El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-05-01
GRAND JURY SAYS
AND GAMBLING
Declares County Jail Is I'm
sanitary and Suggests a
Curfew Ordinance.

Closing the March term of the Gath
district court judge James r. Har-
per, Saturday afternoon excused the
grand jury after the following report
had been submitted:
We have carefully investigated all
matters brought to our attention, find
ing AZ indictments
I'VE have personally inspected the
county jail and recommend that the
plumbing in the old west wing be
thoroughly overhauled and placed in a
sanitary condition, and that the groun
floor be repaired where it has been
broken and torn up. We suggest
that the discharge bowls, which appear
to be dirty and crusted, should be
thoroughly cleansed and kept so. and
that the prisoners be used for this
purpose We recommend that a large
kettle be purchased for the jail, suit
able for boiling clothes in. and efforts
be made by the sheriff to rid the Jail
Of bugs.
1.-The sheriff complains of standing
water and stencil from the street on
account of poor drainage. This can
probably be overcome by the use of
some shovels and TRUSTEES, as it can
be drained without much trouble
Jail Unsanitary.
eve Inspected the city jail and find
it in poor sanitary condition, pipes
leaking, bowls dirty and erusted, emit
ting a bad stencil. We recommend
that conditions there can be improved
by putting in windows on the north
side, overhauling the plumbing, and
that it have a thorough renovation and
be disinfected, and that the prisoners
can be used for the latter work.
Bridges Are Unsafe.
I'VE inspected the overhead railroad
bridges between Ell Paso and the
smelter and believe that they are very
unsafe. The bridges are not wide
enough to permit teams to pass each
other thereon, there is little or no
guard rail on one of them, and the in
cline towards the west is not wide
enough, nor graded up to the street
ear rails. In fact. the approach from
should inexperienced drivers or ami
mails unaccustomed to street cars get
caught there. The condition is serious,
constantly menacing life and limb and
this should have immediate attention.
Satisfied There l. Gambling.
I'VE are unable to secure tangible
evidence as to saloons not observing
the midnight and Sunday closing law.
vet we are satisfied that this law is
the existence of gambling dens. and
that at least some OF the police are
aware of it.
Suggests Curfew Law.
I'VE also recommend that the city
pass a curfew ordinance prohibiting
all children under Is years from being
on the street after nine o'clock p. m.
unaccompanied by or without the per-
mission of their parents. Also. if
possible to prohibit restaurants and
saloons permitting the occupancy of
their private rooms after 10 D. m.
I'VE have no evidence, but believe
that slot machine or lottery law is
being violated by saloons and cigar
stands, and recommend that the police
use some vigilance in that direction.
The police evidently nave specific in
structions to enter no saloon, poolroom,
etc. We believe that they should be
instructed to frequently visit such
places on their beats with a view to
ascertaining if there is any violation of
the law in these places
'Respectfully,
James A. Dick, Foreman"