The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-01-27

THE COUNTY JAIL
Mr.. Taylor Urges That County Act
Wisely.

| Wisely.
/ Editor The Banner
Your published report of the State
board lof health in regard to the coun.
ty buildings in Bennington brings the
| subject again to the attention OF the
voters OF the county About five
years ago when this matter was agi-
tated | was opposed to the scheme of
making the changes as recommended.
more particular, because OF the ex-
pense which seemed TO me, at the
time, as unnecessary. During my SER
vice as Juror at the December term
of court | had an excellent opportuni-
ty to notice the unsuitableness Of
the court house for the purpose. Let
me mention a few points as they
strike me to be very much in line
with the report OF board OF health
At the outset let us agree as TO
what the building should be TO ac-
commodate the business to be tran
sacted in it. Next to our churches
we have no buildings in the county
that should have more care in the
planning and construction than our
county buildings The builders OF the
court house in Bennington must have
been amateurs. In the first place, as
the report declares, there is not room
enough for such a building. The idea
Of placing public building of this
class between two brick walls with
no advantages OF lighting is enough
to condemn it, OF course il the 9TH
er buildings were placed after the
court house that would be an excuse,
but | think Sheriff Godfrey told me
the court house was built in after
wards.
or course the court room should
be protected by vestibule at the
font but no such unbusinesslike ar
rangement should be followed in the
plan as it is in the present building.
The winding stairs are a menace to
people in attendance at court For
instance, at recess In court, spectat-
ors and court officials wish to move
about and take the air that can only
he by descending and ascending
fight of winding and inconvenient
stairs. When the jury retire for de
liberation it is in a room not at all
suitable for the purpose that is, not
secure from intrusion as il should
be, the staircase being under and
around it, The acoustis of the court
room should be studied and embodied
in the plan.
Time and again ! have heard the
court request witnesses to SPEAK
louder admonishing them that this
Was a large room" and hardly one
witness at the term but was request
ed by counsel to speak louder many
times when the questione- was less
than twenty feet away. When court
is in session there will be about
sixty persons in attendance and no
householder would think of building
with so few accommodations water
closets. wash bowls, etc Ny idea of
building for court house at Ben
nington would be large enough on the
ground floor first, a generous vesti-
bule in front. the court room with
windows on sides and one end of
the room. let the staircase be broad
and direct. let all outside doors be
double opening outward, both from
foot of stairs into the street and from
vestibule to sidewalk.
The main principle would be to
accommodate the court and be con
yenient to transact county business.
The matter of the Jail occupants
would be an after consideration and
Of course made III and suitable for its
purpose. The choice of location
should be left with the citizens OF
Bennington and finally as something
must be done let the tax papers of
this county 20 at II man fashion and
require Of whoever has charge of the
work that the job shall be done ac-
cording TO The wishes of ou. people
and best judgment of those who
should know the requirements.
Respectfully yours,
Eber l.. Taylor.
Manchester Depot, W., Jan. 22d, 10.