Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-09-07
From the Indiana State journal
JAII.S AND POOR HOUSES OF INDIANA.
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! thriving and pleasant city of LAFAYE-TE,
/ comprises one-half Of the frs. floor Of the
new Court-H House, which occupies con-
/ sPicuous site on tho centre of the public
square. The contract for constructing the
courthouse, including the keepers resi-
denco On he right side OF The main enter
trance upon The first floor, and the prison
department on tho left, provided, was
told, for tho completion OF the same for
the sum of Is or $4,000. The Court
room, a beautiful apartment IN ali its pro-
portions. occupies the second story, access
being by very mean side passage and
staircase, not IN harmony with tho court
room, or the exterior of tho building. The
jury room. can hardly sorvc the uses pro-
posed, being only nine feet by twelve,
aud ten high. The court offices, which
ought to hayo been built ontho first
floor Of the court, house rather than
the jail and tho Keepers apartment,
are incoaycnion. in themselves and incon-
vcnienlly stu atcd adjacent 10 the court
house. OF course there Is for the Jail no
enclosed yard; lis gloomy grated windows
open on the public square, singuarly de-
forming tho appearance of the otherwise
beautiful building Of which it 50 strangely
makes part. The entire editice was con-
structed without regard to future econo-
my or duration. The work IS not sub
stantial, and while yet unfinished was re-
vcaling tho dofocts which will hasten ad-
ditional cost through necessity for early
and not inexpensive repairs. Constructed
of unscasoned timber. the joinors work Is
already much warped; loakages and cracks
were apparent, before yet i; had been oc-
cupied. There are nine criminal cells III
the now Jail, the dimensions Of each being
four feet and 10th by nine feet long; and
nino high from the contro of the arch. =
The floors of the cells are brick, LAID on
pu!verizcd rock, within a stone foundation
The doors arc wrought Of tin iron, cross
barred, and are enc foot and 5-Gths wide
by six high. These open upon a passage
lighted by five large windows, opening up
on the square, measuring each, three feet
5-6ths by eigh. fee. 1-6.hs. When these
windows, which are guarded without By
perpendicular iron bars, and glazed within,
are opened. there IS no obstacle TO intor-
rupt free conversation between the prison
ers any persons coming upon the square.
A small room, ten feet square, at the OK
tremty OF the passage, is reserved for
hospital. Thcro is also a second small
apartment which may be used for the
Same purposes or for consulting with
counsel. In the planning and construc-
ton of this expensive prison there have
been some remarkable omissions. and
it is 70, easy 10 discover how the defects
arc 10 be partially romediod, even. 1t
does not seem that escapes Will be difficult
to tho adroit prisoner.
The old jail which was shortly to be
abandoned, detained several prisoners in
August. It is q block, house, much more
suitably located than tho now Jail; but hav-
ing all the Inconvenience which the frs,
built jails of the country possess. 1t is
isolated; has two rooms ono above the
o.her, and, as was informed, (for did
not enter it, is wholly unsuitable for the
imprisonment Of offenders.
The poor-house of this county is no,
permanent csta bIishmcnt. Measures have
already been adopted to remove tho poor
from the very remote and announcement
situation they occupied in August 1916,
to one in the immediate vicinity of Lafay-
cite, where more direct supervision could
be had, and medical attendance Be more
certainly and promptly rendered than was
possible at the farm house visited. This
farm Of about IL acres rented for Sl6O
per nnum,and was on sale in the summer
Abou. 50 acres are timber. The number
Of inmates was eight; in winter there are
considerable additions. There were two
very young, and two older children, one
woman, and three men. Ono IS az times
deranged-onc has epileriic fits. The
men have been chiefly broken down BY
int importance. The master of The cstab-
lishment pays stipulated rent for the
farm, and receives for each Of the poor
81 IS per week for all who arc able 70 be
about the house; in sickness the charges
!