New-York tribune., 1873-07-29
A NEW CITY PRISON,
WHAT SHALL WE HAVE INSTEAD OF THE
TOMRSf


ERABLE TO A RIVER SITE.
The Commission designated to locate and
erect a new City Prison and Brdcwe met yesterday,
at p. m, In the Mayors office. Mayor Havemeyer,
Controller Green and President Vance OF the Board Of
Aldermen, were present. Controller Green presented
by request report upon the subject Of the erection Of
the prison. The topics OF the report briefly
discussed by the Commissioners and their consideration
finally postponed until tomorrow, when another
meeting will be held. The moro significant portions OF
the Controllers elaborate letter will be found below:
THE REPoRT.
As Bellevue Hospital has been named 'and somewhat
n site for the proposed prison, addressed
letter OF inquiry June 10 TO the Commissioners Of
Charities and Correction upon this subject On July
received reply thereto, dated July O. and with this let
ter also received printed copy OF the proceedings OF
the Medical Board OF Bellevue Hospital have also
obtained copy OF the report OF the Committee OF Chem
sts-Drs. Draper Doremus, and Chandler-who were
appointed in 1879 to examine and report upon
the animal and vegetable poisons in Bellevue Hospital
and the best OF their extrpat0n. These doeu
ments and the letter Of the Commissioners accompany
this report From this correspondence gather that the
Commissioners Of Charities and Correction are desrous
TO continue the hospital at Bellevue aud that the un
favorable reports regarding the sanitary condition OF
the buildings requiring their demolition were unfounded
in fact except far as was due 10 defective system
Of heating and yentating and the crowded state OF
the building defects which might be easily corrected by
imp rowing heating and ventilation and by extend
ing the buildings upon the spare land OF the place. My
own Impressions that the Bellevue buildings are
well located for hospital They could not be removed
and conveniently for 81 10000 and TO endeayor
to change them into q prison would DO great waste
OF money. The Commissioners OF Charities and Correc-
ton also state that their opinion the present City
Prison. with certain changes and additions might be
made to supply the OF the city for the next fifty
years Were II not for the imperative requirements OF
the law which provides that the Commissioners shall
"locae and erect suitable building In said city TO he
used as a city prison and Brdewel in the place ana
stead Of the buildings used and occupied for that
Durpose I'm said city" and "witbn six months
next succeeding the completion and occupation OF such
new building the building used "a city prison
and bridewell shall be vacated and the said building,
together with the land upon which the same Ia
erected, shall be put up for sale and sold
at public auction by the Commissioners OF The Sinking
Fund Of said City upon such terms either IN one parcel
or otherwise, as the said Commissioners of the Sinking
Fund shall determine it might be well 20 consider the
advantages of the present site have taken pains to
ascertain the conditions that should control in the loca
ton Of a new prison. This is not easy task. Various
elements are involved that Of the transportation OF
prisoners to the prison, their safe detention til trial. aud
after trial their transportation to their ultimate place OF
confinement The gathering grounds OF crime are from the
Battery to Kngsbrdge and tneadacent waters Of the
city, The police take all arrested persons first to the
Police Courts If OPEN and IL not to OF the various
staton-houses scattered the city, where they may
remain q few hours, and then TO one OF the I0lce
Courts, which located shown on the map hereto
annexed. The Police Court either hold the person
arrested for trial. or discharge him. The persons
rested numbering s629 for the year ending April g. s3
are thus wnnowed at the Police Courts, aud 1t is from
that the City Jail supplied. This is stated because IT
touches the question Of transportation OF persons ar
rested from the Police Courts to the Tombs or
ia 1t would seem, in this point Of view, that the new
jail should be centrally located, not geographically cen
tral TO the whole island which would not by any means
be in the center of arrests The population is more
dense below the Central Park 1t much
more so the east and northeast
than on the and northwest Of IT, jail located
about the geographical center OF the Island would,
therefore, not be the most conveniently located for
purpose Of conveying prisoners TO 1t. The Police
Courts not in permanent locations they tem-
porarily accommodated. It would be impossible to
Locate the prison with reference 70 their Unknown
future location. They moved about by whim and
fancy and by considerations Of fayOite Of prop
erty rented.
The second consideration Is that Of conveying prisoners
from the Jail 10 places Of ultimate confinement that is
either to BackwelTs Island Sing Sing. For this pur
pose prison. located the East River from Twenty
third to Eightysxh-s, would be convenient both TO
Island and to the station 90 take the cars to the
state Prison Tho third consideration is the conven
fence OF judges, law Offices, counsel, attorneys grand
and petit Jurors and witnesses who, TO the number OF
some hundreds are required 10 attend almost every
day The fourth consideration IS the necessary relations
OF the business Of lawyers engaged in the criminal ad
inistration with the Civil Courts at the City Hall II
unques0nably very important that these should be
The question OF the transportation Of the prison
inmates Is easily disposed or II makes very little
d renee, as respects the convenience or this service
where the prison located service OF vans VIII con
vey the prisoners TO the Brdoweh and from II TO tue
,.,ts,f - a.
The location OF the Court Of General Sessions In the
prison building viii avoid the distressing sights OF hand
cued men going through the streets N gangs from the
Touibs the courts I'm the City HJll Park where they
crowded IN suOcating masses while the trials are
II truly said that the present site is low. It s
csely the site OF the old Collect Pond; it IS by
claimed unwholesome, but the facts do not seem TO
bear out this latter statement JlOse familiar WITH the
ever known there aud that the chief difficulty Is owing
to the plan aud arrangement or the buildings, and the
drama ~ and want OF room Tue cause Of complaints
IA confined 10 the cell department, and is due to i'm
proper system OF plumbing work and drainage. Tho |
buildings are certainly not built upon tie most |
improved plan OF prison architecture, nor IL the |
block large enough to receive the buildings required to be
erected for the criminal courts aud tne prison, but this
might remedIed. The next block OF ground, pres
ent occupied as freight depot Is owned by the city,
De had. The arsenal building, also the next block |
above the depot, belongs TO the city. These blocks
mi ght be taken, and upon them new buildings for the
prison erected. Transferring the prisoners of
these when completed, the building for the criminal
courts required by the act to bo located In the prison
building might then be erected upon the present site of
the prison. Communication between the buildings
could be had by osed gallery extended the
Intervening streets Regarding the area Of land re-
qured FOR the proposed buildings have complication
to the officers OF the several courts 10 he accommodated
gathered together the Dimensions Of the cOurrOOms and
apartments required for transaetDg the business
of the criminal courts and from these have arrived at
the following conclusions: Considering tho accOmmo-
dations needed and allowing for such portions may
be located In upper stories, find that Tor the Court OF
General Sessions. the CITY Judge the Recorder aud the
rct-Attorney no provision = made for the latter
officer by tue net. building will De needed
which will occupy an area OF 10000
SQUARE feet. ! also tnd that to accommodate
the Court Of Special Sessions and the Police Court,
building VIII be required which will occupy 1000 square
feet or together there should be 1000 square feet