Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-04-25
SHERIFF HOUSE @JAIL.
The MarsElfieId News Compelled to
Swallow its FaIsehoodS.

News entitled THAT New County Jail, "
contains so many radically bad state
ments that justice and truth seem to
demand thatit be given little attention.
1t will not be attempted however, to
note or answer all of the harsh and
unkind filings at the members of the
County Board and Grand Rapids,
because it is well known that they are
all the vaporings of disappointment at
the failure of that little plan to create
the county of Rivers. Revenge, for
blasted booms in corner lots, is SO PLAIN
ly stamped upon every issue of the
News that he who runs may read.
Revenge and hatred being the prime
moving causes. none would scarce
expect that much attention will be
paid to exact facts. The source of the
stream being rolled and turbid and
black with the passions Of hatred
and revenge, one does not look for a
flow of clear and sparkling water.
Has the News duly reflected upon the
fact that of the twenty members Of the
old board, who on February 18th voted
in favor of the adoption Of the Memorial
to the legislature against the division of
this county and the formation of the
county Of Rivers, all but five have been
re. elected and returned to the present
board, while Of the eleven who voted
against its adoption only one has been
returned; also that substantially the
same is true regarding those who voted
for the building Of the jail and against
it?
The News says it "cannOt help but
refer again to that preposterous piece of
business which is to be foisted upon the
tax payers of Wood county by the
building of $4,000 jail and sheriff s
residence. Nothing but the most mis-
leading and false argument could have
induced the members outside of the
Twin Cities to have voted for such an
appropriation, and from all information
obtainable they now sorely regret their
hasty action"
Of course the News starts out with
the assumption that the building Of a
new jail is the scheme OF the twin
cities,-indeed, in prior issues, the
News has freely insinuated that the
condemnation Of the present jail by the
State Board Of Control was obtained
through efforts Of parties in these cities.
1t assumes that the building of a $4,000
building here is of such vast importance,
that people have been tumbling over
each other in pulling wires, and schem-
ing for days and nights, and months in
advance, that they may increase their
taxes and foist large expenses upon
outside property owned by themselves,
lri, /, Al,
a good looking building will be some
but it is hardly fair to charge us with
having SO little business sense. Truly
Mr.. News the members from Grand
Rapids and Centralia love not high
taxes and large expenditures any more
than do your people, and did they not
believe a new jail and sheritf's house 10
be a NECESSITY, they would not have
favored it at the meeting of the Board
in February and would not favor it now.
The proposition to buiIu Il new Jail
and sheritfs house has no more origin
in the twin cities than in any other
municipality or town of the county, and
that it is a necessity and requires the
expenditure of considerable amount
Of money is as much regretted here as
anywhere.
But to return to the charge above
quoted from the News. Turn to the
records Of the proceedings of the
County Board during its sessions in
November and February and see what
''misleading and false argument" was
used upon this question, also what
"hasty action'' was had. On page of
the printed proceedings of the County
Board for the November meeting is to
be found a copy of notice from the
State Board of Control, which had been
served upon the county clerk in July
prior to the meeting of the supervisors
That notice stated that "A recent
inspection of the Wood County Jail
develops the fact that it is a basement
Jail, dark and lily ventilated, and must
be an unhealthy place in which to keep
prisoners; that it is insufficient as to
room and is so constructed as not to
hold prisoners securely with ordinary
vigilance on the part of the officer in
charge. 1t IS THE OPINION OF THE BOARD
THAT THE DEFECTS CANNOT BE REMEDIED
AND THAT A NEW JAIL SHOULD BE CONSTRUC-
TED. You are hereby notified that il
within one year after the receipt OF
this notice new jail is not constructed
| the Board will condemn the present
jail under Section 565a Chapter 21S ol
| the Laws of 1889" That notice was
referred to the Court House committee
which consisted of Geo. L. Williams
Ferdinand Phillips and John Schnabel
| Two days thereafter and on the 10th
| day of November the Court House
committee made a written report, such
written report is to be found on pages
20 and p Of the printed proceedings OF
| the County Board for the November
session. In such report, among other
| things, the committee stated, They
have personally visited and inspected
said Jail and living rooms the sheriff
in the basement of this court house
and they fully agree with the views O.
the State Board Of Control that 'saiG
basement Jail is dark, ilIy-ventilateC
and must be an unhealthy place il
which to keep prisoners. : : Is
THIS CONNECTION WE SUGGEST TO EACH
MEMBER OF THE PRESENT BOARD THAT III
! MAKE \ PERSONAL INSPECTION OF SUCH JAIL
| AND OF THE LIVING ROOMS OF THE SHERIFF
The defects may be briefly mentioned
First-As want of proper ventilation
SecOnd-WantO Of proper sleeping rooms
| TLird-Lack Of sewerage. Fourth
| excessively bad from those who are no
confirmed criminals Fifth-No proper
place for the confinement of female
prisoners. SiXth-No place in which tC
confine insane persons, except witt
other prisoners. Seyenth-L&ck o
sufficient room. The law of this state
now provides that DO jail, police station
or lookup shall be constructed in The
basement OF any other building" l
was further stated in such report tina
the law provides that if within one yea
after. the service of the notice. tht