The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-02-29
Resolution Relative to the Parish
10 the Police jury of the Parish of St
Landry:

To the Police Jury of the Parish of St
Landry:
The undersigned Commissioners amounted
to examine the parish Jail, for the PURPOSES tx.
pressed in the resolution Of your BODY, PASSED
on the 18th December, 1867, report:
hat they have made the required examina-
ton, and find the public prison. bv reas-
on OF Its detective construction, the dilapidated
ana decaylng condition of its walls, its limited
capacity, the insufficient ventilation Of its cells.
the want OF glazed sash or shutters for pro-
iectloh against the lnclemcncies of the weather.
eiltifely unit tor the safe keeping of prisoners,
and injurious to their health.
!"o grand Jurles, and a committee of phy-
slclans OF the town of Opelousas, appointed
tor the purpose, have within the last twelve
months inspected the building, and arrived at
the same conclusion. For the facts and reas.
ons upon which they based their opinions, we
refer to their several able reports. The last
named committee considered that its coudi-
ton threatened the general health of the town.
ne Southern apartments are not protected
by IRON cages Or castings. The walls which
consist only of brick and morter, have been
perforated, and prisoners have escaped on four
different occasions within the last eighteen or
twenty months-in one instance at midday.
Ibis Insecure and unhealthy condition Of
the Jail, has recently rendered it necessary to
send all the prisoners to New Orleans for safe
Keeping, health aid comfort, to be returned
TO TINS place for trial, at heavy expense and
THIS necessity will probably recur with the
hfst approach OF warm weather. 1t has also
imposed upon the Jailor the painful aud harsh
necessity OF placing irons upon the greater
part of the prisoners. and to keep a guard
around the building by night, in order to Sc
cure their safe custody, all attended with beavy
expense aud serious impeachment to the pro-
greSs of business in our courts.
BnlleVlng the present prison to be wholly
unflt fortlle 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-
y'oho glazed sash, plastering and general
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. impos,s
the necessity for a building Of increased ca
We therefore recommend, that the new Jail
be a brick BUILDING As feet front by 81 in
depth, two stories high, with a passage twelve
wide through the center, on each floor:
hat IN the upper story there be three cells on
'ach side OF the passage; and on the lower
story three cells on one side, and two large
'ooms on the other of the passage, the latter to
De used for combining persons charged with
MINOR Offences. We further recommend that
OF the compartments contain iron cages
placed three feet from the walls in every d.
cction
1t is impossible, owing to our restricted time.
nd the limited mealls of information at our
.ommand, to furnish an accurate estimate OF
he cost of the building.-We believe that it
VII involve an expenditure of about $50, 900.
We recommend hat a special tax for that
mount be imposed, that it he collected in cash.
nd as speedily as possible.
In conclusion We will remark, that impor- ;
ant modern Improvements have been made in :
ne construction of public prisons, all having t
to the health, comfort and safe keep +
OF the prisoners, and that it mav.b be ad- =
to consult with persons thoroughly y
with the subject. All of which is r"
:specttully submitted. l.
GEO. r. KING. Il
J. II. OVERTON, C
W. r. MCKINLEY. O
IHOS. G. ANDERSON. II