The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-30
Interesting Account Of The Penitentinry for
the Dissrict Of Coiumbia.
OUR WASHINGTON coEREsrosDrSor.

OUR WARRINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. n, 1855.
The United States Psniienfinry for the Disiricf
Of Columbia Unhealthy Location The BGiid-
mg-Number Of Prisoners--F Female Department
Occupation Of the PTisonsys- The ". 81. Go
rsrnmsnt Carrying the Shoe Business Pro
posifion Of the WaSd,n 10 girs P,isoasys an
Interest in the Proceeds Of their Labor--Did Of
The Prison'rs--Superfm Flour the Chaptst--
The Chapo-7hs Women Sorssnsd-P Punish.
menfs- Escapts- TpeRs, The Murderr-- Leather
Cards--B tioars of MEN IF Jfarkr-Lsfsresfing
RemiDiscenre Of the Var.
Yesterday visited the United States pentcstary
n the District OF Columbia. II liz situated inmc-
diately on the eastern bank Of the Potomac. The
views which II commands, from every tide, are Of
uncommon beauty. The location, however, Is not 0
very healthy The prisoners, IL Is true, generally
enjoy good health; but the officers suffer severely
from chills and fever At one time during the pre-
sent year seven out cf the eleven employed were
down with them and two members Of the wardcns
family died. The ground Is low; and the prison stands
very the river But the prevalence Of the eversnd
ague Is attributed to marsh 10 the rear Of the
prison, from which dense fog arises. When the
wind blows from the east tbs effect upon the health
is papsbly prejudioial; hence the mlssma from this
swamp n believed TO be the cause OF II. The com.
parative exemption Of the prisoners from this dis
ease Is supposed 70 10 on accoun. Of their greater
regularity Of habits and OF Diet and their bcng les
exposed 10 the morning ard evening air.
The prison Ia Of brick, -four ST. ies high, aud ca
psble Of accommodating one handred and my
prisoner. II now contains sixsyfour. There are
eight womcn-two whites and six blacks. OF the
men, about half are white and half black.
The women do all the washing and ironing foe
the prisoners, make and mend linen, and bind shoess
They do washing and ironing for the officers, which
IL paid for; but the money oil goes 70 the govern.
msut. At night they ara confined In separate cells,
but In the day time tlsy work together. The fegula
tios Of the institution sbieh prohibits conversation
between the pnsone1, sven when a. work together.
II 10 found smost Impossible 10 enforce against the
men; 6 conrse no one would be foolish cnoagh I,
expect the women ~ obey Il. Until recently the
female prisoners had no mstron, and being lef 70
much TO their own selfgoycrnrscat, were oontlnn
ally quarreliins and wnngling, generally about
the merct TRIES. Recently a nsiron has
been obtained. sndnow thsy gs, aloug better.
Hut here d~cr the same passions which mako
the heaven or bell of yonan's hfc In mn
sions asd in palaces. II Is cay 70 lock wozen
into dungeons and cells bat 10 walls are 20 mick
and no doors are 70 close that wherever txo or
them 20 love and jcacasy viii rot enter Will them
No, long ago a cat xaa permitted the liberty n the
fem,le department. one u the prisoncrs undertook 10
adopt II az pet. sooa sno'hor became fnroas with
jealousy abd sferted her BITTER tllc 10 little Tab;
tr,wten she tao no poor cat earae AGAR hing kliS
shociaaklng and Ssn 80 lind @Aki4g a's saf-