The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-15
PRISONS. OF new YORK.
Graphic Description Of Their Con-
duct and Appearance.
LIST OF NEW YORK CoNvICTs.
Habits OF the Prisoners
Portrayed.
THE LAPSES In PRISON MANAGEMENT.

AUBURN, N. Y. May O. 1874.
whoever visits Auburn, whether for business or
pleasure, IS sure, before leaving town. to be asked
II ne has been through the prison. That instltu-
tion-the Auburn State Prison--is looked upon as
the Mecca that attracts all visitors hitherward.
Not only are city murderers Of the grade OF young
Walworth, Gllen, Bleakley. McKenna, Bartolomeo,
Mcmahon and number Of Others involuntary
journers here, but here also reside Ingersol Of
Tammany fame, and whole host OF burglars,
thieves and robbers, whose exploits have been the
wonder OF the day OF their commission, the inves-
tgation OF which has occupied the time Of the
courts and filed the columns OF the newspapers
for years past. There are confined within this
dismal criminals home to-day 1855 convlcts Of all
grades, OF whom fully one-tnlrd owe their reten-
tiOn to the sentence OF New YORK courts.
THE AUBURN PRISON
lB gloomy structure OF dark gray stone, standing
almost In the heart Of the city. 1t has frontage
on State street. directly opposite the railroad
depot, OF about 800 feet, including central three
story building and two wings, which are occupied
as general offices Tor the prison and accommoda-
tons for the agents family. Extending pack at
right angles with this central structure are two
other wings, of similar architecture, containing
cells for the safe custody OF the prisoners. These
ranges OF buildings are further extended by brick
erections, running nearly 1000 feet further back,
and Joined by TRAVERSE building OF like character,
all used as workshops, and forming with the prison
proper, spacious quadranguar enclosure, which
is laid out in walks, grass patches and dover gar
dens, materially softening the gloomy features Of
the place. The necessities OF the prison have
called into existence other shops Of similar con-
struction outside ofthose above described, and so
arranged as to form parts Of q second and greater
quadrilateral, incOsing the former. On the main
front Of the building an extension toward the
south has been built, furnishing, IN the basement,
which is wholly above ground,
THE PRISON DINING ROOM;
on the first floor chapel, and above, the hospital.
The whole grand range OF buildings is inclosed by
q stone wall eighteen feet high and three and
half feet thick. On this wall guards, well armed
with rifles and trained to Shoot patrol throughout
the day. At night, when the convicts are confined
TO their cells, this precaution is unnecessary.
THE PRISON CELLS.
The prison is provided with cells for ,.272 con-
victs, allowing put one to q cell. The hospital
affords accommodation for about fifty more, or o
little more than four per cent OF the whole num-
Der, which is above the average OF hospital cases
In the institution. This makes rhe total accOmmo-
dations OF the prison, allowing but one prisoner to
cell, 1922, or but sixty-seven more than now
confined here. In Sing Sing, owing to the great
demands upon that prison, it frequently happens
that two convicts are compelled to occupy one
cell. careful measurement of the cells and cor
rid0rs shows that, with the apartments all occu-
pled there is an allowance OF but 800 cubic
feet OF air to eacn ledger. And this air is
required to support life during period OF twelve
hours There is in the wall of each cell two inch
aperture leading out to the roof, and number Of
ventilator openings are provided in the ceiling Of
the corridors but there are no means for forcing
fresh air into these dark compartments, the atmos.
phere Of which must of necessity become fptid
and poisonous in q few hours by the ordinary use
OF the multitude to say nothing OF their bodily
nalations and the doors arising from the tubs
with which each cell Is provided. In this respect
this prison is grossly deficient Its architect, who
ever he was, seems wholly to have ignored
THIS SUBJECT OF VENTILATION,
and utterly disregarded the health OF the future
inmates of the building The most competent
authorities estimate that there is required Tor
human being for every hour, an allowance OF fresh
air under different circumstances as follows -
Cubic feet.