The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-19
INSPECTING THE TOMBs.
The Committee OF the Board OF Alder.
men Visit the city Prtson--vvhat They
Think OF the Ceiis-suggessions for .
New Prtson.


New Prison.
The Tombs was again visited yesterday afternoon
by the Committee of the Board OF Aldermen APP
pointed 60 examine into the conditisn OF the City
Prison. The committee consists OF Aldermen Coke.
Cilsey aud Morris but as Alderman Gilsey was
sick and Alderman Coke too late. Alderman Morris
was ''the oommittcc"-ai there was OF Il. num-
Ter of experts rom the Board of Public Works. city
officials ana reporters accompanied the Alderman.
and they marched In fle to the prison many OF
the passers-by must have mistaken them for
PRISONERS JUST RETURNING
60 their cells The party included Alderman Ly-
saght. General Joseph G. Ifnckney. Clerk OF the
Common Council; Charles T.. Miller. Assistant
Clerk; Aimed \. Bugbee Assistant Clerk; William
Young, an old builder. who was acquainted with
the original architect OF the Tombs. Benjamin
Wells; Stevenson Towle. engineer An charge OF the
sewers of the Department OF Public Works; John
J. serreil another expert OF that Department: the
President and several members of the Board OF
Aldermen OF Long Island city, Morgan Jones and q
number OF other gentlemen.
warden Johnson received Alderman Morris and
his party with much courtesy and showed them
through every part OF the prison. Commissioner
Bell also accompanied them, giving All the infor-
nation In his possession. "fhe only trouble about
the prison" MIR. Johnson said, when they had ar
riy cd in the interior Of the male prisonwhich was
FIRST visted-'arises from the pipes They go
around the whole prison, and u any OF the prisen
ers IN one OF the corner cells chooses 10 throw his
boots or clothes into the box
ALL TIM OTHER fIPEs WILL OVERFLOW.
some prisoners whs have Just been sentenced TO
serve long term In the state Prison are only too
glad TO do that TO wreak their spite upon some-
"You could put three tiers on the Franklin
street side,m Commissioner Hell remarked, address
ing himself TO Alderman Morris. who stood beside
him. "and -four tiers on the other side. For
moderate expense You could make the prison last
for the next hfieen wears at least. should think
these improvements would not cost more than
100000, and that would do for the next fifteen
the party assembled 20 the second tier. one OF
the Keepers opened the first cell IN "Murderers
Row." which is occupied by Blakely. the murderer
Of bis niece. Blakely came out, and Alderman
Morris and the HERALD reporter went into the cell
'The walls are perfectly dry-not particle Of
damprcss, " he said. The cell was light, airy, had
neat carpet, and was as comfortable as any Alder
man could wish II TO be
EVEN FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE
The warden wanted 20 show the Alderman Shar-
Keys cell, but pretty woman, dressed In black.
stood before the iron bars and talked TO the
prisone-. IL was Sharkey's wife, and the Warden,
showed the Alderman and the experts, who COM
pared notes all along the cells In the other part OF
this tier, where stokes n confined. Az the reporter
passed by stokes cell he saw him standing erect
and smoking leisurcy one OF his excellent cigars.
hearty, was dressed with elegance and had I
leisurey, cheerful air. lie looked more like a
on y 81 se, than s
s@s 'ssHt''' ''' was lying s his HI:
the New. York HERALD In his hands. on
the chair Beside the bed lay heap OF newspapers.
a number OF religious ones among them-boois Of
poetry, fiction and history, Humorous works, &C.
The cell was model OF neatMss
One OF the adjacent cells, Nc. II, was found 10
be In decidedly damp condition. The walls were
yellow and dscolored. A number OF other cells
ness Alderman Norris expressed great satisfaction.
at Is certainly one OF the cleancst prisons ever
saw, ~ he said.
Mr.. Morgan Jones observed, IN regard to the soft
pipes, ave ought to put an upright pipe In each
cell; or, let US say one pipe for every two cells;
This pipe ought To up to the roof, and then, II
one pipe is stopped up the other won't be-" Com
missioner Bell said to the HERALD rcportcr:-'One
have visited this city none has ever penetrated
into the prison. Another fact; scarcely any OF our
prisoners get sick here. II they are sick 1t is al
most Invariably because they were sick when they
were brought here. You see, here Is
ExpERIENCE AGAINST THEORY"
Alderman Morris remarked-the party were on
the third tier now-that the last Board OF Alder
@ Mnen Ihfy is
us accommodations for more than fifteen years."
he said.
General Greenthas CELL This great strategist was
In good spirits and said his cell was not damp at
said to him. as II recognizing an old acquaintance.
eyes, I'm here again" the General replied cheer
Iully anu lie dSkeu tue reporter Wnat HIS lbfecH-
THAT'S, not the reporters) chances were Of getting
out.
The females prison, the boys prison and the
kitchen were then visited. And the Commissioners
treated the party to some soup-a sample or the
prisoners fare, 1t was very good; much better
than the soup served In two-thrds or the boarding
houses t"fashiOnable' ones incudedl IN this city.
The kitchen was extremely clcan and the Warden
deserves great credit on this score The Aldermen,
having finished the inspection OF the entire prison,
gave the reporter
AN OUTLINE OF THE REPORT
which the committee intend Submit the
Board OF Aldermen. They will recommend To de-
mOlish the entire eastern half OF the prison. which
includes the Police Court, female prison, &c and
to erect new building on the modern plan from
four to five stories high. When this part Is COM
pleted the other half Is to be torn down and
placed by a new and modern structure. Then the
ground is to be filled up four or five feet and
thoroughly drained. The committee Will recon-
mend that the Legislature entrust the Department
OF Works with the erection OF the new prison.