Omaha daily bee., 1897-11-05
GORDON WANTS A NEW JAIL
Thinks It is High Time the City Secured a
New Location.
POLICE JusGE TIRES OF OLD QUARTERS
Would Get Out of the BuiIdinr Now
Occupicd-views Regarding the
Location of n City
Prison.


had decided to take steps toward securing
a new city Jail was received with warm ap-
proval by the police officials yesterday.
The intention OF the city to relocate the Jail
produced much discussion among the heads
OF the department as to what site might be
selected
ut is high time that the city moved from
these quarters" said Judge Gordon. The
building has never been adapted for the
uses to which 1t has been put. besides there
is not enough room to conduct the business
which naturally fallc to the central station
in city of this size / have no particular
choice in the selection OF new quarters, ex-
cept that 1t be centrally located with refer
ence to the districts from which we receive
the greatest number of calls l do not think
that the new station should be situated south
of Jackson, east of Fourteenth nor north OF
Cass street. We should not be too far dis
tant from the county j. as tie ps troll wagons
make muny trips daily to and from the city
and county prisons. The new Jail should not
be too publicly located think the sight of
drunken men and women is degrading This
applies particularly in the case of children
who might be forced, should the Jail be
placed on a prominent street, to witness the
handling of degraded humanity.
REGARDING A LOCATION.
81 understand that there are four PROPOSE
tions for new jail. The first contemplates
new building at Sixteenth and Leaven-
worth streets; the second, new building
upon the old Jail site at Fourteenth and
Davenport streets; the third remodeling of
the old Krug brewery buildings at Eleventh
and Jackson, and the fourth, the utilization
of the Meadmber building at Sixteenth and
Chicago streets. The rentals | understand
range all the way from 81 500 per year with
out heat to $1,000 and SO 500 per year with
heat furnished The lowest bid given is by
the owners of the last named building"
In speaking of the new Jail Captain Haze
was OF the opinion that 1t should be much
larger than the present one. 1--WE ought to
have in addition to the usual cells and court
room a larger hall which might be used as
q ward room and drill hall for the men, said
the captain. This room might also be used
for mastering the men at roll call, and also
for gymnasium purposes. Every well regu-
lated metropolitan force should have a gym
nasium and the men required to keep their
muscles in proper condition for the per-
formance of their duties. Cities half the size
of Omaha are supplied with these gymna-
Sums. The cost for fitting up one would
be very small. In addition to a gymnasium,
we should also have some sort of emergency
hospital connected with the Jail. Under the
present arrangements all injured persons are
bundled into the patrol wagon and attended
by the city physician at the station in
i'll smelling cell. We should have room
fitted up in the new station with a number
OF comfortable co.'s ana an operating room,
where such cases could be properly handled.
have made a request for such provision
several times, but owl g to cur cramped quar-
ters here it has been impossible to provide
them. The new Jail should be made to fill
these requirements"
BOILERS WILL BE REPAIRED.
Yesterday afternoon Councilman Lobeck,
member of the committee on city property
and buildings made another inspection of
the station with a view of settling the heat
question Under his direction the old boilers
of the place were cleaned out and later
Boiler Inspector Unit looked them over.
1t was found that after considerable repairs
are made the plant may be used. These
will be made at the city's expense today.
1t is probable that fires will be started the
latter portion of this week. Engineer Charles
Brink will be placed in charge of the heat
ing apparatus, and will also be supplied with
helper to keep the fires going during the
nigit. Both men will be paid by the city.
The city will also furnish the fuel
In speaking of the controversy existing
between the city and the owners of the build
ing in which the station is located, Mr.. Bren-
nan, agent for the company said: 'The rea-
son the company has refused to furnish heat
for the Jail for the present amount of rent
paid is that by so doing it would lose money.
Few people appreciate the cost of keeping up
the fires twenty-four hours day, which is
necessary in the present instance The plant
al the station last winter consumed on an
average about eighty tors of coal month.
At the usual price charged this would alone
foot up S160. When you add the salary of
an engineer at $50 month ami tiremans
pay at $25, the total expenditure is $235.
At rental of 5000 a month, the amount the
city is now paying, the owners of the build
ing would be donating S35 Il month to the
maintenance of a public institution and
would receive no revenue from their property.
This is the reason why the owners wish to
gain possession of the building"
Opera singers and public speakers can keep
l1;. I'd -tr. 4,