The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-03-02

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But the most important and novel I'M /
provement, and the one which promises
to be the browning point of success is tire /
holloG wall filed with dry sand or other /
mobile material which will run rapidly /
through even small hole, and effectually 1
prevent any operation beyond the first I
shell. To wall out body of mobile ma 1
terial 50 as to allow of working beyond 1
the hollow space is an operation the diff |
ficulty of which can be appreciated OILY I
by those who have had some experience 1
with loose sand. In addition to the df- .
iculty of getting through a body OF /
loose sand, weights are placed withinit, /
connected with q suitable alarm, so that /
as soon as the sand begins to settle fDm
running out, the alarm is given, and /
proper attention to the prisoner PILLOWS. /
The alarm may be placed at a dhtance
in the office of the highest official and /
any attempt to escape frustrated in pite I
sof inefficient or corrupt subordinates
These hollow walls may even be made (
of wood, easily cut through, and the sag
filling viii still afford an insurmountaSe
barrier to escape, as well as certain
tell-tale on any such attempt But
when the inner and outer shells of the
hollow wall are made OF cast-irOn, put
together in the secure manner previously
described, the space filled with sand, the
floor and ceiling being constructed in
the same manner, and a sufficient guam
tity of sand placed in reservoirs or hop
pers above the walls, and arranged TO
run into the spaces as fast as they can be
emptied below, with also an effective
alarm connection, we have prison wall
which seems to be absolutely perfect.
incidentally it may be mentioned that
the sand filling renders the wall imper-
vious to dampness or heat, and also when
put in partition walls is the best pre-
ventive of communication by sound from
cell to cell.
The cast window and door frames are
built in with the hollow wall as with the
/ other. Even brick, which alone make
the worst material fer prison wal, may
be used with safety in the construction
/ of the hollow wall.
An Improvement in the lock must be
noticed The lock IS fastened to the
/ cast-iron door, not by bolts or rivets but
( by being slid into dovetailed groove or
recess, and this protects the criminal
from the fury OF the outside mob, which
cannot, with few blows of cold chisel
and sledge, remove the lock and open
the door, but must cut through the solid
door, anywhere easier than around the
/ lock.
The model on exhibition shows tn
cell stilted on hollow cast-iron columns,
which plan, in some cases, may be adj
visable or necessary, as affording more
complete security against any attempt
to escape by cutting through the floor
of the cell. 1t gives the Waterman COM
mand at all times of the open space un-
/ der the cells, and also allows repairs to
the sewerage and water-PiPes which rass
! through the columns, without destDy-
/ ing the floor or foundation of the ell
Communication between a series Of
stilted cells and the main building nay
De made by means of a draw-bridge,
which can be raised and all connection
! cut off whenever desired.
An oblique door with perforated jamb
is one of the Improvements included in
this system. 1t is designed to give yea
tilation and an opportunity to Inspect
the cells. without permitting the occu-
pants to look from one cell into another.
Altogether the method of prison con-
struction which has been developed BY
/ Messrs. Cook & Heath seems to be far in
advance of the methods heretofore de-
veloped, in security, in healthful arrange
ment, in economy, and in adaptation not
only to every form of structure designed
for the confinement of persons, but alsc
to bank vaults and safe deposits, where
property is 10 be secured from outside
attacks.
The gratitude of the public is due to
those who have placed in the hands o.
Justice a tool so efficient as prison from
which there is, practically, no escape
As a preventive of crime such prison
is worth more than a thousand sermons
The county that has perfect prison will
be given a wide berth by the professional
criminal, and the prospect of inexorablt
confinement will offset many a tempta
ton. The dignity of the law is pre-
served, and the highest respect is ac
corded to the authority that is able tc
enforce, to the utmost, the punishment
it has decreed.
A number of prisons have already beer
built by the inventors of this system
and its completeness thoroughly tested
Parties who can appreciate the work
ings OF this prison system will do well Il
correspond with Messrs. Cook & Heath
Memphis, Tennessee.