USA > Indiana > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Indiana : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 13
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1861, with 6 per cent interest ; four orders, for $500 each, on the Treas- urer, payable same as before, and one order on the Treasurer for $647.35, with interest from date.
CHAPTER X. NEW JAIL BUILDING.
INSUFFICIENCY OF THE OLD BUILDING-PURCHASE OF THE SITE FOR A NEW ONE-EXAMINATION OF LIRE BUILDINGS ELSEWHERE- NOTICE GIVEN-PLANS WITH SPECIFICATIONS FILED-AN EX- AMINATION HAD-AWARD OF CONTRACT-PROGRESS OF THE: WORK-QUALITY OF THE WORK AND ITS SUFFICIENCY-COST OF THE STRUCTURE -- SETTLEMENT WITH AND PAYMENT OF CON- TRACTORS, ETC.
VATITHIN a brief period after thecompletion of the new court house, when the stately edilice began to be recognized as one calenfated to command the pride of the people in whose in. terest it had been erected. the question of its great cost was Do longer deemed to be a barrier to the erection of another public building equally as necessary for the maintenance of law and order, and the protection of the people's rights against the perpe- trators of wrong. In this view of the situation there seemed to be a common participation : hence, moved by the expression of publie sentiment on the subjest, a special session of the Board of County Commissioners was called to meet on the 14th of Soptem. ber, 1871. and consider whether.it was advisable, at that time, to embark in the proposed enterprise of erecting a new county jail and a Sheriff's residence in connection therewith. Having maturoly deliberated npon the matter. the board siguitied its con. chisions in the premises as follows:
The board being satisfied that the old jail is insufficient chaving exam ined the same). for the wants of the county, and insafe for criminals, etc . it is
Ordered. That, as soon as practicable, the board porcins such lot of lots as may be necessary, within the corporation, in a central portion of the city [ of Delphi ]. and most convenient, and which can be bought at the least expense.
Ordered, That the board proceed to creet thereon, as early as practicas ble, such a jail as is needed - the size, dimensions, plans and specifications hereafter to be determined - the price and value of said tots and jail when completed, not to exceed the sum of $35,000.
Ordered, Within a period of two months, the board examine and solvet the most eligible point in the city for the erection of said jail, and to par chase the same. Also, to visit other points, etc., necessary to mature and project the plan- etc., taking with them Colin A. MeClure, a competent architect, and with him mature the plans contemplated.
Accordingly, at their session of October 12. 171. the board appointed Mr. MeChure architect, to prepare plans, etc .. for the jail, and report the same on the second day of the March session, IST2.
At a special session on the 7th of November, 1571. the board agreed to purchase, and purchased accordingly, Lots 37 and 35 of the original plat of Delphi. for the smn of $3,000 $1,000 in hand, and with interest thereon from October 17. IST1: $100 in one year: $400 in two years: $400 in three years: $400 in four years, and $100 in five years, from October 17. 1571. all payments bearing interest at fi per cent, and payable to Noah Corey, from whom said lots wore purchased. At the same time the Sheriff was directed to rent the premises so purebased at such amount as he could procure, but not for a longer period than April 1. 1572,
The Board of Commissioners and T. C. Gaylord & Co., by their agent. W. Crighton, Jr., made their final settlement for the building of . when it was expected the work on the new jail building would be the iron fence around the public square in Delphi, which amounted to , commenced. $5,697.15, for which the Commissioners gave their orders upon the Commity In the meantime, the seats of justice of several counties in this, as well as in the adjoining States, in which model buildings of the class projected were sitnated, were visited by the architect Treasurer for the following amounts, after dedneting the orders by them paid for labor done on the same. Orders are as follows: Three drafts on John S. Case, Treasurer, for $1,000, payable on or before October 20.
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HISTORY OF .CARROLL COUNTY.
and others, for the purpose of consulting the best designs and utilizing the valuable information thus obtained in the plans for the new edifice then being prepared. Having secured the infor. mation sought for, the board, at its regular session, on the 8th of March. 1872,
Ordered, That the plans and specifications of Mr. MeClure being satis- factory, that they build a jail and Sheriff's residence on Lots 37 and 38, or. iginnl plat of Delphi ; that they will pay in yearly installments for mater- ials, building, etc., one-third in one year, one-third in two years and one- third in three years, bearing interest at the rate of 8 per cent ; and to the contractor, upon the acceptance of his bond. one-fourth ; one-fourth when the stone work is completed. of the prison ; one-fourth when the building is under roof, and one-fourth when the entire tmildings are completed und recepted.
Subsequently, at a session of the board. hold on the 9th of April following, the bids for the construction of these buildings were opened and examined, and the contract awarded to F. L. Farman. on his bid. for $36,998.75. At a special session of the board, on the 29th of October. 1872, it was
Ordered by the board, that the County Auditor draw one order, payable on demand. for one-fourth the contract price of the new jail, now dne Francis L. Farman, instead of three orders for the same amount payable in one, two and three years as heretofore ordered. and to inelnde interest ar- omuluited on said amount to this date.
Afterward, at the session of December 6, 1872, the architect, having recommended that an estimate of one-fourth the contract price be made in favor of the contractor, in pursuance of the terms of the agreement. an estimate was directed to be made accord- ingly. Thus far the work appears to have progressed satisfactor- ily, and was acceptable to the Building Committee, who, with the architect superintending the same, had examined the materials procured and declared its sufficiency.
According to the terms of the contract between the County Commissioners and the contractor of the work, the latter was re- quired to furnish the materials used in the construction, for which the board was to isene orders, payable in installments of one, two and three years, with $ per centum interest, while the payments for the erection of the buildings contracted for were in install- ments of one-fourth each, at certain stages, as the work progressed -on the acceptance of the bond of the contractor; on the com- pletion of the stone work: when the building was under roof: and when the whole work was completed and accepted. The first installnent was paid according to the original conditions; the second was paid December 6. 1872; the third, in the early part of the summer of 1878, when the buildings had progressed so as to be in compliance with the aforementioned terms. While the building process was going on, # was occasionally found neces- sary to make changes in the plan. or in the method of construc. tion, which, having been agreed upon, involved the payment of additional sums in the way of extras. the value of which was es- timated by the superintending architect, C. A. McChire.
At a.special session of the board. hold on the 29th of. Decem- ber, 1873, Mr. MeClure was allowed the sum of $1,225, as balance due him for services rendered in the preparation of plans and specifications, in superintending the inspection of materials, and of the construction of the buildings. : At the same session of the board, Mr. McClure, the architect, filed the following report touch- ing the sufficiency of the work:
This is to certify that F. L. Farman, contractor of the jail and JJiler's residence (on acceptance of the same by the Commissioners), is entitled. to his final estimate (+), and the additional sum. forextra work, of $570.52. as per schedule filed.
:C. A. McCLUnk. .Architect.and Superintendent ...
This report , was submitted, then, for examination, with the schedule, etc., filed as exhibits thereto, before final action could be taken in the promises. Subsequently, " the board, having duly considered the report of the architect, and having inspected, in person, the buildings; and the board, being sufficiently, advised in the premises, do now approve the report of the architect, and .do now receive the prisou and Sheriff's residence from the hands of the contractor, and do now direct that the Auditor draw his warrants on the County Treasurer for the remaining one-fourth of the contract price, according to the terms of said contract -- one-third in one year, one-third in two years, and one-third in three years. And the board now allow Francis: L. Farman, the contractor, the sum of $570.52, as extra services, and passed upon and allowed by the Superintendent. And the contractor, F. L. Far- man, having made proof to the satisfaction of the board, by vouchers submitted, that he had sustained a loss to himself. in the erection of the prison and Sheriff's residence, in the sum of $8,000 and upward. and the board, to partly compensate the said contractor in his loss in the erection of said buildings, do now allow the said Francis L. Farman the additional sum of $4,430.73, the board being satisfied that the county has received full value for the same. And the Anditor is directed to draw his warrants on the Treasurer, as for former amounts named in his contract." |Com- missioners' Record. No. 8. pp. 382, 383. |
After these buildings had been completed in accordance with the terms of the contract, and accepted by the board in behalf of the county, they were, on the 30th day of December. 1873, for- mally placed in the care and under the control of the Sheriff of Carroll County, whose duty it was declared to be to see that they should only be used and appropriated to the purposes for which they were designed and constructed. A brief description of these buildings will not be out of order in this connection. They are situated on Lots 37 and 38 of the original plat of the town. now city, of Delphi, being the sontheast corner of Main and Wabash streets, on the second square west of the court house, and on the north side of Main street. The Sheriff's residence occupies a po- sitiou fronting north on Main and east on Wabash streets. It is a brick structure, thirty-eight by forty feet in size and two stories in height above the base, the first, and the front portion of the second floor, of which. is occupied by the Sheriff. or Jailer, and his family, while the rear portion of the second floor is used for the better class of prison rooms. In the rear of this building, and comeeted with it. is the main prison building, in which the crin- inals for the higher order of offenses are confined. The building jis of stone, very heavily and substantially constructed, with a view to the safe-keeping of prisoners. Its internal arrangements con- form. to the plan found to be best adapted to the purposes for which it was constructed, great pains having been taken by the superintending architect to examine and utilize the valuable feat- utres found in buildings elsewhere. constructed for a like purpose. In size, the jail building is thirty by twenty-eight feet and two stories high.
A fine view of these two public buildings will be found iu an appropriate place, from which a very accurate conception of their plan and appearance can be obtained.
135
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
CHAPTER XI.
ASYLUM FOR THE POOR.
HOW THE POOR WERE CARED FOR HALF A CENTURY AGO-THE LAW AND HOW IT WAS ADMINISTERED-CHANGES IN THE LAW AND IMPROVEMENTS IN ITS ADMINISTRATION-THE METHODS IN CARROLL COUNTY-A POOR-FARM AND ITS MANAGEMENT-OLD BUILDINGS AND THE NEW-OLD SYSTEM AND NEW IN CONTRAST -THE PRESENT, ETC.
NE of the essential elements in the local economy of every community, and one of the distinctive features of our civili- zation, is the measure of charity extended in providing for and maintaining the poor and indigent, relieving the distresses and attending to the necessities of those unable or incompetent to take care of themselves. Public policy demands, at the hands of the people's representatives. that ample provision be made in every locality, to secure this branch of society against want by an economie distribution of the surplus of home products. The his- tory of our own community in this regard, like that of every other, especially in the great Northwest, shows that active, living charity is an integral quantity in our body politic, a prime factor in the movements of the people everywhere. As a means to this end, provision is made by the law-making power of the State for the exercise of a liberal charity in behalf of all who are entitled to be recipients of public benefactions.
Among the first provisions made by law for the alleviation of the wants of the poor and indigent, was in directing the ap- pointment of Overseers of the Poor. whose duty it was to hear and examine into the nature of all complaints in behalf of the poor, in each civil township of the county, and see that their wants were sufficiently provided for; that such should not suffer for the common necessaries of life, nor be ill-treated. It was also made the duty of these overseers to keep a record, in which should be transcribed the names of all persous in their respective townships who were unable to take care of themselves. and who. in their opinion. were entitled to the benefits so provided for the maintenance of those unfortunates. A further provision made it necessary for them to put out. as apprentices, all poor children whose parents were dead. or were found to be nuable to maintain them males until the age of twenty-one, and females. until the age of eighteen years. The general provision governing the duties of such overseers is as follows:
It shall be the duty of the Overseers of the Poor, every year, to cause all poor persons who have been or shall become a public charge, to be farmed out, on contracts to be made, on the first Monday in May, annually. in such manner, as the said Overseers of the Poor shall deem best calculated to promote the public good.
Provided, nothing herein contained, shall prohibit any Overseers of the Poor from receiving and accepting propositions at any time, for the keeping of such poor and others, who may at any time thereafter become a county charge.
Provided, however, that the Board of County Commissioners of the several counties in this State, may, in their discretion, allow and pay to poor persons who may become chargeable as panpers, who are of mature years and of sound mind, and who, from their general character, will prob ably be benefited thereby, such annual allowance as will be equal to the charge of their maintenance, by employing the lowest bidder to keep them: the said Commissioners taking the usual amount of charges in like cases, as the ride in making such allowances
Provided, however, that the Overseer of the Poor in no case shall farm out any pauper, under the age of twenty-one years, if a male, or, if a fe. male, under the age of cighteen years, if such Overseers of the Poor can possibly bind out as apprentices any such panpers.
For the purposes contemplated in the foregoing act, such Overseers of the Poor for the several townships. were made, in
name and in fact, bodies corporate and politic, in law, to all in- tents and purposes, with perpetual succession, liable, by the name of " the Overseers of the Poor, of their respective townships, to sue * and be sued, plead and be impleaded, in all courts of jurisdiction, and by that *
* purchase, take or receive, any lands, tene ments or hereditaments, goods, chattels, sum or sums of money, to or for the use of the poor of their respective townships, of the gift, alienation or devise, of any person or persons whomsoever: to hold to them the said Overseers, or their successors in trust, for the use of the poor forever." The Legislature, in the enactment of this law, had in contemplation in the near future, the erection of proper buildings, such as the County Commissioners might prescribe, to be used as an asylum for the poor who might become a permanent charge, as paupers, on the county.
During the early years of the county's history, but little prog- ress was made toward the development of a more practical method of providing for the wants of the poor and indigent of the juris- diction, by the local legislative authority. In the course of time, however, a decided advance was made, the result of which became manifest in the improved condition of the recipients.
The farming-out system was generally adopted by the Com- missioners, in the management of the poor of Carroll County, from the period of organization during the succeeding twenty years, and no effort appears to have been made for the purchase of a farm or for the erection and maintenance of suitable build- ings for the benefit of those, who, from indigence or inability. were not iu condition to make provision for their own support and comfort. In 1848, the question was agitated among those whose duty it was to exercise a general supervision over the mat. ter. The board, after determining to purchase a fariu that would be well adapted to the purpose of utilizing pauper labor, occupied some time in examining different proposed sites, and making a satisfactory selection before making the purchase. In the mean- time, on the 7th of March, 1848, the Commissioners. at that time in session, ordered notice to be given that proposals wonkt be re. ceived by them until the second day of the succeeding term. for boarding. washing for and mending the clothes of pauper> on the poor-farm, for one year from the Ist day of March, 1549; and, also, for the rent of the poor-farm for the san e purpose -- the uotice to be published during four successive weeks, prior to the date mentioned, in the newspapers of the county. Immediately following this order, on the 13th of March, of the same year, an agreement having been constummated for the purchase of a farm. a contract was executed with Messrs. John W. and Samuel G. Greenup. for the conveyance of the cast half of the southwest quarter. and the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 83. Township 25 north. Range 2 west, containing 100 acres, to Carroll County, in consideration of the payment of $2,000 there- for, and a deed made accordingly.
On the 6th day of June following, in conformity with the above notice, Richard Lynch was appointed, as in his proposal expressed. " to board, wash for and make and mend the clothing of all pan- pers put on the county by the Overseers, at $1.50 per week each." The poor-farm was also leased to him for the period of oue year. he guaranteeing to take care of the paupers and pay the County Treasurer $155 per year.
At the session of March 8. 1849, Dr. William McFarlane. pursnant to his proposal. was appointed to take charge of the paupers, and the prisoners in jail unable to pay for medical at. tention, one year, for $58 per year, payable quarterly.
It having been announced that the buildings on the poor-farm
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
had been destroyed by fire, a special session of the board was called to meet, on the 14th of Angust, 1849, at which time the Commissioners entered into a contract with Richard Lynch, the lessee of the poor farm, and John Luce, to build on said farm, a " hewed-log house, one story of eight feet in height, with founda- tion of oak, or other durable timber, thirty-two feet long and eighteen feet wide in the two rooms-a log partition to be put between the rooms -- one door and one window, of twelve lights, in each room," the latter being placed between the doors; " the building to be well chinked and daubed; ceiled under the joists with matched boarding; the floor of oak plank, seasoned a com- mou rough floor, laid down jointed; a common clapboard roof; one brick chimney-the old brick --- the floor twelve inches above ground; flue for stove in one room, from the joists through the roof a sufficient distance; also, another house of round logs, ceiled overhead, and a loose plank floor. The building to be sixteen feet square and one story high, with same kind of doors as above. and the same kind of roof, and a like stove fine --- the whole to be completed by the Ist of November following, and all for the sum of $120." These buildings were completed in substantial accord- ance with the terms of the foregoing contract, and continued to be, for many years, the main buildings of the county. on the farm. for providing the poor with a comfortable habitation.
On the 6th of March, 1850, the board allowed Mr. Lynch, the lessee and contractor. for keeping the poor and for building the houses contracted for, a balance of $63.12 over and above the amount of rent dne from him for the use of the farm. He was also continued in possession of the premises for another year, ou the same terms as the preceding. September 20, 1851, Levi Mock was appointed to take charge of the poor-farm, and pay for the nse of the same $171; also, to take charge of and properly care for the panpers placed in his keeping, at the rate of $1.40 each per week. Again, at the special session on the 18th of Septem- ber, 1852, Mr. Mock being the only bidder for the poor-farm, was appointed to the superintendency of the same, on the conditions that he "keep the farm in good order and farm the same in a good farmer-like manner, and remove all sprouts and briers off the cleared land-keep and board all paupers brought to said farin; and pay for rent $181 per year. and keep all paupers placed in charge by the Overseers of the Poor for $1.40 per week. except Joseph Hare, he for $2." Before the expiration of the year, it was found that the accommodations on the farm were 'in- sufficient to meet the demands upon it. As a consequence, steps were immediately taken to enlarge the buildings. or otherwise. to erect new. better adapted to the situation. To this end, a spe- cial session of the board was held on the 12th of February, 1853, when the plans submitted for suitable buildings on the poor- farm were examined by the board. After due consideration, the following proceedings were had: Thomas C. Hughes, Joseph Evans and John Vail, were appointed a committee to draft plans for the building: notice of the letting was ordered to be published for two weeks, or until the next March term.
A meeting was held pursuant to said notice, on the 10th of March, 1853, when proposals were received for the erection of a brick building on the poor-farm. The several proposals having been inspected by the board, the contract was awarded to Joseph Evans and David Buzzard as the lowest responsible bidders- " the building to be finished from first to last, in every particular, according to the drawings and specifications on file in the Audi- tor's office, on or before the 1st day of December, 1853, for the price and sum of $2,544, payable one-fourth when the stone wall
is completed and finished ready for the brick, one-fourth when the brick wall is completed. one-fourth when the building is inclosed aud the balance when the work is completed and accepted by the board."
Mr. Mock was continued in charge of the poor-farm during the years 1854 and 1855, and until December 3, 1856, when Theodore Smoyer was appointed superintendent of the county asylum for the poor, at a salary of $600, payable in quarterly installments.
On the 30th of January, 1858. the superintendency passed into the hands of John Maxwell, who, on the 4th of March fol- lowing, made a report of the situation of affairs, showing, that, during the year preceding, twenty paupers had been received and twenty-one discharged; that two deaths had occurred during the year, the diseases generally being self-abuse and bad whisky; ex- penses incurred, $1,839.96; cash on hand, $40.61; total. $1,880.57. Received from County Treasurer, $1,716.30; received from prod- uco sold, $164.27: total. $1,880.57. Produce sold, outstanding, $413.69.
A change was made in the administration of affairs, on the 28th of January, 1859, when Mitchell Girard was appointed Su- perintendent. From time to time since that date, according to the demands of the situation, modifications and improvements have been made in the county buildings for the management and maintenance of the poor. The area of tillable lands and the facil- ities for cultivating the same, have also been eularged so as to afford employment for as many of the inmates of the asylum as were physically capacitated for labor. As a rule, the proceeds arising from pauper-labor has been in excess of the amount nec- essarily expended for their maintenance on the farm: hence, with occasional exceptions, under judicious management, the institu- tion has been self-sustaining.
From official sources, it has been ascertained that the ex- penses incidental to the management of the poor in this county, including amounts paid in labor on the farm, and disbursements made for the maintenance of the indigent poor outside the asylum, for the past fewyears, has been about as follows:
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