New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-12-09
ELDRIDGE-STREET JAIL.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.

WDcre many OF the ancient huckefO0CkerS al TIER
residences, and where, in ancient dsys-aacient
Gotham, which dates nd far back into antiquity
houses were built upon solid foundations with strong
walls, that would not endanger the lives Of fremen be-
fore the interior half burnt out, like some Of the
modern mud-wall and pine-stick structures. On the
eat ride of Eldrdge street. between Division and
Walker now, or soon to be called Canal, one Of the
ancient inhabitants Of that region placed his donc
building dwelling which be probably intended should
shelter him and his children and his childrens chill
dreD, even uIt0 the third and fourth generation How
little he thought that the time would como when that
mansion.house would be converted, as it was, into
public school-bouse instead Of dwelling for his chill
dren How much les, though. he that at later
period II would be converted into city watchhou.e-
refuge for the night wandering vagrant instead Of
home to thoee for whom he intended it II he did not
hLk that his psrlOrs and chambers oud echo 10 the
sounds arising from such occupants, he certainly
thought still less while piog up those strong walls
that every brick would in time be saturated with the
groans Of the inmates Of q county prison-in short,
that his dwelling would be converted into public
jail Such, however are the mutations Of tmc-such
the changes Of men and things.
Reader, did you ever sc the Eldridge-street Jail
MOI And yet perhaps you have often passed through
have read aud heard much of noted prison in that
street, where all debtors taken upon mesne or final
process in New York are imprisoned, and where the
prisoners of the United States Courts sent for
fnement. Suppose, the next time you pass through
the street between the points indicated, that you tako
look at this noted prison. Walk down the west aide,
and when opposite No. q, look and up to that
three-story-and basement house, painted brownstone
color, with green window blinds. Perhaps one Of
those at the paror windows will be open, aud beyond
the lace curtains you may see lady and children, as
You might in any other dwelling. As you
nothing to indicate that it is prison. you may cross
over and read upon small tin sign, "entrance only
"this way" through the basement area and door
under the steps of the main entrance. You will not,
perhaps notice that the basement Windows are fur
nshed with iron rods because many dwellings are fur.
nisbed in the same way. In fact you will not notice
n,thing about this different from other dwellings, yet
this is Eldrdge street JAIL" the county prison Of the
County of New-York.
Unlike the subterranean dungeons of Venice or
Rome liz this prison; and so it is unlike some of the
county tails Of the Western States that have
visited, where the entrance is by ladder on tho out
SIDE landing on the top floor and descending through
traps TO the windowless rooms below. Whoever en-
tiers the Eldrdse street Jal is bound to rise in the
world, for, after humbing himself to such Low en-
trance he will go up two flights OF stairs before he
finds cell, ten of which rage each side OF hall
fifty feet long through the center from front to rear Of
the third floor counting from the basement-sx upon
one aide and four the Otherseven single and three
double and of course only those next the front and
rear walls are gh ed except at second hand through
the cell doors opening into the hail. This floor is ap-
proprated to United States preoners The next floor
aboveis all in one room, with double and single beds
enough TO accommodate thty-fve poor debtors"
The building 2 by 50 feet and the lot % by 100 or
Whereabouts. The front basement room is the jaiors
Office and the rear the culinary department, where all
the food of the prisoners prepared The floor above
ia occupied by the jailors family, and the two upper
ones at the date of VISIT by twenty eight prisoners
half of them for debt-among which were none OF
much note or any that had made noise in the world
except Carpenter, Greet s. Co.. the French embez
zlers of railroad securities.
None of the occupants Of rooms in this comfortable
country boarding. house old resdents the longest
one of class all of whom, If they had their deserts
would fill every house in the st Get, for he is in for
violation of Post-Ofice laws, and has occupied HIS
present exalted position about ak months. We can
barely call it imprisonment and cannot help continually
col trasng it with the vile treatment of United States
fate in Kansas. No matter what may be the crime,
none are locked into seperate cells, but have free
range of the floor and all the rooms boarders in any
other city clearinghouse, so long as their conduct
is quiet and no disposition shown to abuse the LIBERTY
accorded them by their kind-hoarted Jaler.
The office of JaIer Like that Of any other Deputy
of the Sheriff; its tenure holding with his term The
nresent incumbent s. 4. Gardiaer, has been here
about year, and far as we can judge from ccnver
sot;on and other circumstances, is man well fitted for
the POSITION. 1t office where the incumbent mu''
be strongly tempted TO pecaate upon the pn'oaersi
because through very great lack OF common sense
prir cipes, and adsptabiliy Of lava to suit crcum.
stances: this is q fee-ofce, instead OF being fau
,.lared one, with stringent laws against aiowiog the
Jaer to receive any fees or perquises Tee principal
es allowed are 81 so for receiving and dieh1gins
prison err and the place requires the constant
of the Jaer bis assistants in the ofoe 70
visits of the Sherfs officers, and between 'no noaf
f 10 and O'Clock in the day, the waits Of prisoners
friends OF othep who may have any business or nSns
to call
Rut the most singular anomaly Is that the county, ct
very great expense-$ coo for repairs this year-hsve
nro,ijed Jail for United States Msnhsls to lock up
their prisoners, and for creditors to shu up such OF
their debtors as cannot, or will not pay, where they
ar. boarded at the public expense just - long pev-
e,ty or malice nav ccmpe, them to remain.
The ease with which one man may shut up another
in this prison is illustrated by commitment that 90
CURED while we were present A. d. made ahisvi'
that G. D. bought Of him last Spring $'oo worth OF
goods upon credit which he extended :" him because
| c. D. tod him at the time that he hsd built new gro
cery stose the upper pant Of the city, and ta" NJ
owned two canal boats The affidavit set, forth ths'