The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-01-18
10 the Police Jury Of the Parish of St.

70 The Police Jury of the Parish of St,
Landry IT,
The undersigned Commissioners apno;nted
tosxamine the parish jail, for the suSposes ex-
pressed IN tie resolution of your body. passed
ON the 18th December, 1861, report
l hat they have made the required examina-
ton, and lind the public prisom. bv reas-
on OF its dettchve construction, the dilapldated
and dtcaylns condition of its walls, it's Emitted
capacity, the insufficient ventilation of it's cells.
the want OF glazed sash or shutters fur pro-
lection against the inchmencies " the weather.
entirely UNFIT tor tie safe keeping of prisoners.
and Injurious to th-iE health.
Two grand j~ufies, and a committee OF phv-
slclans of the tDwn of Opelousas, apppintrd
for the purpose. have within the last lively.
months inspected the building, and arrived at
the sam conclusion For the facts and reas-
otse1pon wfach they based tleir opinions, we
refer to their several abe reports. The last
named considered that its cuHldiv
tnn threatened the general health of fhe town.
Z The Southern apartments atr not protected
by IRON cages or castings. The walls which
consist only of brick and morter, have been
perforated, anu prisoners have escaped on fcur
different occasions wlslIin the last eighteen ar
e''A' oiIN llSldlSe ,at nlI(tilaF.
This Insecure and unhealthy condition of
the Jail, has recently rendered it necessary to
send all the prisoners to New Orleans for safe
Keeping. health and comfoyts DO be returned
to this place for trial, at heavy expense and
this necessity will probably recur with the
first approach Of warm weather. 1t has also
imposed upon the iailor tbs 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 fhSir sate custody, all attended with heavy
expense aud serious ;mpedimento to the pro-
gress of business in our courts.
Believing the present prison to be wholly
unfit for the purposes far which it was destined,
we recommend the erection of another Time
must aewever elapse before that end can be
accomplished. In order to provide for the
comfort of the prisoners during tlIaS interval,
we advise temporary repairs. not to extend be-
>yond glazed sash, plastering and general
cleansing. Extensive assures in the eastern
aud western walls, relaler it unwisa 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 iaib
be a Brick building As feet front by 81 in
depth, two stories high, with a passage twelve
feet wide through the center, on each soor;
thatin the upper story there be three cells OH
each side OF the passage; and CD 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 -.. -.-s.
It is impossible, owing to q unrestricted iiape,
and the limited means .os leouaa4tesH%&s 0uf
command, to furnish M acDH ate estimate OF
the cost Of the baildiMng,-We believe that it
will involve an expenditure of about $40, 600.
We recommend that aispecial tag for that
amountcbe imposed, that i he collected in cash, |
and as speedily as psssiele.
In conclusion we will remark, that impor-
tant modern improvements have been made in
the construction of public prisons, all having
reference to the health,comfort and safe keep |
ing Of the prisoners, and that it may be adj |
visable to consult with persons thoroughly
conversant with the subject All Of which is
respectfully submlttd. |
, GEO. Il. KING.
-s ]. FL. OVERTON,
o @ G. ~. r. MEGINLEY.
~" s JTHOS. g. ANDERSON.