The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1867-03-09
NJ [ S G Il l. l. a N II Q u S.
The State Penitentiary ut Columbia.

The work this important Institution,
says the South CaroliMiun, has reached that
advanced stage which will render d. scription
interesting to the public.
Situated at the f;,e. oI Plain-strcet, the To-
cality tsoH is one of no ordinary attraction to
che visitor and tourist
Here, an arm of about twelve acres has been
enclosed and appropriated to the uses of the
Pcnitcntiary; and to-day, rcsounds with the
stroke of the mechanics, the crcak of the der
rick and the industrious hum that art ever
minglcs with the voice of nature.
First and foremost, there has been laid
broad and deep foundation of granite. common
suratc with the strength and magnitude of the
p opposed building. Upon this already rests
the massive floor of IL portion of the first story.
upon which is to be erected the cells Immediate
ly required. The side walls OF the latter arc
likewise going up, and heavy iron plates which
are to constitute both the ceiling OF the first
floor, and the base on which is to be laid the
second, stands by i'll readiness to enc osc the
future residence of the unfortunate criminals
Everything is iron or stone, and the measure
mcnt of walls is by tcct-not inches In six
weeks, or two MONTHS should the weather con-
tinuc, there will be accommodations for ut least
forty prisoners; and the work viii continue tu
It's erection and progress
Next there is the place. Il storchousc
where deposited the heavy iron .rratin"s or
doors; the locks, casting, tools. implements
cement and other articles in demand.
In still another building, carpenter work is
done; i'll third arc the blacksmiths; in a
fourth is supply of coal; and in fifth is the
office of Major I. B. Lee, the Architect and
Engineer, and his accomplish d assistants
An evidence of the fine administrative abii-
ty Of Mai or Lee, will strike the visitor on en-
tcrng the enclosure y hundred feet or more
from the gate commences an abrupt descent
to q narrow, ragged canal down this dcclinc
runs a railway, seemingly, at an angle of about
forty-fivc degrees up which distance of forty
five feet are to be brought at the rate of one
CARLOAD every four minutes the immense mass
cs of granite, which enter into the construction
.: the cdiicc. This stone is brought distance
of Il mile. by means of peculiarly constructed
canal boats which carry the rail ears. When
loaded, they are brought to the foot fthc in
clincd railway, wire rope is attached to the
cars. II water wheel gives the power. they ascend
steadily to the plain above. arc then relied to
the wood yard, where the iron fingers of der
rick, seize and deposit the rough blocks, if ne
ccssary. at the feet of the mason.
These canal boats cost forty five dollars each,
and with four dollars per day for labor. this
simple c"ntrivancc saves to the State an outlay
of about twenty that would otherwise be ncccs-
sarily expended in brinyin. the same amount
from the same, or even more favorable local.
ties, by the ordinary means. AS soon as there
are number of convicts sufficient to work the
granite quarry that has already been developed
by Major Lee, at the base of this railway. even
this expense will be curailcd and the rock
be taken directly from its bed to its dressing
room"
Among other practical evidences Of ingcnu-
ty is a lock of peculiar yc: simple construction.
contrivcd by Major Lee, that is calculated to
give .hc convict greater sense OF security than
is enjoyed by any other member Of the com
munity.
The dimensions and details of construction
of the Pcntcntiary are too various to admit of
record in the present article but it may be
generally stated that when completed it will be
tho handsomcst structure in South Carolina. if
not i'll the entire South. 1t will contain ac-
conmodations for about Nv. hundred and Gfty
/" guests male and female; will be iivc stories
in height; fire and burglar proof and with It's
adjoining workshops and factories, promises to
become II fashionable and hoSpitablc resort for
a certain class of our people Convict labor
will be employed i'll the completion Of the Pen
cteniary rs soon as Il sufficient number can be
properly secured which, as was before stated,
will be completed in the course OF couple of
months.
EFFECTs OF IlABlT.-A letter from Paris
Of the 22d of January, says that IA body of peas
cnts, from the depth Of Siberia have come to
paris md mt IN ,yonInn ,,bins Ill. :, tho.o ,f