The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-01-23
PROPOSED NEW COURT HOUSE
Some Reason Why Present Structure
Should Be Replaced.

allNe Frank r.. Howe of Bennington
relative TO the necessity for a new
county building appeared this week
IN the Manchester Journal:
Editor Of Manchester Journal
Dear Sir:
Relative to the new county build.
lngs for the south shire of Bennine.
ton County, there are several mat
ters which have bearing thereon
that with your permission | would
like to bring before your readers. You
and others who have contributed to
your columns, notably Mr.. NJ. ]. Hap
good of Peru. have questioned the
need of such buildings.
Now / do not have to quote from
any citizens of Bennington to prove
TO all reasonably disposed people
that there is an actual and pressing
need for new buildings to replace the
one now in use at Bennington, which
building is a disgrace to any civilized
community, and especially to one
like Bennington County, which aims
TO be progressive and public spirit
ed
The grand jury of Bennington
County on June TO- 1904, reported to
the County Court that it had made an
examination of the two county iails
and in reference to the one in Ben
nington said as follows.
The accommodations are totally in
adeqate to the needs of the town of
Bennington, let alone the County.
The cells are dark and very badly ven
tilated. in fact there is no ventilation
at all over head There are seven
cells for males and one cell for fe-
males. When this body, the grand
jury, We're In there IL was so crowded
1t was hard work to get around. We
consider that it would be a waste of
time and money to recommend any
changes or improvements on this
jail. The apartments set aside for
the iailor are in very little better
condition than the Jail, the light and
ventilation are both defective.
The Jail is situated in the basement
of the County Building which is To-
Gated between two high brick build
ings which almost shut off the light
and ventilation in large degree and
necessitate the use of artificial light.
We therefore recommend that a
site be produced on which a suitable
Jail shall be erected sufficient land
being secured to prevent repetition
of the evils OF the present building.
We submit herewith in addition, the
professional opinion of DR.. c. A.
Perry, a member Of this body, which
should receive careful attention.
The Jail at Manchester we found in
Q filthy condition and so damp that It
would be dangerous to keep a prison
or there over night. We recommend
a change of location and new con
5truction.
Daniel r. Bates, Foreman.
Richard NJ Campbell, Clerk.
Report of c. A. Perry M. D.
The condition of the Jail at Ben
nington, so far as the caretaker
could make II so, was clean and tidy.
! but its location and construction are
such as TO render It exceedingly I'M
healthful and a place unfit to confine
any human being
II is dark and damp at ali times, as
no direct rays of light can enter It,
As a result no person could be con
fined there for any length of time
without permanent injury to his
health as such a polluted air would
! develop disease germs and tubercu-
losis, rheumatism and other diseases
| promoted by germ organism, would
be the result and a continued confine-
ment in this perpetually darkened
room would impair the eyesight and
be a permanent injury TO the eyes; in
| fact il Is an unfit place TO conline any
beingp man or animal
The same can be said of the Man
chester jail; this jail is not even kept
clean, water and dirt being allowed
10 remain on its floors.
Crosby A. Perry, NJ. d.
No longer ago than June >, 1908. the
grand jury for the County of Benning-
ton made up of citizens of every town
Of the County, made another report
on the condition of the county jails,
and in reference TO them said:
We have also made personal inspec
tion of the county Jail at Bennington,
and found it clean, well kept and in as
sanitary condition as possible until
more light is admitted and provision
made for better ventilation, the Jail
now owing TO the lack of lights and
ventilation entirely unfit for prisoners
if they are required by their sentence
to remain any length of time We
are of the opinion that the condition
in the Jail cannot be improved by re-
pairs and we therefore recommend
that the county provide a new build
ing
We have also personally inspected
the Jail at Manchester and found il
wholly unfit for the confinement of
prisoners.
Most respectfully submitted,
Sherman Nichols, Foreman,
G. b. Sheldon, Clerk.
June 9Th, 1908.
These are only sample grand jury
reports for the county. They have
been saying practically these same
things for years and | believe that al
citizens of the county who are famil
lar with the condition of affairs, eX
cept possibly Mr. Hapgood who re
fuses to be convinced, agree that The
present conditions are reproach t
a county that claims to be respect
able
The investigation by grand jur!
covered only the county jails anC
does not refer to the rest of the builC
ings for the simple reasos that tn,
grand jury is limited on this subjec
to considering jails only. 1t is evi
/ dent to any thinking man that The
+ sanitary condition of the jail in tn,
basement affects the entire building
Practically all the prisoners of tn,
county are confined in the Jail at Bel
nington, and that is therefore o
greater importance to the county.
The ventilation Of this jail Is VI
through the rest of the building ant
| nunru nnrl OF thn hnilhinn Is Ihnrnh,