The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-01-25

of diligence or energy on the part of the
officials. In each Office are many large
plats that should be placed in books,
but this cannot be done, as there is no
place for the books to be kept.
The Office feeling the greatest need
of room just now is the auditors. The
vault with which it is provided is hard
| ly sufficient for the needs of this office
alone, and yet it is made to accommo.
date large part of the records of the
treasurer's office. The recorders and
| clerks use the commissioners room
when that body is not in session. but
during the meetings of the board the re-
corders must stop their work on account
of having no place to work. They then
get behind. and when the board adiourns
an extra number is necessary for sew
eral days in order to catch up with the
work which cannot be allowed to get
very far behind. Auditor Newcomb very
quickly demonstrated That every avail
able inch of space in the vault is taken
by the books and papers. He has reach
ed the limit in the way of providing
room, yet the increasing business of the
Office is constantly adding to the papers
and records--the latter at the rate of
about eighteen or twenty big books
year. The auditor is sorely in need of
desk or counter room. He has in the
course of each days business about thir-
| ty index and record books to handle,
occasion often demanding that five or
six of them be open on the counter at
once. The crowded condition Of the Of
flee necessitates the deputies working at
a great disadvantage, and more assist
ants are necessary the year around than
would otherwise be required.
"Thc real. rapid growth of the coun-
ty," said Mr.. Newcomb, "datcs from
about six years ago, when the marked
increase in business in the clerks. treas
urer's and auditors offices began. At
that time there was lack of room, and
the present conditions may be better
imagined than described. 1t is the opn-
ion of many conservative and far-seeing
business men That this rate Of growth
may be depended upon to continue so'
the next ten years. and one may see at
a glance where we will be il a new court
house is not provided long before The
expiration of that time"
The sheriff's Office is worse Off in mary
ways than any other. The one little
square room must be made to do for pri-
vate office, consultation rom. reception
room, deputy's room and vault. II an
attorney wants to consult with a pris-
oner client, the latter must be brought
up into this room and left with the at =.
torney while the sheriff retires to tn,
hall and cools his heels while the at
torney talks with the prisoner. II a
man comes in with information that no
one but the sheriff should hear, the mat
ter has to be talked over in the presence
of other business visitors, or else they
are often offended by being requested to
vacate the Office. The jail is wholly in
adequate to present needs, and these ore
becoming greater every year. 1t is only
designed to accommodate with safety
about sixteen prisoners. yet frequently
within the term of Sheriff Grant the
number of prisoners mas been as high
as forty-fve at one time. the "tank"
or steel cell, made to hold eight men,
has of necessity been made to hold as
high as twenty four at one time. In the
case of a "full house." such as was caus.
ed by the invasion of the Coxey army a
few years ago, the old Jail has been
made to hold more than 100 men, AMI
the only thing the sheriff could do was
to place a guard about the building,
armed with Winchesters. Conditions,
despite the efforts Of the jailer, are un-
sanitary. The sheriff actually needs a
public or reception room, two private
Offices. one for his own use and one for