Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-03-27
Report of the Grand Jury,
March 20, 1908.

To the Honorable the Judges of the Circuit
Court for Montgomery County.
The Grand Jury for the March Term, 1908
respectfully beg leave to report as follows:
We have examined l89 witnesses and found
| SO indictments.
We visited the Jail on March 23rd and
| found n inmates, 3 white males and ID col
| ored males We found the inside Of the jail
In excellent condition.
We recommend that hood be put over
the windows in Jail yard and picket fence
be mt up on top of the wall and we further
recommend that the hydrant be connected
with the idle cell by pipe for the purpose
of bathing and that a cheap bath tab be pur-
chased. We also suggest that a new frame
be nut in the doorway entrance to the back
ward. and also that the defect In the roof be
repaired at once.
We examined the Court House and found
the following repairs necessary: A leak In
the States Attorneys room, from which the
walls are damaged both in said room and in
the front room of the Register Of Wills
Office. We urge that the roof be repaired at
once. In the Petit Jury room we found the
plaster OF in places, aud we urge that 1t be
repaired at once.
We examined a number of witnesses ia
reference to the condition existing along the
CONDUIT, road, and from their evidence we fad
the conditions better than they are represent
ed. only finding an indictment against one
house for violation OF the law.
la view Of the suggestions made by your
Honorable Court in reference to the condi-
ton of the Two public roads leading into the
town of Rockville, which are In the course
of construction under the State. aid, or Shoe
maker road law, we have spent some time in
yestigating this matter, and have had before
US the county officials and the contractors
who had this work In charge, but were I'M
able 10 have Mr.. Walter W, Crosby, the
chief engineer, before us. We find that the
contract Tor the Frederick road was given 10
the same contractors before they had COM
pleted the contract on the Norbeck road,
which we think was an error on the part OF
the County Commissioners and State Engin-
eer. We find much delay was caused in the
construction Of these roads by the heavy and
continued rainfall during the working sea-
sons OF the years 1906 aud 1907 and by the
delay OF the railroad company in delivering
the stone, which in a great measure is ac-
couniable for the great length OF time take n
to complete this work. But we find this con-
diton of affairs has existed for nearly two
years. to the great Inconvenience OF the traV
elling public and sub ect to the just criticism
and condemnation Of the citizens OF the
county.
We therefore recommend that the County
Commissioners proceed at once to take steps
that are necessary TO complete this work dur
ing the coming summer, and If they ind, for
any reason, that the present contrac tors do not
Immediately take such steps as Will insure the
completion of these roads they shall cancel
the contract and proceed TO complete the
work themselves or secure other contractors
for the completion Of the work. We see no
reason why this work should not be COM
pleted by September LIST, 1908.
We believe that IL the Washington and
Rockville Railway Company would divide
their single track railway from Somerset
station to Rockville into more blocks, with
shorter distances covered by each block and
signal lights at the ends OF each block, AND
also provide good headlights for each car
the safety of the travelling public would be
letter protected.
A committee of our body visited the Aim
House and found that the Superintendent hat
things in as good general condition as it wal
within his power to make them under tn
| circumstances.
We found, however, that the dwelling
house needed new porch and plasterinl
throughout and that general overhaulinf
and repainting inside and out were yer
| necessary.
We found five white (male) aud three whit
(femalel inmates also five coI0red (male
and three colored (female) inmates.
The farm was in excellent condition Their
were fifty acres Of growing wheat, one han
dred and Fifty bushels OF potatoes two hun