Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-02-01

will have a new playground; though
the tanks will have only one-half as
much as now of that superfious nom
sense known as "air' and Oxygen"
But that is irnmaterial, for the city
is saving money, and what do the lives
or health of a few prisoners more or
less amount to when $1,000 is involved?
Amere bagatelle.
Two Oppose
Councilmen Pease and Dromgold BIT
terly opposed the present arrange
ments, in and out of the council, but
the six other votes cast by the council
put the question into the hands of
Chief of Police Edward Kern, who was
told that he could spend the big dona-
tion economically as possible, of
course) in the construction of a floor
for more sleeping space.
If sanitary contrivances can be fur
nished with floors, doors, stairs and
the other adjuncts inside Of this figure,
we'll. go ahead and provide them.
Otherwise. put in the floors. Let the
problem of breathing work itself out.
Plans yesterday were drawn up and
it is said the contract has been let for
the work.
Some of the junk and rubbish in the
building will be consigned to the base
ment, and an attempt will be made to
Offset the dampness and lack of light,
but the sum provided will permit of
little except the two upper tiers.
Police officials, who refused to let
their names be divulged for obvious
reason, appear Disguised at the ar
rangement and general dissatisfaction
is expressed on all sides.
The prisoners, when they heard of
the plan, Joined in a general stimuli
aneous grunt of disgust and settled
back among the rats and vermin to
cogitate up the present economy of the
municipal law makers and also to spec
ulate in many instances on just how
long they could survive the prospec-
tive CONGESTION.
Some of them seem to be in a hurry
either to die or get out. 1t doesn't
make any difference which it is to
some of them. Others are already so
sick and weak they would really prefer
the former.
Would Buy Plaza
Incidental to the announcement of
the present arrangements. there Is be-
ing agitated a plan for the city to
purchase the Plaza park, which the
police maintain is valueless as a park
and frequented only by loafing Mex
leans.
The Plaza, according to police Of
f1cials and others, would be an excel
lent site for a new city prison, and Is
favored by many in preference to all
the other sites because of its location.
Being right between Chinatown,
Sonoratown and the redlight districts,
where are found most of the tender
loin habitues, the police say 1t would
be an ideal situation for the much
wanted now jail, as 1t would be central
to the districts in which the majority
of arrests are made.
There would no doubt strong OPP
position to the PURCHASE of the Plaza
for this purpose, however, because of
it's historic value. 1t is one of the old
time landmarks and famous recreation
points of the city, and forms sort OF
romantic setting for the famous CEN
tury-old Spanish mission.
The proximity of the county Jail,
county court house and new federal
building, however, are other points
argued in favor of the Plaza as a city
jail site.
But it seems doubtful in view of the
$1,000 that is to be wasted on the in
terror enlargement" of the present
city jail tanks, that Los Angeles will
ever get a new prison. 1t is a long
WaV off at anV rate