National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-20
THE PRISONERS HOME.
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISING ARCHI-

REPORT OF THE SUPERVISING ARCHI-
TECT.
The annual report Of Mr.. A. B. Mullett, super
yising architect OF the JAIL has been submitted to
the Secretary Of the Interior. He says, In refer
enee to the new jail, that the work has not been
satisfactory and It has been impossible to ineose
the building as anticipated. The delay ne az
McGOwan 4 Co., through the failure OF the
Maryland FreestOne and Manufacturing OOu-
pany 10 meet their obligations to the contractors
Mr., MuIlett then speaks Of the limitation on the
cost OF the building being imposed Dy Congress
before any plans or estimates had been prepared,
and for this reason II the cost was insisted upon II
would be necessary 10 omit many important Items
Of work and to complete the building in an unsat-
isiaetory manner. Also, OF the sum OF S5O,OOO
being appropriated by the last Congress in ae-
eordance with his Recommendation, to meet this
deficiency and secure a good building. The re-
port gives schedule Of the bids for the stone
work. which was awarded TO Messrs. NJ. A. Nc
GOHan & 90. at $50, 1926, and the iron work to
White Bro. for g, 147.17.
The report then states that inasmueh as It was
desirable that the carpenter and joiner work
should be performed by mechanics employed by
the Government that the work had been done on
The report further says: Should no unforeseen
delay occur the building can be completed during
the present fiscal year. desire, therefore, to
arrangements for the supply Of furniture and
other necessary articles that must be supplied
before the building can be occupied. would
also recommend that an appropriation be OBJ
tanned for inclOsing the grounds between the
building and the public street. desire again to
call attention TO the fact that the building will
be, when completed, suitable and Of Sufficient
capacity not only for the ordinary purposes Of
lail, but for penitentiary, anC as the premises
are of ample capacity, 1 would recommend that
authority be obtained for It's use as peniten-
tiary as we'll as 4 jail.
The expense would be comparatively light
being little more than the cost Of material neces
sary to construct wall around the lot and the
necessary shops, the labor being supplied by the
eOnviets, who could also be employed in the
grading Of the premises and extending the prop-
erty TO the main channel OF the river an improve
ment which is very greatly needed, and which
q merely nominal expense, a large amount of
valuable land reclaimed, and the locality made
as healthy as any in the District. In addition
to the advantages enumerated above q very large
saving would be effected, the Government hay
ing paid since 1860 the Of 500 6S2 10 for the
transportation of cOnVicts from the District to the
various State penitentiaries and their mainte-
nance, and feel satisfied that instead fthe con-
viets being an expense to the Government they
revenue.
Mr.. Mullett recommends separate building
for the detention and reformation OF female pris-
oners. In this connection he suggests the pro-
priety OF removing the poOr-hOuse to some more
desirable locality, and Of converting the present
building into a house Of correction for female
prisoners. In concluding Mr.. MuIlett says that
met his expectation, the work has been conducted
with economy and success. Its character is IN
surpassed by any similar building in the country,
and it will be found when completed the best ar
ranged, best lighted and ventilated prison yet
constructed.