The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1958-05-09
BOARD
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BOARD
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through the confidence Of the peo-
pie and sworn to serve them faith
fully, thought so little of the peo-
pie as to spend $4,000 to ask them
to vote on the Jail, and when the
people voted it down two to one
spat at them and disregarded their
wishes.
It cannot tell the whole story,
for the commissioners up to now
have never told the people just
how much they have spent on the
job, and how much more it's going
to take. They never have explained
why they were so red hot to build
it, in spite of the refusal of the
people to approve it, just as they
won't have their books audited up
to date.
Just who might have got the
ham, if any, out of this job re-
mains to be seen, but likely it vii
come to light after awhile, just as
it came to light when the old court
house was revealed to be graft
job profiting some of the officials
who built it in 1908. We hope to
get all the facts later, but here
is a fairly accurate account of who
built this Jail, and how they went
about it:
The $4,000 cash the county had
on hand back in the spring of
1855 from the sale of the Lind
quist land had been setting some
of the officials on fire for long
time. Various agencies had tried
to get it. Some of the officeholders
had tried to get it budgeted in
increased salaries. Some people
had suggested it be given to the
school fund.
But there had been for a long
time unfavorable reports about the
condition of the Jail. The county
had spent only little all along to
keep it clean and nothing for re-
pair. The building was sound, and
T. A. Early, state Jail inspector
told the Board of Commissioners
that he would rather see the coun-
ty spend $1,000 whereby the old
Jail could be put into shape, than
to waste its money on the plans
that courthouse folks were getting
up and is now built.
There had also been talk for
sometime about the need for larger
and more fireproof vaults at the
courthouse for safety of records.
The old vaults were considered I'M
safe, and the new ones now under
the Jail appear to be little better,
and as observation will reveal,
about as crummy job of con-
struction as may be found in Dare
County.
Under the excuse that the county
needed a new Jail and new vaults,
Melvin Daniels and Lawrence
Swain got busy. Mr.. Swain stated
he thought the courthouse should
be relocated and a new one built.
Previously there had been APP
proved by former board, simple
plan for two vaults which would
have been safe and adequate and
with the needed improvements to
the Jail would have cost the county
not more than $4,000.
Mr.. SWANS new proposal, when
laid before the Board of Commits
sioners met with deaf ear. In
fact Commissioner Will Lewark of
Kill Devil Hills vigorously opposed
it, unless it be offered to the peo-
pie in an election. Melvin Daniels
was emphatic to warn the board
that this would never do. "The peo-
pie would vote it down." he said.
eff the people vote it down, that
is their right, and this Board will
have no right to go against their
Wishes" said Capt. Lewark.
Without instruction from the
Board and no motion having been
made authorizing such action, Mel
vim Daniels and Mr.. Swain went
ahead, and hired Ed Pugh, an
Elizabeth City architect, who was
born at Wanchese, and had him
draw plans. Capt. Lewark says the
Board never authorized such ac-
ton. The plans called for the pres
ent structure which is now about
complete, and is rough and
sorry-done job, built of Gull bricks,
and they damaged from careless
handling; finally thrown together
in crude manner, poorly struck
off, and accepted by the County
Commissioners and paid for at
full value.
The Board found support from
the two members of Hatteras, Kin
nekeet townships, who in response
to requests from a small group of
citizens wanted to build jail at
Buxton. Sentiment later proved
the people of Hatteras Island to be
against the proposal two to one.
But due to Capt. Lewark's opposi-
ton, there was no record of action