The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-10
THE STATE PENITENTIARY.
ITS PROGRESS, PROSPECTS, &C.

ITS PROGRESS, PROSPECTS, &C.
Knowing that detailed description Of this
long desired enterprise would not be uninterest-
ing to our readers, we are enabled, through
the kindness of an esteemed correspondent, to
furnish On account of the proposed building.
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 pre-
sent enclosed by high wooden wall twelve
feet in height, with only one entrance through
which access is gained to the works. All visi-
tors are required to enter through the Clerks
Office, and there register before being ad-
mitted to the prison. AS yet, the construction
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
arc 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 isolated, having
no connection with the walls of the building,
and are accessible by stairway and balcony.
There are fifty cells on every floor in each
wing, and they are FIVE tiers high, thus making
two hundred and fifty cells in each wing. Each
of these cells are five by eight feet in plan,
and have height of seven feet, resting on
stone paving eighteen inches thick, which ex-
tends to the outer walls, and would render any
escape by that direction impossible. Each
cell is provided with all the modern appliances
for supplying air, water, &c., and on the top
in each wing, large cisterns will be furnished,
these will contain the water from the roof, but
will be principally supplied from the river by
means of large Turbine wheel. Sewers,
drains and pipes are arranged throughout the
building, and every attention paid to the
hygiene of the establishment. There is cori-
dor fourteen feet wide passing around the
cells and paved with eighteen inch granite
blocks, and extends to the wall of the building.
The central building combines all the
apartments of dining rooms, guard rooms,
dispensary, hospital, chapel, parlor, Offices, &c.,
The Female Department is to the right of the
male, and combines oil the various divisions of
the latter, with the addition of large work
room, and the cells on the upper floor are some
what larger than those used by the male con-
victs, being 6xs and feet high. They are 4S
in number, which is fair proportion of females
to males. This proportion is based on the sta
tistics of other prisons in the United States.
e The pressing want of habitation and en-
ployment for the convicts that were waiting in
evory district of the State, rendered it neces-
sary to commence the construction of the cells
FIRST, and up to this time forty cells have been
completed and ready for the reception of con-
victs. Each of these cells will accommodate
three, ,convicts if the pressure require it.
The isolated condition of the cells admits of
the construction of the main building at any
time.
The architect, Major T. B. LEE, has devoted
all of his engineering skill and ingenuity to
the interest of the State, and will eventually
succeed in erecting building whose magni-
tude will compare with any in our country, and
for economy Of construction cannot be excelled
by any that has been erected.
The quarry has been located on Broad river,
one mile from this work and Immediately on
the canal. By means of an inclined plane, 800
feet in length, and chain passing around
drum the stone is brought into the yard. The
water of the canal furnishes the motive power,
and by skillful arrangement of machinery
rock is now removed that would formerly have
required the labor of twenty horses. At pres
ent 40, 600 lbs. of rock are put into the yard
with the assistance of only four laborers.
Various temporary sheds and buildings for
the immediate construction Of the building have
been erected on the grounds, and the labor of
the convicts is directed toward the construc-
tion of the prison.
His E1cellency the Governor, in company
with General BURTON, visited the Penitentiary
on the 29th ult., and were escorted around the
extensive grounds by the Architect and Engi-
neer, Major THos. B. LEE. Up to this date
the visitors registerl shows over 800 visitors
since the l1th of May. The roll of convicts
now numbers So, the majority of whom are
strong and able bodied hands. They work
we'll, and are well clothed and fed.