The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-11
THE NEW CITY PRISON.
Meeting or the Commissto ners-R port
of the Architect-Dtseu ssfon and Action

superintend the erection Of new city prison met
yesterday afternoon In the Mayors Office. All the
members were present, Mayor Havemeyer presid.
ing; Comptroller Green ana President Vance Of
the Board OF Aldermen.
The minutes OF the previous two sessions of the
Commission were read and approved.
The Comptroller stated that Mr.. Calvert vaux,
who has been selected as the architect OF the new
city prison, was not present on account of sick
ness, but was represented by Mr.. Withers.
That gentleman mad strewn upon the floor plan
OF the new Brldewell and also as 1t will appear
whenever it may be completed.
Mr.. Morrison, Clerk to the Board read the re-.
port Of the persons selected to examine the Tombs
and see whether 1T il feasible to rebuild 1t 80 as
to meet the exigencies Of the times The report
submitted is as follows:-
REPORT OF ARCHITECTS ON THE ToMBs
New YORK. Jan g. 1874
Hon; WIL Id 3 Eavn.EYHR' Chairman OF New City
sn3n ssG0Taaacs With yoar instructions have
9r the of forming 81 Rnsn IL regard 70 the
and two court rooms is 200 feet by 2 feet ana the space
occuped 6y the existing buildings Is shown on the ac
building known the Yomos
side OF central WELL The construction peculiar
built one over ne other. but selins back story
s lie upDsr ee are Uns ss
dimension small to repeat in new work it IS evident
s hs ss
al
wise to attempt to pron pa
by adding to that building. We therefore this
the
RaSssa ea ess
TO obtain this accommodated the outer wall of the
% OF sAGs ssnoss hs Line of es
plan gives block Of building entirely clear Of
Te' sn large S ~cd $40 ss
s court pp s 81 It's
S no oS BE
MAXI ss sr Of the above
poys s GELS for Women and the
prisoners, and in the latter all accommodation Tor
81: ss:ssr s. q
wen e hs
ton over stories: sa sH ssesna Ssn' he
Il @
R SB HGG bS
have settled and ' Of the h
At TINS time because It seems sufcienty evident with
enter sna Be
SSdns Gloss ac
the
is + is clear a all the
much Of the same buildings
site IL the SS e. he ns MI e
already issued It seems evident to therefore With
sOry
liz Of the ste .nS @
S IN med
apply
X TIE sss N % but the s
So greatly tast ne building the p%srsSy would
for The Saaa Of he cs IN the
building utterly detective and it should be remodeed
The south wins The building. facing Centre street is
Of LILLE use the neror
ing be remodeed for temporary service it being clear
needed By such ode alton about iourteen oeis o
tier might be ar9anged to take the place OF exist
fo determins ths cost Of che needed improvement
marked more plans and specScatons Would be re
tt than Ia sye Is been Tho
bity Of the site for further badns operations
ha
S the Sisa Of the TSme site VIII asO n all
woad sa s cJs ~ Ss
ton to the cost Of the foundation Respectfully,
( SA I. ExF 4fffh,iset xren,.ee.
After the reading Of the above Comptroller
Green said that the sum and substance OF the re.
port was that 1t would not be safe to build new
new structure could be erected inside the walls
He doubted If 1t would be good policy to do so,
however. az the building itself was built on piles
and II any additions were made to the Tombs
new piles would have to be oriven in for secure
foundation.
add new stories would not require new piles.
Mr.. Witkers remarked that new ones would be
requisite II only one story was added.
prisoners were too scant. The main reason for
the want OF 9 new prison seemed to be the reports
He b had been Informed that the late John Ren
nedy had said that there never was case OF chol-
era within Its precincts, and he (the Mayor had
never heard OF any diseases being there. Prison
ers, as rule, were there but for q limited time.
What use was there for providing for 300 addi-
tona ess or 70 ada nve OF SIX stores The city
Mr.. Vance introduced the following resolution,
which was adopted
Resolved That summary Of the proceedings Of this
ana op the m y BE- s s
to accompany the same.
Mr. Vance stated that the object of having the
proceedings printed was to show what had been
done, and also the necessities Of q new prison. He
mad no desire to spend any more Of the public's
money than was necessary; but he thought it bet
ter to stop the expenditure of millions OF dollars
for other improvements not needed and expend
some for the benefit of unfortunates who are or
may be confined in residential dungeons. AS it
was now, prisoners were crowded together like
sardnes In box, causing diseases to be con-
tracted.
The Mayor said the location was bad. He recol-
lected when 1t was built; people then said it was
not located properly, and It went by the name Of
Mr.. VANCE-"suppose it received that name
from Its Egyptian style OF archtectureY'
The MAY0R-"Think not 1t received that name
because whenever anybody got In 1t as prisoner,
there was no hope; such one was gone forever"
MIR. Vance said that 1t was necessary to have
had criminal courts increased, but no extra accom-
modatons had been thought OF for their prisoners.
Mr.. Vance also remembered that the Registers
office was regular finder box. II IL was
destroyed by fire, the loss would be in
calculable. II the new prison was erected
the District Attorneys ONCE and the Sherins
ONCE could be removed to 1t. The Register could
ind quarters that are nreproof, where the Sherins
oflces are now, ana the Corporation Counsel could
remove to the brown stone building, thereby saw
ing much rent to the city.
The Comptroller reminded Mr. Vance that one
the Common COuncIl