Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-28

A NTSfT TO THE f-sNfTENTiAf.l.--t1c-
accompanied by the directors Of this prison,
Messrs. sam. f. HARE, A. p. SHANKLAsD,
and Judge Mills, We paid it visit yester-
day.
We found that every department had un-
aieTgone thorough ovethauling, white
washing and cleaning up, under the direc-
ton of Col. Hull, the genilemanly Warden
in charge. The cells have all been white
washed aud well furnished with neat bed
ding. Where but few months since the
rooms and premises were nauseating TO their
inmates, there is now perfect cleanness-
There are two hundred and ffty-fve con-
victs in the prison, who are separated into
shops, as follows: Cooper and Cabinet,
Blacksmith ard Carriage, Harness and
Tailor, and Stone
The cooper and cabinet shop, under the
super;ntendence of Mr.. T. J. KEEToE, con-
tains some forty eonvictR, mostly whites.
They are engaged in making buckets, cans,
chests, &c, which are sold as fast as they
are ready for market. We noticed some ell
egant cans that had been built for the Men,
phis and Charleston railroad. After the
vessel is built it is carried to an adjoining
room where it is vanished or painted. From
there it is taken to the sale room, subject to
order or transferment TO market. Old fur
niture is repaired by the same workmen.
The blacksmith and buggie shop is under
the direction of Mr.. JAMES REED, and con-
tains twenty-four convicts. Some few bug
gies are put up here, but the work consists
mostly in repairing.
The tailor, harness, boot and shoe shop
works some twenty-five hands, mostly whites.
This department is used almost exclusively
for the purpose Of repairing. The clothing
worn by the inmates Of the prison is made
up here. Harness sufficient for the equip
ment Of the teams connected with the pri-
son, is also made in the same shop. An ex-
cess Of two dozen pairs Of shoes and boots,
beyond that used by the eonvicts, is made
weekly. Mr.. LEFFINGwEIL has charge Of
this shop.
Tie stone shop contains twen.y-six hands,
under the direct superintendent of Mr..
PHELPS This shop, including two large
rock quarries, is under the general superin-
tendance Of Mr.. SHELTON. The quarries
furnish the rock used in the shop. After
being dressed and shaped it is sold for build
ing purposes. Some five hundred feet are
furnished for this purpose weekly, to build
ers in the city.
The culinary department denotes much
taste and Judgment. The dining hall is
large enough to seat five hundred persons.
A tin plate, cup, knife and fork, make up
the conyict's table ware. A bountiful sup
ply of food, in the way of vegetables, meats,
etc, is furnished three times per day. The
neatness of this department is equal to that
of any Of our hotels. Every room is well
ventilated
The hospital contains but eight patients.
These are we'll cared for-have the best of
medical att lntion.
The neatness and cleanliness Of the prison
reflects much credit upon the directors, and
especially Col HULL, the Warden. The
great reform that has been brought about in
the prison within the past two months is
attributable to him. In no department could
we see the least filth of any character. Such
cells and rooms as were not occupied were
as neat as those in daily use. 1t is the pur-
pose of the directors to extend the wall
Of the prison to Cherry street, distance of
some four hundred feet, which will require
near twelve hundred feet Of wall to enclose
the ground intended for the prison. The
enclosure is TO consist Of ten acres, extend
ing from Church to Cherry street with Car
rol on the east. Preparations are being
made to lay the foundation of the wall. A
large sewer is to be constructed at the ex-
IRENE northern portion of the ground, into
which the smaller sewers of the prison are
TO empty. The creek that runs through the
grounds will pass directly under this sewer,
carrying all its filth into the river.
The wall will enclose one of the finest rock
quarries about the city. A large number of
negro convicts are engaged in getting out
rock in this quarry for building purposes
With the present management of the
prison il ought to yield handsome divi-
dend to the State. That it should be an ex-
pense is an absurdity.