The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1912-02-17

COMMITTEE REPORT ON
COURT HOUSE TODAY"

flee. The stone foundation seems tc
be in good condition. The brick walls
show a few cracks, and in that por-
ton occupied by the Jail the wall has
for holding the boiler plate lining oil
the Jail room in position. Mr.. Lee tes-
tilted that the east wall of the build
ing was out of plumb. The testimony
of all the. experts showed the bricks
to be of good make and in good con-
dition, but the morter had weathered
away badly in some place where
moisture effected the walls. The tes-
timony of the experts agreed that the
walls would be in no danger if left
alone, but that the remodeling of the
interior, especially if partitions and
| floors were disturbed, would be at
tended by danger to the walls. Mr..
Rooney testified that the roof was now
| leaking in a few places, and Mr.. Lee
stated that the structural strength of
the roof was too light, and any dis
turbances to partitions below might
endanger it. There is but one en-
trance and exit to the court house, on
the west side about the middle of the
wall The committee noted that the
outside doors opened inward contrary
to good useage, and contrary to the
city ordinances of Moscow. These
should be changed by the commission
ers. at once.
The fact that the court house has
but one place of exit is also to be
condemned as a fire in the lower hail
way would render escape from tnc
building impossible except by the win
dows Kerosene has been used for
some time to sprinkle the lower ha
floor to lay the dust. This would make
a fire spread very rapidly.
On entering the building, the first
room on the left is occupied by the as
SCISSOR. The diminsions of this room are
17Ax20 feet. 1t has no vault in con
nection The tax rolls of the county,
containing all the evidence of taxes
levied, taxes paid, delinquent, and pro-
year, are kept laying on the working
desks of this room night and day, as
there is no other place for their pres
ervation. The windows have no pro-
lection against sneak thieves. In case
these records should be destroyed by
fire, or stolen, the county would be
placed in a very embarrassing position
regarding it's yearly revenues. the de-
gree of embarrassment depending on
the time of the year the loss occurred.
1t would be inadvisable to place bars
at the windows to protect them against
as this would also prevent
entrance to the room through the Win
dows in case of a fire and thus saving
the records. A vault is badly needed
to accomplish both ends.
Next east of the assessors office,
and on the north side of the hall, |
comes the probate judges office. This
room is 21x261a feet and is single |
room. In it all trials coming under
the jurisdiction of the probate judge |
are held Here all his court records, |
and all papers and evidence in pro-
bate proceedings are stored. They |
have no protection against fire or
thieves. A destruction of these pro-
bate records would effect the title to |
many thousands of acres of land, and |
many thousands of dollars of other |
This office should have a
vault as soon as it could be provided. |
On the east end of the entrance hall
IS the sheriff's office. This office is
4 little less than 15x26 feet in size.
This is large enough for the purpose
t is used for. There is no vault, and
lone is needed. The sheriff has a
ire proof safe which is ample for his
1ses. Opening off of this room on the
lOrth is the Jail, occupying the north
east corner of the building The floor
If this room is about four feet lower
han that of the sheriff's office, and
constitutes a pit below the level of /
III openings. and not capable of prop
u ventilation. The size Of this room
s 1sx22 feet, and the ceiling is about
s. feet high. 1t is lighted by three
windows, which also furnish the only
means of ventilation. There are three
teel cages ia here for desperate rris-
,ners, which occupy large portion of