The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-02-27
NEEDS A new JAIL
Conditions Surrounding Dawson Countn's
Jail Certainly Demands Some
Attention.
Present Accommodations Yury Unhealthy
Place in Which 10 Keep
Prisoners.
Methodist Educational Convention Will
Be Held for Three Days.
In May.
THE COUNTY JAIL PROBLEM
Bad Condition OF the County Jail
Makes Construction Of Better
Quarters Imperatiya.
COUNTY JAIL PROBLEM

Makes Construction of Better
Quarters Imperative.
The Jail of Dawson county is in
mighty tad condition. 1t has been
so for the past five or six years. In
that time it has hardly been fit to
keep a prisoner in any great length
OF time without endangering the
health OF the individual. The Jail is
located in the basement Of the court
house, and nearly shut off from venti-
iation and the sunlight. The matter
has been discussed time and again
that something must he done to re-
lieve the situation, both as to pre-
serving the health of the prisoners
and also to keep them from breaking
out. The recent Jail delivery by Jack
Sully has shown a decided weakness
in the walls at several points and it
does not seem like a very hard propo-
istion for a man, equipped with most
any kind of a tool, but who could
force his way out of the county bas-
tile.
The sewer gas that emanates from
the sewer connections is a menace not
only to the health Of the prisoners
but to the county officials in the
rooms above. Since this has become
so VIGOROUSLY bad three or four coun-
ty officers have practically ruined
their health by being forced to
breathe obnoxious air, and there is
no way to prevent it except by remov-
ing the Jail from the basement. Pris.
oners are necessarily allowed some
liberties and freedom during their
confinement. Papers are taken there
for reading. Matches are allowed in
the.corridor, and it would not be an.
impossible thing for some desperate
character to set fire to the jail below
and bring ruin to the records Of the
county, which would entail a loss
that the cost Of a half dozen new
jails could not remedy. A man who
is placed in the county Jail to await
a term Of circuit court and remain
there for a period Of six months and
breathe that air, would, without
doubt, be ruined physically. He lis
entitled to live in an atmosphere of
pure air just the same as any individ-
ual and we believe he would have a
good case Of damages against the.
county for forcing him to inhabit an
unhealthy room.
The attention of. the county COM
missioners has been called to the con-
dition Of the jail several times by the
officials, and they have tried on sew
eral occasions to remedy the evil, and
while they did so temporarily. yet the
old %nauseating odor returns after a
time.
Several times the commissioners
have discussed the propositio Of
erecting a jail and house for the sher-
if, where the Jail rooms could be
placed in the second story. This
would piece any prisoner beyond the
aid Of friends and shut off the great
er possibility of escape. 1t would
give the sheriff an opportunity to
always be at his Office and ready in
any emergency 1t has been talked of
placing the jail IN the northeast corn
er of the court yard, which would
certainly be an ideal spot for the
building. The commissioners would
be justified in going ahead with the
erection of the building this summer,
but they desire to know something of
the feeling Of the people Of the county
before going ahead with the improve
ment. 1t does not seem possible that
there would be the slightest objection
from any source in p%rovidingi this
county with a habitable building.
The county has been to mighty little
expense in the past ten years in i'm
proving the cour6 house building, and
the people Of the county certainly
ought to have sufficient pride tolkeep
the county property in close touch
with the advancement in the city.
The court house is located on anlideal
spot for identifying the grounds and
making it still more attractive. The
opportunity is ripe for any objections
to such a structure being erected
either from the city or country, and