The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-01
THE BROOKLYN JAIL PROSPECT.

New jail TO Go Up-OnIy Six Hundred
Thousand Dollars Required for the Lux.
ury-Vherc Shall ir stand, in che City or
ON the Oafskirtss
At the meeting of the Board OF Kings County
Supervisors the chairman OF the Committee on JAIL
the representative OF the Ninth ward, Richard New.
man, presented plans and specifications for the ew
jail which Is contemplated rhe cost OF the struc-
ture Is estimated at about six hundred thousand dol
lars. his large amount OF money cannot, or
course. be voted by the Supervisors this year. as
their expenditures very fortunately, restricted
through recent wholesome legislation, which cannot
tail to have the effect or curtalng the otherwise
B0UNDLEss ExTRAvAaANoE
OF this reckless body polite. The plans presented
were appropriately referred for future action by the
Board. In the meantime they are being canvassed
and discussed, and the most eligible site for the new
jail appears be thus far In dispute. This mpor-
tant question will, however, be settled before the
money required can be raised, which can only 10
done by special Professionalism is, by placing the
5000, 900 asked for the purpose in the budget for
1877. The specious plea has been made
that certain grounds outlying and adjoining the
Kings County Penitentiary, situate on Nos'rand
nue, three miles distant from the Brooklyn City Hail.
and owned by the county, would be the best position
upon which to erect the proposed jail. To this az
rangemenr there are very many plausible and real
sonaDle objections prominent among wnicn may be
cited the Inconvenience or such site. A jail Is
but
TEMPORARY PLACE or CONFINEMENT
In a city like New York or Brooal,n, when person
Is arrested he IS OF course rst taken to the station
house OF the precinct In which the al-
From thence the prisoner Is taken before the ncare.t
magistrate ana II the Justice OF hs peace be not
ready TO proceed with the examination OF tie ac-
cused the prisoner Is committed Jc Jail tenn
porarily Now 1t may happen that though
jesuce cannot give the accused q hearing
.i,a.r Off In
TO go on with the case. IT will, therefore be
necessary for the prisoner to be taken distance OF
counsel or trends Of the parties arrested the annoy
ance and loss OIL time attendant In travelling
from the court to the Jail 10 Inc suburbs VIII be
ECONOMY IS THE GROUND TAKEN
for urging the distant for this building, the
cost OF tue ground will be saved 1t WILL in view OF
the acts set forth above. oe an Ill ADVISED measure
In that direction. Another reason forth by those
VINO oppose the removal OF the jail 10 such remote
spot l. that the county owns the extensive area Of
land surrounding the Court House, bounded by full
ton, Boeruln ana Livingston streets, which was pur-
chased ut an outlay OF 100000. This property Is
covered at present principally by wooden structures,
which are occupied as '9ln millS' and "lager beer'
saioons. Recenlly the judicious ~ Board OF Super
visors leased this entire property to an ex-member
OF theirs Tor the miserable stipend OF 100 for
year. 1t will be a very simple matter to wipe out
these rookerles." Set apart sufficient tract Tor
SITE OF THE NEW JAIL
on Boerum street, and lay out the remainder OF the
ground a park. The income AT present derived
from the lease OF this estate Is TOO insignificant TO be
considered IN the light of q paying revenue to The
puDc treasury. The jail should be cont guou5 to
the courts in order that persons accused OF offences
against the law may be available for speedy trial
and proper disposition.
Thus Is II often found that the male wing OF the
jail which has three tiers, edcn tier having fourteen
cells, Is full TO excess. Sometimes as many as 1--WE
and six prisoners have had to be confined In each
cell. In the female department. where there are 10
cells, the lower tier has not unreluenty TO be de-
yOtad 10 the Keeping Of the traasgresscr5 WAC enter
the gloomy portals Of the Raymond street County
jail.
1t is therefore, apparent that Brooklyn must have
new Jail, and that speedily-the sooner tae better
are too manifold to require recital here but where
Shall the new Jail be lOcated-iu or out OF town
THE OLD JAIL,
In Raymond street. near Woughby, was built up
ward of thirty-ive years ago and has long oustood
its use lulness in point Of accommodation. From
time to time Ii has been reported as overcrowGed
and inadequate In every respect 10 the wants OF the
city. AS many as 800 have been confined there Mt
one time. Especially during the warm weather,
crimes committed to the Keeping OF the Sheriff,
there being no Grand Jury III session then to dispose
OF such prisoners Is the want VI space In the jail
gravely felt. But matter how many are entrusted
to the Sherls care at time he Is bound IN duty 10
keep them In ''durance vile" until they other
wise disposed OF.