Omaha daily bee., 1901-03-10
NOT TO CHANGE PRISON SITE
Governor Dietrich Alters His Views After
Inspecting Ruin.
CONDITION OF CAPITOL TO Be IMPROVED
Nebraska Druggists seek Enactment
OF New LiqIor Lnw--Cases Are
Assigned for Supreme
Court sitting.

LINCOLN, March g. Special Governor
Dietrich, Adjutant General Kilian and
others paid a visit to the state penitentiary
today Tor the purpose of making a thorough
investigation Of the damage sustained by
the recent fire. AS d result OF this in
vestigation the governors views In regard
TO changing the location OF the penitentiary
to some point where 1t could be surrounded
by from two to four sections Of good farm
ing land. as expressed by him last week.
are somewhat changed
The damage 20 the building is not
nearly so bad as I was led TO believe at the
time | made those suggestions" said the
governor, and while am still Of the opin-
ion that the suggestions made by me at the
time OF the FIRE are practical | think. since
looking over the ruins that the damage
sustained by the fire is not of such nature
as to justify such change at this time.
! was led to believe that the damage was
much greater than it has proved 10 be. and
had such been the case | am still OF the
opinion that It would be a wise move on the
part OF the state to secure a large tract
Of good farming land and erect a thor
oughly modern prison. The prisoners could
be employed at much more profit 10 the
state in farming than they are at the pres
ent time, and with penitentiary sur
rounded by large tract of good land II
could, I think, be made largely sef-sus
taining. However. | do not think the state
is in condition to make such a change at
present II would necessitate the sacrifice
Of too much property which at the time
! made those suggestions. was supposed 10
be entirely destroyed.
What | would suggest now is that the
old cell house, the one that burned. be
placed under new roof and temporarily
repaired so that the convicts could be
kept there until the new cell house can
be equipped with modern steel cages, when
they could be moved there permanently.
The new cell house | find is not damaged
and 1t is sufficiently large for the ac-
commodation OF all the prisoners and
should be fitted out with new cages OF the
most approved pattern. 1t is estimated
that such equipment will cost from $50, 900
to $4,000, while the other repairs made
necessary by the fire will be in the neigh
borhood of 100000"
Not TO he sent 10 Iowa.
The governor was OF the opinion that
the prisoners could be kept here and
guarded by a detachment OF the militia at
less expense than IT would require to send
them to other states for safe keeping while
the new cell house is being equipped. These
questions and others pertaining to repairs
at the prison were discussed by the Board
OF Public Lands and Buildings at meeting
held this morning. but aside from awarding
contract for a temporary bake oven at
the prison no action was taken.
Adjutant General Kilian announced to-
day that hereafter the members OF the
Lincoln company would be relieved as
much as possib from duty at the penten-
tiary by members OF other companies
Many OF the Lincoln boys hold responsible
positions and It is considered an injustice
to them to keep them at the prison so much
of the time.
improvements at Capitol.
BY practicing the strictest economy In
the expenditure of the small appropria-
tion that will be allowed the State Board
OF Public Lands and Buildings hopes greatly
to improve the appearance and condition
OF the state capitol building and grounds
For all expenses. such as for heating.
lighting, repairing and refurnishing and
maintaining the grounds, the finance ways
and means committee has recommended an
appropriation OF $4,000 and the indica-
tions are that the amount will be allowed
by the legislature. Several plans for beau
tifying the grounds have been submitted to
the board by Neal Griffin, custodian OF
the building, and they will be carried into
effect as soon as the appropriation becomes
available.
or the total appropriation recommended
$4,000 VIII be for the current necessary
expenses OF the building. leaving only s3,-
600 for alterations and improvements. The
largest items OF expenses are heating and
lighting, but not a small amount will go
to the janitorial force.
OF the changes contemplated and ap>
proved by the board the most important
will be the raising Of the footwalks on the
state house grounds. The large fagstones
will be raised up to the top OF the curbng
on the four approaches or slightly above
the surface OF the lawn. As the walks
are now arranged they form excellent
drainage bitches for snow and rain and in
bad weather are worse than no walks at
all. Another Improvement will be the con-
usrN.n tlFVl 49,