in summer time to exclude
the Objectionable noises coming from the
inmates of the Jail. The most noise and
the vilest talk have always noticed
was at night.
Mr.. French said he had no objection
to make to the jail-itwas here when he
came and he had no desire to be arbi-
trary, but like Mr.. Brooks, he had often
been compelled to close his doors and
windows to keephis family from hearing
vile language and he had no idea of how
vile the human tongue could talk until
he had heard some of these prisoners.
He believed if the cells were removed to
the south side of the building and Open
ings made, it would be almost unbeara.
BILE, and thought that even if a change
in the plans cost little more, it wouId
be but a trifie to each, and of no com.
parison to the value of peace and
quietude.
Mr.. Butts said in justification of the