New-York tribune., 1873-03-19
INSPECTION OF THE TOMBs.
IMPERFECT SYSTEM OF DRAINAGE-PLAN FOR
REBUILDING THE PRISON.

IMPERFECT SYSTEM OF DRAINAGE-PLAN FOR
REBUILDING THE PRISON.
The Aldermanic Committee appointed by
she Common Council make an inspection of the Tombs
On connection with the Engineers OF the Public WORKS
met in the City yesterday and proceeded thence to
the prison. Alderman Morris was the only member OF
the Common Council Committee present, but ne was ac
companled by John j. Serial, Engineer Of the Public
Works Mr.. TOwle, ChiefEngineer of the sewerage De
partnent and Mr.. webb, Of his chief assistants
VIM Young a New-YOrk builder OF 80 years standing;
Commissioner Bell Of the Departmental Charities and
Correction exAlderman Morgan Jones, Alderman Ly-
ssght and several other officials, accompanied the Com
tnittee az invited guests The party were met al the
entrance by Warden johnson, who conducted them
through the building explaining clearly the interior ar
raDgements.
They proceeded FIRST 10 the prison yard whence may
be seen the rear windows Of the courtr0oms and the en-
frances TO the male female, and boys departments In
one corner on the Franklin-st side, Is small dap
dated stone building, called commonly the RUNNERS
Pen" used for temporary prisoners. Opposite Us the
male department. which the party Immediately entered
without pausing first floor they ascended to the
reeond ter on which is "Murderers' Row." The first
cell inspected that of Robert BeaAey, who was
turned out 10 allow the officials TO enter. 1t was found
TO very dry, while window, opening into the yard
would amply venate the apartment If the prisoner so
wished Cell No II found 10 be exceedingly damp
but was unoecupied The next was occupied by two
nen and was also damp, while No. GO was very dry.
pevera other cells examined, many OF which were
quite wet and unhealthy, while others were as dry as
could be wished
-Ex Alderman Jones, who has for years done the
plumbing at the TOmbs, explained fully the mode OF
drainage He said that the great fault was the manner
IN which the pipes constructed They all perpen
iculary one pipe extending under all the cells Of each
fer There 40 cells every ter and hence the soil
from Teach has ITO pass around under ALI ltis IRE
uent custom fer prisoners who have been sentenced TO
nd NUhn ra
detained here for few days prior to their re-
rooyal 10 Sing Sing, to stuff their old clothes and
boots into the openings and thus choke up the
large pipe when the Tombs was built very
little Was about scientific sewerage, ana hence
this mperfeeon exists Mr. Jones said that the remedy
for this evil is the construction OF upright pipes only
one OF which is in in the prison The perpen-
diculaT pipes should extend from the rOOI 10 the man
sewer IN the street, each draining two cells on the
Franklin and Leonard a. sides building OF the male
department has sunk four or nye rect slnce
crooked and Imperfect. They we'll preserved but
are out Of grade Another trouble that the sewer 10
Centrest cannot properly drain the Iomos' even WIN
The male department was thoroughly inspected, and
factory. cells were extremely clean, and haia-
dozen men were cleansing the walls and WOODWORK %K x
called attention the fact that the prisoners had ways
escaped epidemics He also said that with the excep
ton of the Boston prison there was no better prison IN
The female department was next visited. The system
of drainage IN this section is the same as IN the male de-
partment but as there are not SO many inmates the
principal objection removed. Everything here was
also sCupuOusy clean. ID the boys cells the arrange
found satisfactory, and the Kitchen was m
excellent order The cOuTrOOms situated IN the front
OF the block likewise visited and all agreed
that the condition of these apartments was much worse
than Of the cells. The Police Court particularly ap
peared unit for use, and was unanimously condemned
The principal object OF the inspection OF the prison
was to give the engineers an opportunity 70
ascertain the exact wants OF the institution.
Commissioner Bell advised the removal OF the
Bummers' Pen" and the erection OF new prison de-
rartnent occupying considerable portion OF the now
nselees prison yard He favored, too the removal OF
the buildings which the courts and which could be
rebuilt so as accommodate sufficient number OF cells
10 cover eXigences Of 10 years 10 come lie thought
that for 100000 such improvements as he had spoken OF
could made. Mr.. Young gave II as his opinion that
The prison could be built that there would he as much
eOdty and dryDess as in house founded on rOcK lie
advised that present structure should be removed,
1be ground raised about five feet, and cOncreted,
and a new prison constructed. 1t was finally agreed
npOn that the entire front Of the IOmbs now oc-
euped by the courts, the warden, and prison Ohelas,
bhoud be demolished the ground raised and the sruc-
luTe rebuilt. These recommendations VIII De made Dy
Alderman Morris The prisoners will be 10 that
TO the section and the remaining portion VIII
he torn down and rebuilt in like manner The courts
hire iD the vicinity until the new ones are
ready for them. The engineers will prepare plans 10
7hs end and the matter will be placed before the Com
Council,