The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-06-14

would dictate at least the painting
of these walls.
with the occupation Of the new
building the jury urgently recon-
mends practically the complete aban-
donment of the old building. except,
the first floor to be used only no
occasions of emergency"
The infrmary long has been
! bone of contention. Parts Of the
old building were condemned by
the State fire marshal more than
year ago. The new mems building,
recently completed at cost of $130 ,00G
is being investigated by State board
of accounts upon complaint Of the
county council and twenty-five wide
| ly known taxpayers.
| County council in a letter to State
accountants recommended that the
new poor farm building be torn down
and rebuilt because of alleged faulty
/ construction.
In reports to Circuit Court and
county commissioners the Marion
County board of charities and correc-
tons several months ago severely
criticised construction of the poor
FARM as faulty and said the whole
to0Ked more like a COW barn than
place for human habitation."
Mortar Crunibies
A Times reporter found cracks in
the walls and floor at the infirmary
and was able to pull a brick from
one of the walls by digging out
mortar with an ordinary house key,
the mortar crumbling to dust,
This building was accepted two
weeks ago from the contractor
George A. Weaver & Son in the
face of the various reports and
criticisms.
County Auditor Harry Dunn re.
fused to pay the balance of S12,-
421.30 owing the contractor, saying
he would await outcome Of the State
| investigation at the infirmary.
Weaver, Wednesday. filed petition
for mandate to compel Dunn to pay
him.
At Julietta a Times reporter and
photographer verified reports that
the second floor ceiling Of the new
mems building completed last year
at cost of $13S, 900 by Weaver & Son,
sagged from one to six inches in
places. County cCuncilmen in their
letter to the State accountants said
the building is apt to collapse on in
mates.
The contractor contends this Is
untrue.
County commissioners have ap-
pointed a board Of arbitrators to fx
the contractors liability at JuIietta,
if any
State accountants also inquired into
the Julietta situation.
Where have the grand jurors
been in the last few months?" asked
Commissioner John McCloskey.
Doesn't the jury know Of the steps
taken for the Tsychcpathic ward ard
to screen the radiators at Julietta?"
Steps Taken
Commissioner said that they had
done everything in their power TO
remedy the insane situation at the
Jail AMI expected the matter would
he entirely cleared up in a few
months
They said they were fully aware
that patients had been burned at
Julietta and that was Why they had
obtained the appropriation for
radiator screens from county
council.
The commissioners disagreed with
the grand jury upon the solitary con
inement cells. They said they be-
lieved the cells were satisfactory.
since they are padded and are used
only on rare occasions when inmates
get beyond control of attendants.
They said they desired to paint
the walls Of the mems building at
the inhrmary but council has refused
appropriation for it. They agreed
that the old infirmary building should
be wrecked and said this has been
=. the plan all along.