The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-02-01
Report Given By Committee Of
The Grand Jury
DETAILS ARE SET FORTH
Statement Is Made Relative To
Jail and County Poor
Farm
From Saturdays Daily.

From Saturdays Daily.
The following report has Just been
submitted to Judge W. l.. Comstock
of the district court by special COM
mittee of the grand jury:
"Mankato, Minn.,. January %, 1918.
Honorable District Court of Blue
Earth County, City The undersigned
members of the grand jury for the
November 1917 term, a special COM
mittee named by the foreman of such
grand jury, in pursuance of a motion
made, seconded and carried by the
members of such grand jury were ap-
pointed for the purpose of preparing
and submitting to the honorable court
a special report concerning the pre-
erty of Blue Earth county and such
recommendations as in their judg-
ment seem advisable and they beg to
report as follows, viz:
"An examination of the county Jail
and sheriff's residence indicated that
the same was being properly cared
for and the inmates of such county
Jail receiving proper attention. In
this connection the committee would
recommend that Immediately upon
admission to the county Jail all pris-
oners undergo strict examination at
at the hands of the county medical Of
ficer to prevent any possibility of con-
tagion and that during their incarcer-
alton all inmates be re-examined at
frequent intervals for the reason that
being deprived of their liberty and the
usual opportunities of healthful exer-
else, they are entitled to the utmost
care which it is possible to give them
The county poor farm, under the
management of Superintendent Young
was found to be most ably managed
and all of its inmates in as reason
ably good health and spirits as could
be expected and nothing left undone
for their happiness and welfare. We
desire to congratulate the tax payers
of Blue Earth county on the splendid
financial showing of their poor farm
and the fact that it is on a more
than-self sustaining basis, all of which
reflects great credit on Superinten-
dent Young and the honorable board
of county commissioners.
The court house was inspected by
this committee and found to be in a
deplorable condition owing to lack of
necessary repairs during the past sew
eral years and this committee after
a careful examination Of all portions
of the court house building met as
body with the board of county COM
missioners at 10 a. M, the 9th inst,
for the purpose of bringing this sub
ject especially to the attention of
such board of county commissioners.
Blue Earth county is one of the
wealtiest counties in the State of
Minnesota and is particularly fortu-
nate in the possession of a splendid
court house building, more than or
dinarily well located
The court house of Blue Earth
county may well be considered the
front door or portal through which all
visitors from Minnesota and neigh
boring states enter to transact all le-
gal business they have to do in our
county. Conclusions by such visitors
Will be good or otherwise, according
10 the impressions they receive and
nrst impressions are liable to be last
ing. We further find that the condi-
ton OF the court house is such that
delay in effecting necessary repairs
Will undoubtedly lead to far greater
The foundation is particu-
larry in need of repair, as well as the
plastering in various offices and
rooms throughout the building, much
OF which has already dropped off with
imminent danger of more plaster fall |
ing with possible injury to the occu-
pants.
The whole interior of the court |
house is badly in need of redecorat-
ing.
While we realize that there are
very heavy burdens on the tax paw
ers of Blue Earth county, it is our
in behalf of this
grand jury, representing the tax pay
ers from all portions of this county.
that early steps be taken for the pur-
pose OF saving our court house from
greater damage and the tax payers of
THIS county from heavier expense if |
such work is long delayed.
TO such end, ii necessary, we
would advise that an additional tax
OF not to exceed one half of one mill |
be imposed.
Respectfully. submitted, Nick
lhlelnschmidt, chairman, ]. H. Mac
beth, Eric A. Carlstrom. M. d. Slat-
terry, Charles Russell Approved. @
nj. Hatcher, foreman"