The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-02-08
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 pari III Jail, for the purposes ex
pressed in the resolution of your bedy, passed
on the 18th December. 1867, report:
That they have made the required examina
ton, and: find the public prison. by reas
on OF its defective construction, the dllapldated
and decaXing condition OF its walls, its limited
capacity, the insufficient ventilation OF its cells,
the want of glazed sash or shutters for pro-
lection against the ~incemencies of the weather,
entirely unfit for the safe keeping OF prisoners,
and injurious to their health.
Two grand iurirs, and a committee of ply
sicians Of the town of Opelousas, appointed
for the purpose, have within the last twelve
months Inspected the building, and arrived at
the same conclusion. For the facts and reas-
Gus upon which they based their opinions, we
refer to their several able reports. The last
named committee considered that its condi-
ton threatened the general health of the town.
The Southern apartments are not protected
by iron cages or caslngs. 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 enc instance at midday.
This insecure and unhealthy condition of
the Jail, has recently rendered it necessary to
send all the prisoners to New OrleaLs for safe
keeping, health and comfort, to be returned
to this place for trial, at heavy expense and
this necessity will probably recur with the
first approach of warn weather. 1t has also
imposed upon the jailor the painful aud harsh
necessity of placing mons upon the greater
part of the prisoners. and to keep "A guard
around the building by night, in order to ST.
cure their safe custody, all attended witn heavy
expense aud serious impairment to the pro-
grfss of business in our courts.
Believing the present prison to be wholly
untit for 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 East two
years, from we'll understood causes, imposes
the necessity for a building of increased ca
pacity.
We therefore recommend, that the new Jail
be a brick building As feet front by 81 in
two stories high, with a passage twelve
feet wide through the center, on each floor
hat in the upper story there be three cells on
ZACH side OF the passage; and oD the lower
three cells on one side, and two large
ooms on the other Of the passage, the latter to
'e used for confirming persons charged with
minor Offences. We further recommend tliat
OF the compartments contain iron cages
placed three feet from the walls in every d. |
ection
1t Is impossible, owing to our restricted time,
nd the limited means Of information at our
ommand, to furnish an accurate estimate of
ne cost of the building.-We believe that it
vii involve an expenditure of about $50, 600.
We recommend that a special tax for that
mount be imposed, that it be 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
eterence to the health, comfort and safe keep
lg OF the prisoners, and that it may be adj
to consult with persons thoroughly |
with the subject. All of which is
:spectfully submitted.
GEO. r. KING.
j. H. Overflow,
W. R. MCKINLEY.
IHOS. {. ANDERSON.