The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-21
JAIL SITE STILL IN AIR
MEETING OF COUNTY COMMISSION
ERS AND CITIZENS, COMMITTEE
COMES TO NAUGHT
BONDS WOULD BE VALID
Commissioner Powers Asks That
POstpOnement Be Taken Until He
Can Investigate-Next Meet
ing Monday.

The jail site matter is still undecided.
A meeting of the board of county COM
mjssioners and the citizens committee
was held yesterday afternoon, but like
previous efforts, was without results.
AS predicted in the Clio b yesterday,
County Attorney Kane fails to agree
with eX-Assistant County Attorney Zoll-
man that a change of site would invali-
datg the bonds now outstanding Mr.
EKane's letter relative to the matter was
the first thing considered at the meet
ing yesterday. He unhesitatingly in
formed the board that change in site
would not invalidate or impair the bonds
jim any manner. Mr.. Kane's letter was
brief and was received without COM
n4ent
In Difference, to the wishes of Commits
siOner Powers, an absentee ever since
the proposed change came up, final ac-
ton was deferred, as he informed the
, committee that he was not prepared to
vote on the question until he had made
an investigation. At his request post
pOnement was taken until Monday morn
ing at 10 O'Clock.
Commissioner Powers intinated that
public sentiment on a previous occasion
had given it's preference for the present
site, but was answered by Chairman
Cooper, of the citizens committee, who
said that sentiment just now was UNI
Qualif1edly in favor of some other loca-
zion. a mass meeting had been held, and.
as a result, he said, he and others had
seen named to bring about the change if
possible. AS to the site that seems to
meet with the most approval the Tarbox
property, at the corner of Fourth and
St. Peter streets, was in the majority.
as far as the board was concerned.
The acceptance of Commissioner Pow
ers' proposition to postpone until Mon
day was taken advantage of by several
of the real estate men, among them G.
r. Smith and E. P Roberts, agents of
the two corners at Fifth and Cedar
streets, to refute statements made re-
garding the eXorbitant price asked They
contended that the county would realize
in the end by having their Jail near the
court house, thus reducing the cost of
transportation of prisoners and enable
the establishment of a heating plant for
both buildings
Mr.. Roberts, in speaking for the ground
that he controlled on Cedar street and
for which $4,000 was asked, said that
the price was in line with the assessed
value. and Contended that it was being
offered at $500 foot, when other corner
lots in the business district were held as
high as $1,000 a foot.
For q site that would be the cheaDcst
and satisfy the greatest number who IA
vored hiding the structure from public
view, Mr.. Cooper spoke in favor of the
ole elevator property on Third street
which could be purchased for ST., zoo
The commissioners refused to consider it.
however.
Originally the Tarbox site was offered
TO the commissioners for $4,000, but it
seems the owners old not take into con-
sideration the tenants who now held
leases, and the commissioners We're in
formed that it was now held at &c.,
TIE tenerts demanded $500 for the abro.
Cation Of their leases, which the owners
were willing to share with the county t.
the extent of $1,000. Possession could be
given in ten days.
As an objection to purchasing sites
centrally located and that had a large
value attached, R. E. Kirk said their
absorption by the county would remove a
revenue that the city enjoyed in the way