The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-12-10
me new Jan and Jallor,s ResIdenee.

Saturday sars Dee s. s 81 q 800 70
The New IAN and Jallor's Residence.
Last Thursday we paid . visit to the archi-
tectural room q Larmour s Klerke, with a
view ..of making Ourself acquainted with
the general character and arrangement OF
the fine new Jail aud jailor's residence, now
in course Of erection at the head Of the
Avenue on the block Immediately north Of
Looms q Christians shop. The jail win
be located farthest east on this block, and
viii be built on the Norman castellated
style, so appropriately adapted to buildings
of this character; II win have an elaborate
stone front with some few italian debasts,
which will very much relieve the otherwise
gloomy impression that prison always
makes on the beholder; the two octagon
towers, one on each corner, viii make the
building present very fine prospective,
from the Capitol grounds. We have per
sonally inspected the foundations already
started and feel confident that more sub
stantial Job was never commenced in the
city, and If the contractors, Messrs. Caya-
naugh & Co., viii continue their contract
with the same energy, as they have started,
it will not be more thantwo orthree months
before the entire foundation will be ready
for the superstructure. The interior ar
rangement Of the Jail is such. as will at
once secure the greatest amount of safety
and comfort to the prisoners.
The jail is about fifty by sixty feet, built
in one large room, inclosed with two-foot
walls made Of solid, hard stone. About
four feet from the outside walls are two
parallelograms Of iron gratlngs, somewhat
in the character Of menagerie gratlngs;
each of these parallelograms are about
twenty-five feet; inside of these again is a
corridor, three feet wide, for the prisoners
to walk about OF exercise on when out Of
their iron cells, which are located in the
centre Of each parallelogran. The cells are
two stories in height, giving, in all twenty
four cells; each cell is eight by ten feet. An
iron stairway between the two gratings
gives access to the upper story. The outer
wall or partition to each ecu is made of iron
lattice work, thus giving plenty of air and
ventilation TO the prisoners. The floor of
the main room is to be-dagged with heavy
stone tagging, SIX inches thick, laid on a
concrete that is filed In above the heavy
store or brick arches supporting this entire
floor. BY a novel patent-leYeF arrangement,
all of the cell doors can be closed and shut
at the pleasure of the jailOr- without COM
ing in contact with the prisoners, and with
out going near them.
The jailor's residence is connected with
the Jail by means of long corridor.
Wecould almost wish to be jGlor, so COM
Portable seems his residence to be arranged,
and so fine is its exterior that We feel as
sured that it will be one Of the very finest
residences in the city Of Austin when COM
pleted. The first story contains parlor,
office and dining room, besides ample &C
commodatiOns in the way Of kitchen, SER
wants room and store room. The second
story has three comfortable chambers. The
fine French roof surrounding this fine cut
stone building is something that shows a
great deal of taste, and we believe this viii
be the first French roof in the city.
We also saw design for the new court
house, which will be great credit to Aus
tin, to the able commissioners on behalf Of
the county, and also to those architects,
Larmour s Klerke.. The new court house
viii entirely put the Capitol building in the
shade, and no doubt it will, when finished,
be the finest structure in the State, and we
feel assured that then our Legislators win
at once feel the necessity Of the erection of
a Capitol that shall be credit to the State,
and be built substantial and permanent
enough to last for the next hundred years.
TuE .CAPITo1 GROUNDS. Friday we
strolled up to the Capitol and were some
whSt astOnished to sec the progress Mr..
Voigt has made in the last few days in the
improvement and identifying of the grounds
in front of the building. The mason work
OF the terraces has been completed, and all
but one az them filed with rich black dirt
from the low grounds below, and the re-
manning terrace is nearly filed. The first
terrace on the right as one passes mp to the
Capitol is already graced with beautiful
evergreens and shrubs, as is the border
of the circling lawn on the right as
one enters the gate. A month ago
we took occasion to say that Mr.
Voigt was. in our opinion, the right
man in the right place; and now that his
work is far advanced, We have no cause to
change that opinion, and We venture the
assertion that our Legislators win be pleased,
perhaps delighted, with the appearance Of
the Capitol grounds when they meet here
next month. Mr.. vOigt Informs Us that by
Christmas he win be about through plant
ing trees, plants, flowers and shrubs, imme-
diately in front Of the Capitol, and that in
one week more the grounds viii present
far more attractive appearance than they do
now. an those 81 our citizens having
plants and trees ol,any kind to spare can
notify Mr.. vOigt By leaving note at
ThOmpson's drug 6loie, or through the post
Office.
TIE HoUsToN NaRR6w GAUoE RAN
noAD.-A Hossson dispsIc1 Of the thirtieth
70 the Galvenn Max 1Ealss that wagons,
teams and opl..'g nia.liiai for the con
struelion Of the 1oote railroad have arrived
in Houston, and lhsi abrk was 70 be CON-
mencod onthe frst Of Dsesnber. The peO-
pie Of Houston seem determined to keep
ahead Of agl other places - he siate il
railroad enterprises, and nov they are
reaching ont with their narrow gauge for
the trade Of Austin, Fayette Bastron,
Guadalupe, Hays end Conal eounsies, and
that she win sooner Or hlsr Sos is there