The Forrest City times., 1898-10-07

oiW"'" US PeiShdscu ~ vi ~ acres Oi land
aud erected suitable buildings for their
comfort and protection, and also house
for The keeper or superintendent of said
Institution to reside in. Until this is done
these relics Of misfortune and poverty
necessarily will have TO be shifted around
from pillar TO post, annually. Institutions
OF this character justly have large claim
on the generosity of the public and in
many counties and cities eleemosynary
establishments are the great pride of their
citizens.
During The year our new Court house
was completed and now every citizen.
whether he be phleban or prince. OF high
or low estate, has a safe, commodious and
comfortable house to transact his or her
court, OF other official business, and what
Is Of the greatest Importance the records
OF the county are absolutely safe from
destruction. For this magnificent struct-
ure | am sure an intelligent and generous
public will ever hold you, gentlemen of
the Quorum court, who put the wheels in
motion aud gave your unstiDted aid and
influence in the construction of the build.
ing, IN lasting esteem. And it is real
pleasure for me to say that by your liberal,
broad minded, public spirit and county
pride the building was erected and will
ever stand as towering monument to-
yonr good Judgment and enterprise. BY
your hearty co operation the erection of
the building was made possible and is now
a completed fact. Since its completion it
has been the object of much favorable
comment and admiration by people from
many sections Of the country. The bal
ance remaining unpaid ON The building it
will become your duty to provide for.
which | am sure you will do.
THE JAIL.
BY all means something should be done
to improve the condition of the county
jail. At present the unsanitary condition
is menance to the health OF the town.
not to say anything about the prisoners
confined therein. | have had recent esti.
mates made for the needed work, and at
an expense of from $1,000 to $4,000 the Jail
can be modernized and improvements at
taehed that will add to tile security and
the better sanitary conditions. With the
suggested improvements the place would
no longer be a pest hole for the breeding
of infectious and contagious diseases that
would imperil and jeopardize the health of
the whole county. For years past the un-
sanitary and bad condition of the iail has
been the cause of much complaint and
severe criticism from each recurring Grand
Jury. The people who are manacled be-
hind the prison bars and cannot help
themselves are entitled to and should en-
gage your earnest attention to improve the
conditions that surround them. In this
enlightened age the matter of prison re-
form and improvements, is engaging the
minds OF some OF our best men and great
est phlahthopists. Some way should be
found to remedy the evils complained Of.
1t is gratifying to note that the debt of
the county has been reduced $500 during
the past fiscal year. As is well known
the large debt hanging over the county,
was caused largely by the heavy and UNI
usually expensive Criminal court costs in
the last four years. The white cap cases
cost the county not less than $4,000, and
to handle and control the small pox out.
break two years ago cost the county $4,000.
These two items aggregate Sl1 900. which
deducted from the $4,000 outstanding
current debt OF the county would reduce
our Indebtedness to $4,000. These abnor-
NAL expenses were caused by an unlocked
for contingency from which there was no
escape and had to be met
In February last we succeeded in and
completed the refunding bond transaction.
The then outstanding $50, 1000 of 6 per
cent railroad bonds of the county was re-
placed by the same amount of per cent
bonds. The saving to the county by this
deal in interest on the bonds will amount
to $4,000.
And now in conclusion, with this term
ends our official intercourse. The major
tY OF you have been members of this
court during the four years of my incum-
bencY, and for all of you 1 entertain only
the kindest feelings. 1t is pleasure to
feel and know that our relations have been
Of pleasant nature. For the faithful
manner in which you have given me the
benefit of your wise council and the cor
dial support that you have given to meas
ures recommended by me, | shall ever
feel and hold in grateful remembrance.
1t on reviewing the history of my four
years administration of the affairs OF the
county, if it be the Judgment of the people
nf the cnupty fbat | haua fofthf,lI,, 49,