The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1824-06-22

PORTLAND. TUESDAY, JUNE = 1874


TIE STATE PRISON
I IN recent tour through thr Eastern part b
this State, NC EosinJ an opportunity n visiiin.
TIE srArE PEisosai Thonasiou, concerning tit
plan and construction Of which some discussion
has been had IN our Publir prints. X Is not our
Intention At present 70 give minute description
Of the prison or OF is police and internal reeuIa
ton, bot 10 correct erroneous impressions that
have gore forth, giving Il TIE character OF az
abode for spirits Of darkness, beyond the rescl
Of hope, rather than ola humane, though sure ant
safe peniteniiary. Represented as il has been
an assemblage Of cells, worse than the most ter
rife Of inqusitorial Dungeons, we confess we
were not a little Disappointed in finding i as
well provided with every reasonable accommo-
dAiion which a proper regard 70 the health and
comfort Of the convicts would require consis-
tautly with their safety and the certainty Of their
punishment, that the most humane legislation
could he expected to authorize
The cells are ten feet high, nine feet long, and
four and half feet wide inside having en-
aperture, above the second layer Of STOKE from
the hoor, az eight BY two inches % admit the
air ;--another on the top, two feet square, to ad-
nit the convict and aid in the circulation Of air
&c. the last secured by a strong iron grating.
The aoor Of the cells Is above the common level
Of the adjacent ground, and we are confident
there can be no reason 10 apprehend any danger
/ from moisture, since there will be a constant
current of air passing by circulation up or down
through the apertures we have described. The
cells are heated by two furnaces in the centre OF
the building, having pipes % convey the heated
air to the flooring OF each cell, the second
layer Of which i pine plank between two
and three inches thick, the upper layer being Of
granite, through which one or two small drill
holes arc made for the admission Of warm Ait
into ths cells. The principal difficulty in the
management Of the prisoners, we apprehend
win be IN compelling refractory convicts "a
take their places Ia their cells, which. il seems
can only be done, in case Of obstinate resistance
by forcing them down feet or head first. Over
the cells are large rooms on each wing, secured
by iron gratings, and doors, nearly the whole
\ length, which can be opened or closed at pleas
ure, where the convicts are fed and allowed to
attend public worship on the sabbath. The
prison guard patrols here by day and night
The Hospital is in the centre of the building
and fitted up with every reasonable regard TO the
comfort and safety Of the sick prisoner.
The quarry Of Limestone, on which it is in.
tended to employ the prisoners, (more than two
acres Of which is included in the prison yard,
extends through the whole lot purchased BY the
State, amounting to ten acres, bordered by nav
igable waters. The quarry appears to be mex
haustible, the bed Of the river, one hundred ant
fifty feet below. being ledge Of limestone, and
\ the price for which il was purchased by the
government, $1,000, is considered by competent
Judges as very reasonable. In working the quar-
~ cavity has been opened, which has offered
descent, already explored, of more than forty
feet, and on throwing stones into this assure
sounds can be heard reverberated for some
seconds. This cavity serves to convey from the
prison limits the accommodating water, which il
would otherwise be necessary TO drain away by
artificial means. On the border Of the quarry is
a natural spring Of good water, sufficient to sup
ply the laborers and entirely free from the very
unpleasant qualities il might be supposed to de-
rive from its vicinity to the limestone.
To Dooron RosE, the Superintendent and
Warden, to whose ingenuity and invention the
pubic are indebted for the original plan and
wh- eyer success may attend it, faithful execu-
ton, weAe -esume no one will be disposed TO de-
ny the praise which is due to a faithful and a.
siduous devotion Of time and talents to new,
difficult and arduous undertaking.