The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1859-03-19
From the Davenport Gazette.
Interior orresDonaence.

Eoht u 'iAIiSbN, ibA a. .tldI tb Dd.
Dco Go=~ttr:-A@recably to the pro
mise in nIy lAs: letter. have visited the
Iowa penitentiary, and will now give you
the partial results Of my observations oI
the institution and its inmates The
/ prison i, located on E,s: Fourth street
about half mile from the business por
ton of the city. The main buiilin. i,
Of gray sand stone, and is POO feet ia
length and 10 in width 1t is two stories
in hcighth. The wall which forms tho
enclosure, is Of stone and built in tn
most substantial manner. 1t is - feet
in hej-hth, surrounded with "carping,'
three feet in width The wall is compile.
It'd upon the west side, and about two
thirds finished upon the east. The rear
Of the lot (which is 400 feet in depth, ]
extends into the bluff As much exca.
waiting has Yet to be done, temporary
wall Of planking has been substituted -
Upon each corner Of the enclosure is a
sentry box for the wall guard, who are
on duty daily from sunrise until the pris-
onerS are locked up, which is gcnerlly
is provided with four muskets, large
"six shooter and plenty Of ammunition
Entering the prison from the street, you
pass through the Office If YOU are ''all
right YOU are escorted around b. Que OF
theoihcers. Entering the grated door
which has closed upon many unhappy
wretches, some Of whom in llprobability
will never again issue from its grim portals
this side of the grave, you pass to the right
into the "ccli' room, which is $50 feet
long by 40 feet in width, The ranges Of
cells are constructed in the center, Civ
ing a wide passage around them The
cells arc IL feet in length, ; II feet
in width, and I feet in height. The door
ways are 70 inches in width, and ) feet
eight inches high, rather limited accom-
modations, As the number Of prisoners
outnumhcr the cells finished, it is neces-
sary to place two prisoners in some Of
them. In the lower range there are
II cells. The second range has only %
cells completed. When the third range
is completed, there will be l62 cells -
crease the next year or two is rapidly as
Of late, it will require another story The
cell doors are grated, giving light aud
ventilation, there il from the roof Of each
cell small! hue for ventilation. Each
cell is numbered and upon the door is
the name ef the occupant.
The furniture of the cell consists of
bunk, Or small bedstead, cup for drink
ing water which is filed before closing
NJ, by the " cell room keeper" (who is a
prisoner, small bench and a shelf for
books, The bed clothing is changed ev-
cry Saturday, aud the prisoners are com
pelied to keep their cells cleanly; also the
barber passes around accompanied by
a guard and shaycs the crowd. Whis-
kers aud mustaches stand no chance
Saturdays the prisoners "sorpb up" and
change, not the stripes but their under
clothing, Passing the cells, | noticed
that most Of them had books on the little
shelf. Curiosity pfompting, | took a
look inside aud noticed In some religious
works and in nearly all copy of the Bi-
bic or Testament, (Catholin and Protest
anti Upon the front leaf Of one, OBJ
served -, from his mother" in
most beautiful style Of pcnmanship. Lit
tie did that mother think her son would
ever peruse this Bible Gift In the fe!on's
gloomy cell. In cell No. ID, a pretty lit
tie altar aud shrine was erected, doubt
less by some one who whilst mingling
with the world neglected his early train
ing but now finds consolation in hs holy
religion In cell IS, sleek tabby held