Litchfield enquirer., 1876-01-27
THE JAIL.

THE JAIL.
 On our first page will be found the con- clusion of our report of the proceedings of the representatives meeting regarding the iail; and, to the better understanding of the controversy at that meeting. some reference to the present condition of the jail building and the proposed repairs seems necessary.
 The present jail was built between sixty and seventy years since. It is about fifty feet square with a wooden addition on the north end for kitchen. The jail proper occupies the western half of the building with three tiers of cells ranged north and south along the west wall, and opening into room with large window at each end. The eastern half of the building IS occupied by the iailer's family, and was originally designed for use as hotel or boarding house, which enabled the jailer, in old times, to add something to salary which would have otherwise have been too small for his support.
 The outside walls are in bad condition. They seem not to have been kept well protected by paint, and the mortar is very generally washed out for an inch or more hack betxeen the layers of brick which arc themselves much softened. Repeated but unsuccessful attempts have been made en ffr~e hom kN sort of a decent appearance to the outside of the building by pointing and cement. ing. The walls are much cracked and are considered weak by builders who have ex- amined them. The window sashes are in very poor condition; the window frames in many instances badly decayed, ,and gen. erally dilapidated. The inside of the eastern half of the building is in shocking condition. The timbers supporting the floors are routed off where they enter the brick work, and, some years since, an at- tempt was made to strengthen them by iron bolts run through the outside walls. Anyone can stand in the office, as many of the representatives know by experlence. and shake the wood work clear to the roof. The clustering of the walls is badly broken and the ceilings are falling in many places. Indeed, builders say that the inside is only sustained in it's place by the partitions, and that tanything like thor ough repair would end in it's entire removal. The ''purlin" plate which supports the roof is broken, decayed. and sinks con. siderably in the middle. rafter which runs near the northeast chimney is com. pletely rotted out and the water pours in at the depression made thereby. The wooden addition in which is the present jail kitchen is so routed that it is to be taken away, necessitating complete re- modelling of the lower story of the main building to give room for kitchen.
 Most of the debate of last week was up- on the plan of repair suggested by the committee to the representatives meeting of Oct. 1st, and, on the statement of Measrs. Bartram and Hotchkiss that they could make the repairs therein specified for SIC. .OO0, adopted by unanimous Vote at that meeting. We give such portion of the vote as deals with this matter. in full:
 That an addition of forty feet to the west end of the present jail building, with twenty eight new cells arranged in same . manner as indicated in the new plans; and rsarranging the cells ill the present jail to conform with the new part with twelve cells; making in all forty cells for males. Make full arched opening about seven feet wide through the end wall on both sides. connecting the new and old parts, which will make the jail in it's arrange ment of cells and ease of supervision, substantially if not exactly like the plan reported for new jail. To make floor between what is now the second and third tier of cells, putting upon this floor six cells for female department and debtors use, with door and stairs 10 the iailer's office. also to remodel the jailer's depart. msut laying the first floor over with new timbers and in general to conform it in its arrangement to the iailor's department in the new plan Will cost ten thousand dol lars. ...-... ,. Ea
 It will be observed that the repair of the jail proper required the entire remov- al of the present cells, an addition 40 feet long and two stories high. .and an arrange :. ment of forty cells in two double tiers, back to back. running through the centre A Q the proposed jail room, from east to west. or exactly at right angles with their present position. Two arched passages; seven feet wide were to be cut through the west wall of the present jail room and the :. third story was to be separated by a floor, and entirely remodeled for wemen's and debtors rooms. Nothing but the mere shell of the old jail room was to be pre-. served by this arrangement What was to be repaired in the east half of the building Is not so distinctly stated, the matter being summed up in the, single clause :: 1"with door and stairs to the jail CTS office {; also to remodel the iailor's ? department, laying the first floor over with new tirnbers, and in general to con- form it in it's arrangement to the jailor,s depa.trnent in the newplan." A thorough ! repair ot the east part of the jail certain. ] lylseemed to be intended. :. although the .i'committee seem to. have imagined that it was only the timbers of the lower floor that were rotted of where they joined the outside walls. Subsequent examination led the architect to believe that: the tim