Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1908-10-16
Grand Jury Report

Dist. Judge for the tifh judicial Dis,
trict i'll and for the State of Nevada.
This Grand Jury WIS called in session
last Monday the 18th "f October, 1908,
and has had presented FIR its consider.
alton, nineteen criminal cases.
-Four for murder, for three Of which
We returned indictments.
One for burglary for which we re
turn Indictment.
Three for grand larceny which wer,
ignored.
Three Tor assault with intent to kill
for which we returned indictments.
Two 10" robbery for which we find
indictments.
One for forgery which was ignored.
Three for grand larceny for which we
find Indictments.
One for jail breaking for which we
find Indictment.
Their w.ts also presented u case for
horse stealing. bat the evidence was not
complete.
You called our attention 10 the necessity
VI s'tiAlill'IlSilt llIl IllOIt NOilllltlC jill nc
commodations, giving YOU reason there
fore.
The voter of Elko County will be
called upon to decide ut our next election
in November whether they will author
iZc our County Commissioners to issue
800, 900. 90 i'll the bonds of Elko County
for the purchase of IL site and erection of
Il new court house and Jail. The authority
to vote on this was granted by Il last
regular Legislature.
Your Grand Jury rs Il body have ex-
amincd the Jail and house care.
fully. We find the former containing
f~Orty-tivc prisoners, one of them u
She was confined ut the time of our
visit III one of the eight cells with two
men. We understand this has been the
case for several months. The Jail is
only provided with eight lattice-work
cells rs mentioned above. There are
only accommodations for two prisoners
in each cell, yet the Sheriff is compelled
to put four in each cell and the rest have
to sleep in the corridor on the iron
floor.
We find from the ~iailcrs record there
were confined i'll the county Jail in the
year 1908, 800 prisoners; 1904, $50; 1905,
2SB: 1906, 211; 1907 5S7. and for the first
ten and onc-half months of 1908, 537.
You will readily see the number has
more than doubled the past two years,
yet the accommodations are not larger.
The Jail is as sanitary us it can he kept.
The Sheriff is to- he co~mpliInented for it,
Int You can readily see the conditions
are intolcrablc.
The case of Jail breaking for which we
find an Indictment is directly tracable
To its crowded condition.
AS we view it no additional room can
be provided in the building.
We are informed all the arrests made
in town by the constable are quartcred
undcr the court house. Several fires
have occurred there through drunkenness
and care1eSsnesS. The safety of the
court house and all the records are con.
stantly in danger thercfrom. The loss
of the records through Il fire originating
from any causc would I've almost irrcpair-
uhlc. Separate quarters certainly should
he provided for women and young men
aS well as insane persons. To have them
confined us they now are is hardly
human.
The Grand Jury believes all prisoners
confined in Jail for minor offences should
bic kept at work on roads and streets.
II is II matter of fact they nro much
better off when occupied than idle and
llltN ltc llDl NJ LIKELY lo COIlRTtRilIe mere
when they know they have to 90 out
and work every day.
Our assessment roll shows q gradual
increase In the valuation of our taxable
property, from SS,657, 105. 90 in 1905 to
$40, $50, 900. 90 in 1908.
Tho building and operation Of the
Western Pacific railroad will largely in
crease it. This growth Is n steady one.
We have the richest county In tho state.
We have the lowest county tax levy, 80
cents per $lOO.O 90 valuation. At an
annual levy of 10 cents per $780, 90 valu-
alton IL would provide nh interest and
sinking fund that would eXtinguish tho
debt in less than twenty-five years.
Our Clerks Office shows u constantly
increasing business. The fees for civil
cases have nearly treblcd in ten years
and the criminal business has grown
even fastcr. The vaults are o~vcrcrowded
with accumulation of papers for the past
thirty years. Tho Office Is entirely in
adequate In size or equipment for tho
work IL has to accommodate.
Our Recorders Office has gained in its
receipts since 1851 more than three fold,
whore Onc man was formerly employed
now three and four are needed. His
vaults are overlooking and the trcasurcr's
vault adjoining Is partly filled with his
records and papers.
Tho court room Is too small and not
suitable for your requirements, Practic.
ally nothing has been done to the court
house for years. Our county Is abund-
antly able 10 provide suitable and com.
mUlious accommodations.
That We shall steadily increase In
wealth and prosperity veal know. We
must take care Of the present and pro-
vide for the future. Our county build.