The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-03-14
10 the Police Jury of the Parish of St.

10 the Police Jury of the Parish Of St
Landry:
The undersigned Commissioners appointed
to examine the parish jail, for the 1urposrs tx.
pressed III the resolution of your body. PASSED
ON the ETH December, 1867, report
l hat they have made the required examina-
ton' and tinl the public prison, by rpas-
on OF It's detective construction. the dilapllat4l
and drcaying condition Of its walls, its limited
capacity, the Insufficient ventilation of its cells
tl'. want Of glazed sash or shutters for pro-
lection against the incIemencips of the weather.
entirely unfit for the safe keeping of PRISONERS,
and injurious to their health. r.
Wo grand %juries, and a committee of 1tv-
slclans OF the town of Oprlousas, appointed
1or Inc purpose, have within the last twelve
months inspected the building, and arrived at
the same conclusion, For the facts aid reas.
ons upon which they based their opinions, w.
refer to their several able reports. The last
named committee considered that its coudj-
tl"n threatened the general health of the town.
The Southern apartments are not protected
by IRON cages Or castings. The walls which
consist only OF brick and m0tter, have been
Perforated, ami prisoners have escaped on four
different occasions within the last tirhtptn or
twenty montils-m one instance at midday.
Inns insecure and mh~althy condition of
the Jail, has recently rendered it necessary TO
send all the prisoners to New Orlral.s for SAT-.
keeping, health and comfort, to be returned
to this plac" for trial, at heavy expense and
this Necessity will probably rrcur with the
first approach Of warm weather. 1t has also
imposed upon the iailor the painful aud harsh
Necessity OF placing irons upon the greater
part OF the prisoners, and to keep a g,lard
around the building by night, in order to ST.
cufethclr safe custody, all attended with heavy
expense aud serious impeachment to the pro-
gress Of business i'll our courts.
Believing the present prison to be wholly
UNIT tor the purposes far which it was destined.
we recommend the erection of another. Time
must however elapSe before that end can be
accomplished. In order to provide for the
comfort of the prisoners during that interval,
we advise temporary repairs. not to extend be-
yond glazed sash, plastering and general
cleansing. Extensive assures in the eastern
and western walls, render it unwise to do
more.
The Increase OF crime within the last two
years, from well understood causes, imposes
the necessity for a building of increased ca
pacity.
We therefore recommend, that the new mil
be a brick building As feet front by 80 in
depth, two stories high, with a passage twelve
feet wide through the center, on each floor;
that III the upper story there be three cells on
each side OF the passage; and on the lower
story three cells on one side, and two large
rooms on the other Of the passage. the latter to
be used for combining persons charged with
minor Offences. We further recommend that
all OF the compartments contain iron cages
placed three feet from the walls in every d.
rection
1t is impossible, owing to our restricted time,
and the limited means Of information at our
command, to furnish an accurate estimate of
the cost of the building.-We believe that it
will involve an expenditure of about $50, 600.
We recommend that a special tax for that
be imposed, that it be collected in cash,
and as spee6il y as possible.
In conclusion we will remark, that impor-
tant modern improvements have been made in
the construction Of public prisons. all having
to the health, comfort and safe keel-
lng OF the prisoners, and that it maybe adj
vlsable to consult with persons thoroughly
with the subject. All of which is
respectfully submitted.
GEO. r. KING.
J. H. OVERTON,
w. Il. MEGINLEY.
THOS. c. ANDERSON.