Year: 1866

The Grand Jury impanneled for the March
Term, 1856. beg leave respectfully to report,
that they have examined into all cases pre-
sented to them; they have examined twenty
three cases, on which they have returned true
bills: For burglary, /; grand larceny, .;
attempt to administer poison, L; Chinese
nuisances. II; and ignored s.


The Jury, through Committees. examined
the County In6rmary, and the condition of the
County Records. and County Offices and Books.


The Committee on Infrmary report it in
excellent condition, clean and prudently con-
Quoted; that the inmates are satisfied with
their fare and quarters; that the presen, Su.
perintendent has succeeded in materially
reducing the expenses of the institution, saving
more than one-third of the expenses for the
first SIX months, with larger average of
patients by onesixth, as compared with the
books for the six months previous. The Com
mittee recommended that the present Super
intendent be retained for the good Of the
institution and economy of the county
The Committee appointed to examine the
County Records fnd them kept in q neat and
uniform condition. The balance of funds iu
the Treasury have been all paid in by H. B.
| Hunt to the present official, and the books
show that they have been kept in a very neat
and creditable manner. So, also, with regard
to the County Clerks Office


The Jury, in body, visited the County
Jail, and found therein some ten prisoners all
in fair health. They cannot say that it is as
we'll cared for as to cleanliness as it should be,
there being such an accumulation of illh,
added to the dampness, as to render the atmos-
phere very offensive. The whole establishment
is so constructed under ground that there seems
to be DO way of efectually remedyipg the san
itary condition of it, but by building new
Jail, quite independent of the Court House,
which your Grand Jury do not feel like recon-
mending at this time; they feel that all that
can be done DOW is to make the best of it, by
some little Improvements, such as procuring
for all the cells bedsteads of iron firmly fastened
to the wall; little extra care to keep the
prisoners cleanly, and in keeping the entire
place cleaner than it now is; the walls and
ceilings should be often whitewashed, and the
floors constantly kept clean. The privy be-
longing to the JaA is nuisance that would
not be tolerated for a single term by Grand
Jury, ii it was the private property OF citizen,
and, in the opinion of the Grand Jury, should
be efectually abated before the season is SO far
advanced as to spread contagion beyond the
bounds of the Court House property. A due
regard to the health Of those Immediately con
nected with the Court House by their official
business, should stimulate to an early abate
ment. The Jury believes that notice of the
case and its bearings on the health and comfort
OF the citizens is all that is needed to secure the
action of the proper authorities in the matter
If, in this, they are mistaken, they request the
Court to specially bring the case before the
next Grand Jury.


They have, also, had complaints before them
Of certain persons keeping considerable numbers
of swine contiguous TO dwelling houses, causing
nuisances that are detrimental to health and
comfort of citizens. From the fact OF the
present being about the close Of the wet season,
but little annoyance has been felt from this
source recently; and, the object being to pro-
tect the health for the future, they have passed
the subject by, in the hope and confident ex-
pectation that all such keeping OF swine as
would be detrimental to health or comfort will
be abandoned; and, if any are kept for the
future, it will be in such manner as not to
prejudice the health and comfort of the people.
Ii the nuisances are continued, they ask that
the Court, at the next meeting of Grand
Jury, will make special reference to the abate.
mept thereof by Indictment


This coast is threatened by the Asiatic
cholera at almost any time; and. from known
laws, it is demoDstrable that it is shorn of more
than half its terrors by personal and general
cleanliness. This seems to the Jury sufficient
reason for urging the foregoing and following
sanitary recommendations.


They have found indictments in eleven cases,
wherein the peculiar manner of eDriching the
ground, and of raising some kind OF vegetable
by the Chinese gardeners, in watts of stagnsnt
water, which they keep during the heat of
summer, rendering the air malarious and infac
tious. The Jury do not propose to suppress
the gardens, but only to abate the nuisance
created by their peculiar manner of cultivation.


The Jury are encouraged to think Butte
county is slowly but surely reducing her ndebt-
eduess, without resort to very onerous taxes
and recommend that the Supervisors be very
cautious in the appropriation of moneys from
the Treasury of the county, as 90 their action
depends the financial honor and credit of the
same.


Thanking the Court and all its officers for
their kindness and prompt attention to all their
suggestions, and also to Mr.. W. L. Hopkins
for rendering the use of his carriage to visit the
County Infrmary. the Jury inform the Court
they have no further business before them, and
ask 10 be discharged.


II. B. LATHROP,


Foreman of Graud Jury.


JAMES YOUNG, Secretary.