Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-07-17
The State Penitentiary.

Knowing that detailed description OF this
long desired enterprise would not be uninter-
esting to our readers, we are enabled, through
the kindness of 'ap esteemed correspondent,
ITO furnish an account Of the proposed build.
ing. - y -
The grounds are situated in the corporate
limits Of Columbia, at the foot of Plain street.
about twenty minutes walk from the market,
and Immediately On the Canal, and are at
present enclosed by high wooden wall
twelve feet in height, with only one entrance
through which access is gained to the works.
All visitors are required to enter through the
Clerks office, and there register before being
admitted to the prison: As yet, the cohstruc-
ton of the cells alone occupies the attention
of the architect, but by reference to the draw.
ings good estimate can be formed of the :
arrangement OF the structure. On entering
the main archway, large stairways lead from
the right and left to the upper stories The
basement is divided into rooms, which will
be used as laundry and storerooms, and the
large are in the centre will be devoted to
cooking, heating, and like purposes. To the
right and left are the north and south wings,
where the cells are located. These are iso-
lated, having no connection with the walls~uf
the building, and are accessible by a stairway
and balcony. There are fifty cells on eve
ry floor in each wing, and they are FIVE tiers
high, thus making two hundred and fifty :
cell. in each wing. Each of these cells is i,
five by eight feet in plain, and have height
of seven feet, resting on stone paving
eighteen inches thick,w6ich extends to the
outer walls, and would render any escape by
that direction impossible. Each cell is pro-
zided with all the modern appliances for sup.
plying air, water, &C., and on the top in each
wing, large cisterns will be furnished, these /.
.will contain the water from the root, but will
be principally supplied from the river by
means of q large Turbine wheel. Sewers
drains aud pipes ore arranged throughout the
building, and every attention paid to the.
hygiene of the establishment. There is a
corridor fourteenfeet wide passing around the
cells and paved, with eighteen inch granite
blocks, and extends to the wall Of the build
ing. The central building. combines all the
apartments of dining rooms, guard rooms,
dispensary, hospital, chapel, parlor, Off
ces, &C.,
The Female Department is to the right Of
the male, and combines all the various divi-
SIGNS Of the latter, with the addition. 9f .
large workroom, and the cells on the upper
floor are somewhat larger than those used BY
the. male conviicts, beng 6xS and feet high.
They are 4S in, number, which is fair.pro.
portion OF females to males. This proportion
is based on the statistics of other prisons in
the United States. -
The pressing want Of habitatior and ep-
ployment for the conYicts that were waiting.
in every district of the State, rendered it ne
csssary to commence the construction Of the
cells first, and up.to this time forty cells have
been completed and ready for the reoep-
ton of conyicts. Each of these cells will
accommodate three convicts if the pressure
require it. =.
The isolated condition Of the cells admits
of',he construction Of the main building at
The architect Major T. B. Lee, has devo-
ted all of his cng gineering skill and ingenuity
to the interest of the State, and will eventu-
ally succeed. in erecting building whose
magnitude will compare with any in our
country, and. for economy Of frcopsiructon
cannet be excelled by any that has been
erected.
The quarry has been located on Broad riY-
efr, one milo from this work and Immediately
on the caual. BY means of au inclined plane.
800 feet ulength, and chain passing around
a drum the stone is brought into the yard,
The water of the canal furnishes the motive
power, and by askilltnl arrangement of maehi-
hery rock is now removed that would for.
uerly have required the labor of twenty
horses At present 10000 lbs. Of rock are :
put into the yard with the assistance of only
four laborers. '
Various temporary sheds aud buildings for
the immediate construction sof the building
have been erected on rae grounds, and the
labor of the convicts Is directed toward the
Of The prison. .,y4l1r1 g..
His Excellcncy the Governor, in company
with General lurton, visited the penitentiq-
ry on the 29th alt, and was escorted around
the extensive grounds bF, the Architeet and I,
Engineer, Major Thos. B. Lee. Up to this !.
date the visitors. shows over 5000 visitors
sirce the Ilth Of May. The roH Of eonvicts
now numbers So, the majority of whom arc
strong, and able bodied hands. They work
we'll, and are well clothed and fed.-Charles,
ton News. s =. l.
,Er The third dry goods house. in iNew York
in point Of bpsiness. that Of George a., Wickss !,
failed on Saturday. with, lisbiliies estimated at
,.a,,-, x,v> ,,,,Jl,-r, sc11.~, =,