Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-10-27

larging the system so as to accommodate
greater number Of prisoners, and 70
this reason the plan is peculiarly adaI
ted for
PENITENTIARIEs.
Mr.. Cook has drawings of plans 70
penitentiary houses which present tn
same improvements and the same syf
tenn of building. The present plan is T.
build penitentiaries with separate cell
for prisoners and in which they ar
locked up at night The Cook and Heat
method is to construct impregnable walls
windows and doors, one large dormitor!
with iron hunks properly arranged. Thi
they call the open ward system" b,
which all the prisoners can walk about
read, or retire at will, not being LOCKED
up in separate cells. A few guard
inside can enforce order The prisoners
cannot possibly get out, and this amelio
ration of prison life will have mos
happy effect on the convict when he dis
covers that all efforts at escape are fruit
less and that good behavior has the effect
of adding to his general comfort and
increasing kindness Of treatment on the
part of the keepers during his inearcera
ton.
We have given thus briefly a short
resume of the Cook and Heath system
of Improvement in prisons" AL
special details must be obtained from
these gentlemen. The rulers Of cities
and counties throughout the Southern
States will find it most advantageous to
communicate with them and investigate
this invention, which is destined to over
turn the old system of prisons and give
place to a cheaper and better plan
which seems perfect in all its details and
provisions.
WHO THE INVENTORS ARE.
AS an architect for taste and expert
ence probably Mr.. Cook has few superb
ors His works of public character
have always given the greatest satisfac
ton. Shelby county Jail was built from
his design and stands to-day unrivaled
by any similar structure on this cont
nent. Mr.. Cook, in all his works, has
labored for strength and durability in
preference to that himsy and millinery
style which panders to a debased taste
and in few years crumbles and withers
leaving the work an eyesore to every
passer by. Mr.. Cook has an advanced
idea of everything he undertakes, and
the time is not far distant when his talent
will be sought for in other and larger
cities where greater opportunities will be
offered him in consequence of more
wealth being spent in the style and finish
of edi6ces both Of private and public
character.
In the construction of jails and build
ings of like character he has devoted
much labor ard research, studying vel
the necessities to render them proc
from being broken, and guarding against
all the appliances used by the cracksmar
in making his escape, and it is such
minute study as this which renders the
architect successful in his work. The
great success of Hall, Urban and Others
as safe builders has been due to the;l
close study of the means employed by
the most notorious burglars to enter theil
safes, and from time to time in the man
ufacture Of these safes the burglar has
been foiled by finding such material:
and such impediments that, under erdi
nary circumstances, his occupation is
gone.
But while these safe makers have ex
celled in their works, we find on the
other hand that architects have not de
voted sufficient study to the requirements
of jails. A few iron bars, lots of bolts
and some plates of boiler iron have con
stituted the stock in trade; the building
put up at an enormous cost a general
jail breaking few weeks after having
been completed; continuous repairs, and
in few years the whole thing becomes
worthless
Mr.. Cook, in order to thoroughly per.
feet his plans and improvements in jai
building called in the assistance of Mr.
j. W. Heath, one Of the most expert
enced foundrymen in the Southwest
mechanic of well-known ability. Mr.
Heath at a glance saw the importance
of the work and a great undertaking
and with his characteristic energy al
once applied himself to mastering many
points which had hitherto been of some
difficulty in the construction of the large
plates required in Mr.. Cooks system
The valuable aid given by Mr.. Heath
and many improvements made by him
he necessarily became a joint inventor
and now this branch of the foundry bus
mess with him has become very large
and important, necessitating at the com
mencement Of next year an enlargement
of his shops
StRtiOn-HOuse Fun.