Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-03-17
CAsr.rROx yArLs.
The Cook a Heath Patent Prison,
One that burglars Cannot break
IhrOugh-Th0 Most Useful Inven-
sion or the Age for Ciyflizea COun.

= or the 8 0 Civflizca COun-
Sometime since our scientific reporter
noticed an invention of Mr.. j. B. Cook,
the wellknown architect of our city, and
Mr.. ]. W. Heath, the practical foundry
man and scientific mechanic. 1t was a
cast iron Jail peculiarly adapted to
county seats and cities, where the secu-
rity Of prisoners is a necessary requisite
and where the ~cheapness OF the prison
forms an important item. Where you
have insecure jails crime generally pre-
walls, because thieves and burglars have
no fear Of long detention after capture;
on the contrary, where you have a prison
from which it is next to an impossibility
to escape you find criminals giving such
a location a wide berth. From any jail,
wherein the doors and windows are of
wrought-iron, the expert burglar, armed
with a few files or watch-spring saws,
etc.. a easily cut his way out and
escape, but the chilled castiron windows
and doors defy the teeth of files and
saws, and these windows and doors form
such a labyrinth Of complicated p~erfora-
tons that even if the tools would take
hold, the work necessary to be done
would consume years Of time.
A few days since our scientific man
examined a model of the cast-iron jail
above referred to. The model is com.
plete in all details, and is, for conve-
nience Of examination, divided into
three parts, the ground floor showing
the officers chambers, s~.airways, heat
ers, offices, etc, the second story show
ing the cast-iron cells, and opposite
wooden cells for ordinary prisoners, the
third showing the roof. The design is
very architectural, presenting an orna-
mental appearance, and not the gloomy,
f%orbidding look ordinarily presented by
prisons Of the old style. The three great
objects to be secured in a Jail are econ
omy, comfort and security; and this
problem Messrs. Cook & Heath have
successfully solved.
The manner in which the new Jail is
constructed will give the best idea of its
security. Perforated windows and doors
solidly cast are put up; these are secured
by heavy iron plates and iron works.
These are put together with laps and
grooves, without riveting or bolting-they
lock into each other. Then comes the
wooden b%ulkheading, and outside Of this
the brick or stone walls. The cells are
iron, top, bottom and sides; all pressure
from within only adds to strengthen the
cell, and parodoxical as it may appear,
the only way to break out is to first
break in. You have first to tear away
the brick or rock masonry, then the
heavy bulkbeading, and lastly the iron
plates, commencing from the inside be
ing a practical impossibility, as all pres
sure only produces increased resistance
The windows and doors, perforated as
they are, admit plenty Of air and light.
The prisoner inside may be presented
with a kit of tools with which he may
amuse himself for months, and still he
will be sealed up in his cell, unable 10
cut his way out. No bars are there 10
cut or wrest from their places. 1t is
solid cast.iron everywhere, and the man
is in q living tomb. Indeed, that cele-
brated motto which the poet places
above the gates Of the abode Of the lost
may well be written over each massive
door, Who enter here leave hope be-
hind. The iron works of these jails
are constructed here at the foundry of
Messrs. Randle, Heath q Livermore.
The counties Of Pamela, Coahoma and
DeSoto, in Mississippi, have the Cook &
Heath patent prison, and those in charge
express their appreciation in unqualified
terms. They have ALEC been constructed
in the towns of Trenton, Ripley, Gov.
ington and Brownsville, where they give
unbounded satisfaction. From Texas
and Virginia committees have come 10
inspect the patent, aud they returned
favorable reports. When iails are
secure prisoners can be treated with
greater humanity than a possibly be
shown them in wrought-iron or brick
prisons wherein the desperate prisoners
are hsndcuffed and shackled. la the
cast-iron cells they can be permitted to
walk about and take exercise, they being
securely hedged in in a manner pre-
GLIDING all ideas Of successful efforts to
escape. So much for safety and com
fort. Now for the other requisite
cheapness. 1t is susceptible OF practi-
cal demonstration that the Cook &
Heath patent Jail, costing $4,000,
would cost under the old plan at
least $4,000. And a fifty thousand
dollar Jail of this patent could not be
equalled in any respect by the old style
for the sun of one hundred thousand.
The windows, doors aud necessary iron
works are constructed under the imme-
diate supervision Of Mr.. Architect Cook,
one Of the inventors, and his co-inventor,
Mr.. j. W. Heath, a practical foundry
man. The elegant model, perfect in de-
tail and construction, will be on exhibit
ton at the Chickasaw Iron Works until
tomorrow, when it will be carried 10