Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-07-20
DISTRICT pENrTENrrAHY.

The following de sc rip,ion Of the Penitentia-
nv Of this District is from the pen OF Mr.. Z,
Bufucb, late Architect OF the Capitol II
forms a part OF statement recently published
BY that gentleman on the "Construction and
,hr Physical and Moral EGee's Of Penitentiary
Prisons, on The Auburn principle" Mr.. b.
has, in most Of the plans which he has furnish
ed for the Capitol, discovered fne taste, and
a correct knowledge of the beautiful and useful
art which he exercises. We regret the neces'
si,y which deprives US Of his aervices, though
it mus, be gratifying to him, as we'll as TO his
friends, 10 know that he has left monument
Of his skill and taste, which we trust will last
for ages, and which will certainly be as dura
bic as the material he has employed. OF this
magnificent building, as i; is now completed, or
very nearly so, il may be proper 10 give here
after brief account. But at ptesen, we must
call the attention Of The reader TO the descrip-
ton of another specimen Of his art. which fol>
lows: Washington Chronicle.
Penitentiary of The District Of Columbia.
"1his institution owes its origin to the exertons OF
the Hon Alexander Thompson, member of Congress
from PENNSYLVANIA With the zeal and humane spirit
IF Howard, he visited the sbodes OF wretchedness III
the prisons of the District. and bent the force OF ms
mind, aud his unremtted ex rtons, to effect reform
in the county prisons, aud to establish Pententiay
for the District. Mr. Tbompson's views were met by
Congress- with great beraty, in the session OF 1926
and, with uncommon unanimty, an appropriation WAS
made for building Penitentiary Prison, of one hun
cred and sixty cells of the size of three aud half feet
wide seven fee, long, and feet high. site for
its location selected by commissioners appointed
under the requirements of the act, and the Architect
of the Capo was by the President Of the United
States examine the best prisons then under occupa'
ton A report was made of his proceedings, and a
ia nT al
the best information to be obtained from Elan I.vnds
ESQ. generally considered the father of the Auburn
system The principal building has been erected in the
most thorough manner, under the immediate inspection
of r Leckie, Esq.-lt contains nearly one hundred
and sixty cells, few in the upper story having been
enlarged 70 accommodate such prisoners as might be
sentenced to continued SOLITARY confinement. Two
buildings are also finished, wings one intended tor
the Keepers house, and the other for the kitchen OF
the establishment and for hospital rooms.
A Warden and Board of Inspectors have been APP
pointed upon whom will devove to make the neces-
sary subdivisions of the yard and to build workshops
suited to the species of work intended to be carried
on The whole country has an interest in making tins
establishment perfect possiblei it may be expect
ed to serve as model for others that may be built. in
future at the South and Wes it is therefore respect
fully suggested that before any additional buildings
are undertaken, the Warden and some of the Inspec
tors should visi the prisons of NewYork and partica
arI, that at Wethers6eld in Connecticut for the Pur
pose OF becoming better acquainted with their dsep'
line aud of sscertainns the best construction OF work
shops and OF the apparatus OF the kitchen, which is
represented to be, at Sing Sing, on the most perfect
MA 81 q executed p