The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-08-25
The Southern Penitcntiary,
WHY THE COMMISSION SELECTED GRAND
TOWER AS THE sITE-Too MUCH CLAT.
TER FROM THE OPPOSITION.
From the State Repistar

| WHY THE COMMISSION SELECTED GRAND
TOWER AS THE sITE-Too MUCH CLAT.
TER FROM THE OPPOSITION,
From the State Register
There is little too much clat ter
against the location of the Southern pen
itentiary at Grand Tower to be strictly
honest, for while it will HAPPEN that
each person may have his individual idea
as where the prison ought to have been
located, a great many seem to forego
any inquiry as to howit was to be 10.
Gated
One of the prime conditions imposed
on the commission was that OF fixing the
location in strict accordance with thelaw,
| and this tact struck Alton, which is in.
comparably the best location, on all &C.
counts, out OF tue list, before a single
meeting OF the board was held. The law
provided that the site should consist of
not less than 100 acres OF land IN body.
and while the letter OF the law might
have been complied with by location
at Alton, the spirit OF the law would have
been violated; for it Is known that this
clause was fabricated for the express
purpose OF preventing the state from
enjoying the advantages which q location
ut Alton would give. This clause was
arranged by Senator Krone, of Madison
as the representative OF the Alton people,
and Its adoption by the legislature was
etfectual. Next to Alton, Grafton pos
sessed the greatest number of natural
advantages, but unfortunately, it is
almost inaccessible for the central and
southern portions of the stale. Without
any rail communication at all, Il lies
above that portion Of the Mississippi
which is always naylgable. The law
which sets forth perpetual water priyil.
eye us one OF the prerequisites Tor a
location, confined the board in their
choice to the line OF the Mississippi river.
Acting on this theory, Chester was
considered us location, but there were
difficulties which seemed almost fatal.
mus the board was at last driven
TO the exclusive consideration of
Grand Tower, and has located the pris-
on there with the almost certain approy.
al OF the state officers. or this location.
II may be said that tbs more accessible
ny rail- or river than Grafton. and quite
as much SO as Is Chester, Ii possesses
all the advantages for manuiac,urin1
which an abundant supply OF stone coal
and timber afford, and Is the point
where the coal Of Illinois and tho iron of
Missouri meet. A large part of the
goods manufactured ut the prison. such
as wagons and agricultural Implements, |
VIII have the benefit of the Southern
market, which is certain 10 be more
every season for many years.
u Is urged that the prison at Grand
Tower viii not command the st. Louis
market as would prison ut Alton, but
at st. Louis prison products from Jef1er-
son City would be found in competition:
md, In any event, the river from Grand
Tower to st. LOUIS Is open much longer
Than from Jefferson City, or Alton, or
Iralton, to 81. Louis. Still, the 81.
Louis market, under any circumstances.
cannot be considered as valuable as that
offered by the line Of the southern Mis-.
slss,ppi, with at present only one prison
on us banks, and that ut Baton Rouge,