The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-07
NEW JAIL STE WANTED
POPULAR SENTIMENT VEERS IN
FAVOR OF DIFFERENT
LOCATION
PROMINENT CITIZENS SPEAK
1t Is Felt That 1t Is Unwise
to Cucumber One of
the City's Beauty
Spots.

The protest being. made against the
placing of the new county Jail on the
site adjoining the city hall and court
house received enthusiastic recognition
last night when about 200 of ST. Paul's
representative citizens gathered in the
council chamber at the city hall and gave
voice to their sentiments with speech
and argument
Judge Flandrau officiated In the ca
pacity of chairman, his opening remarks,
while brief, being directed in champion
ing the cause of beautifying court house
square.
II am unalternably opposed" said the
venerable chairman, ito disfguring what
should be the beauty spot of ST. Paul.
might speak volumes on this subject,
but it is sufficient to know that 1 will
assist in any movement that will bring
about change in what 1 consider a
blot on the handsomest building in ST.
Paul"
preliminary to the many informal
speeches that followed, Judge Flandrau
read letters from DR.. James Wallace,
president Of Manchester college, and Dr.
Ohage, the health commissioner, in which
both protested vigorously against build
ing the jail on the court house square.
1T would be vulgar and a gross crime
things" said Mr.. Wallace in his letter,
land L earnestly hope the protest will
be effective"
DR.. 'Ohage based his objection on the
ground Of sanitation and the detraction
of light from the big building and added
a little advice in which he recommended
the purchase Of a nearby site on which
building could be erected that would
be both city prison and county Jail,
md of f11n
things necessarily coming under police
Jurisdiction. The lot at the southeast
corner of Fifth and Cedar streets appeal
ed to the doctor as the best location
Hon. G. w. Nelson was the first to
break the silence that followed the call
of the chairmans expressions. 1T indorse
heartily" said Mr.. Nelson, 1.-The senti-
ments of Judge Flandrau, when he says
that the Jail should be removed from the
court house square The commissioners
are not to be criticised for their action.
Under the legal advice given them, and
the pressure made to have the Jail as
near the court house as possible, they
acted as they thought best. It is conced-
ed by every one who has the beauty Of
st. Paul at heart that a change should be
made, and If the present laws will not
allow 1t, then why not appeal to the
legislature for relief It is In session
ed by appealing to them. We did not
real1ze how pretty the square looked I'M
III tht3 Old rookery was torn down
Even If it takes $4,000 to make the
change favor it. I hope the protest will
be effective, and that the commissioners
Will find way out Of the difficulty and
make the change which I am sure finds
general support"
Maj Espy, who, as one of the mem
D6rS In I'D hoG
the erection of the present CITY hall and
court mouse. spoke for the removal OF
the jail from the square from the stand
polnt OF fostering parent and appealed
Voluply Tor support in showing to the
poard that the sentiment was general.
II believe it would be calamity to
build the Jail next to the court house.
L own property in this Immediate
vicinity" said the major, that would
be benefited by the erection of such an
imposing structure, If a jail can be
termed such. but I am willing to forego
all that to see 1t placed somewhere else -
TO opposition that developed from some
of those present Maj, Espy was ready
with an answer and spoke in support OF
his argument a numberssof times
PENNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH.
TO a gentleman who counseled econ.
omy on the ground that property was
now resting under burden over and
above it's value, Mr.. Humphrey an
swered by remarking that he was taxed
rather heavily, but this would not move
him from his stand that the Jail should
not be allowed to mar the beauty OF
the square. 81 opposed the tearing
down of the old building" said Mr..
Humphrey, "but that is no reason why
another should be put there. 1t is penny
wise and pound foolish to stop here.
Let's do it right 1 hope the jail will
be put out of sight. 1t cannot be called
a public ornament
E. s. Chittendon said that some of the
objections made against the removal OF
the jail were unworthy Of the city. THE
building" continued Mr. Chittenden
while better than the old, will be an
eyesore to the city. 1t should be on
the opposite side of the street. We sure
ly can raise $4,000 if necessary to make
the change I think nine-tenths of the
city favor the change. Don't be small
let's do things right and make st. Paul
look beautiful
Maj. Denny, of the board Of assembly,
men, said he did not favor the jail being
placed on the site selected. but he was
of the opinion that it should be as near
the court house as possible 1t was often
dangerous, as experience had taught
him. to transfer a prisoner any distance
trial. He thought a lot across the street
from the court house would be the most
feasible for site.
H F. Fairchild said he was not In IA
vor of placing the Jail on the court
house square if it could be avoided. but
he could hardly countenance an expendi-
ture of $4,000 to make the change He
was of the opinion that it could be done
much cheaper There is no need of the
Jail being next door to the court house
There were lots. said Mr.. Fairchild, four
or five blocks from there that can be
purchased for $1,000 while as much
ground as is wanted could be obtained
near Seven corners for $4,500 If this
could be DONE he said go ahead. as he
hated to see any beauty spot spoiled
He had written much about ST. Paul as
a beautiful city and he hoped that repu-
fation would be sustained
n. II. Frost was of the opinion that the
jail should be put out of public sight.
and for that reason he advocated the
change.
He knew Of parties, he said that would
build as good a Jail as Ramsey county
wanted for $4,000 and connect the same
with the court house. He thought the
present structure was costing too much,
The expense, he said, was caused bv the
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