The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-07-07
THE STATE PENITENrIARY.
A Model Institutfon-Impro
Being Made-A Well cond"''e"


Prison. -y
Among the institutions OF the State
none are more deserving ot mention,
perhaps, than the State penitentlsry at
Moundsyills. This place was recently
visited by reporter of tbs paper ana
il is with some degree OF pride that wa
point to It as one of the hsndsomest edih-
ces in the State The building Is com
posed entirely OF stone, and cement lors
are used throug bout. Entering the main
building the reporter was pleasantly
greeted by Captain Bridges, the gentle-
manly Superintendent OF the instltutIoh'
who showed us around, so TO speak, IN
handsome style, and gave the desired IN
formation for the formation OF snort
sketch in relation to the premises. A
description of the building has heretofore
been published in full, al OF course II Is
rot necessary TO repeat 1t. Inns os'ns
the case we,will contne ourselves 10 mat
tiers of more newsy nature sus speak
of
THE IMPROVEMENTS Now BEING MADE
In the first place large stone porch
is contemplated immediately IN front
of the entrance to thai building,
which will add materially to
its appearance. New boilers and engines
are also being put in the building. tor the
purpose of running the machinery In the
different manufacturing departments
connected Herewith, and for heating he
entire building by steam. In connect on
Herewith a smokestack 100 feet in
height, Is feet square at the base ana I
feet square at the top, will be erected,
and for which Mr.. G. G. Kembie, the
wei-known architect OF this city, is now
preparing plans, which fact guarantees
that what is to be done will be well done.
THE BOILERS
will be four in number, each AZ inches IN
diameter by 26 feet long, with wrought
iron heads and two -fues, each 10 inches
in diameter, shells OF q. H.; iron 10
inch in thickness and fiues / inch IN
thickness. including steam drums, stand
pipes, fire fronts, CRATE bars and Gil neces-
sary sppurtensnces. These boilers Will
be set in batteries OF two each and so con"
nected that the four boilers may be ope-
rated together, or one Of the batteries OF
two boilers Independent OF the other bat
tery of two boilers, as OCCASION may re
quire, the purpose being to afford ample
steam capacity for supplying engines
heating apparatus, &C., when all are used
rs in winter, and 3 smaller amount Tor
summer use, without the expense OF run.
ming and operating the whole boiler
power.
THE ENGINES
will be two steam cylinders, each IA
inches in diameter and two feet stroke.
with double slide valves, and connected
to one engine shaft at right angles, the
engines set on solid cast iron box bed
plates firmly connected the one to the
other. A band fly wheel OF suitable
weight and siz3, necessary valves proper
steam pipe connection, each furnished
with governor, &c, complete with
wrought iron shaft and balance crsnks,
and constructed in the best manner for
economy, durability and practical results
The reasons for having two engines IN
place OF one, are: In the driving OF
wood working and other
FAST RUNNING MACHINERY,
stesdiness of motion is very important
consideration, ard with two engines,
connected MS above named, this is more
readily and certainly acquired. the
two engines aggregate 1870 of nominal
and l20 of actual horsepower, and pro-
duce more advantageous results In e&-
pansiOn of steam, economy IN use OF
| iual. have less wear and friction OF
working parts and less first cost OF con
struclion than one engine OF equal
power. An independent steam pump or
doctor will DO used tor supplying
either or both batteries OF boilers with
water, using fllering heater. For the
above machinery, which is intended TO
include engine, boilers, fire. front &c, set
up in place, al complete, excepting
brick work and foundations, not less
than eleven thousand dollars will be eX-
pended.
In addition to the above improve
ments, it is slso proposed to
FURTHER IMPROVE
the building by heating it with steam
and lighting II with gao, for winch latter
Improvement pipe has already been put
in, and all that Is now neeted l. the ga
fixtures. With this addition 10 the inst
tuition, the West Virginia pcnltentiary
will be model onein every respect, and
will compare f,vorably with any IN the
country, not excepting the ;sr-tamed IN
situations NJ Colum bus and joliet But "a
there are about the only improvements OF
note being made, with the exception OF
Identifying the grounds, It is we'll 10
pass on to the interior OF the large yard
come cted with the building, and see
WHAT Is BEING DONE BY THE CoEvICTS,
of whom there are 26l now confined in
this place, SO of whom are United States
prisoners, 6 Of them being Indians. En-.
terri z the yards, gangs OF convlcts can
be seen on every hand busily engaged ut
their respective employments. In the
carpenter shops 10 men are kept con-
stantly employed; II are employed IN
the wheelright shop u in the black
smith shop; 50 in the broom factory 3
in the shoe shop; IL the tailor
shop; in the brickyard; 30
in the cigar shop; in the paint
ployed at various kinds of work sbout
the premises.
THE STRICTESr DISCIPLINE
is observed among the prisoners, and so
well is the institution mar aged that each
of the convicts goes vt his work with
VIM that appears more like pleasure to
the observer than if he were eking out
q miserable existence working for the
State snd turning out about 81 600 worth
o. manufactured goods per month. In
the past five years only five deaths have
occurred. or one death Tor Zach year, and
the health ut the present time OF the
inmates is good, bat two or three being
in the hospital. In conclusion We eX
tend our thanks to Capt. Bridges for
tavors shown US IN making this hssty
sketch of what is now transpiring in
the State prison, and congratulate him
on the successful manner in which he
is conducting the Institution.