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

From, the Report Of Joseph Baryiere, I'ioc
President Tennessee State Commission
Centennial Exhibition Of 1876, on Co / d
Heqth's Prison Construction:
The following is a synopsis of the re-
port of Vice-President Joseph Barbiere,
Of the Tennessee Centennial Commission,
on the only invention citizen Of Mem
phis had at the Nations Centennial.
The report, while lengthy, is neverthe-
less a Just one, due to the pluck and ge-
MUS Of the enterprising gentlemen who
are introducing this valuable aid to the
economy of our prison system. Messrs.
Cook & Heath, in connection with the
great works of Randle, Heath & Liver
more, are doing a grand work for Mem
phis, in manufacturing, thus furnishing
employment for our mechanic and Ia
boring classes. This Is the leading es-
tablishment of the Southwest, and de-
servedly 50. We are particularly pleased
to see our friend Livermore, of the rail-
road past, take so naturally to Theron
manufacturing interests, thus adding a
complete force to what is known as one
of the strongest teams in the iron econ
omy of the country:
Among the exhibits in the Govern
ment Building was one which deserved
more interest than it would naturally
awaken in the average Sightseeing
crowd. 1t was in the Patent Office De-
partment; being model, illustrating
improvements in the construction of
prisons and penitentiaries, invented and
patented by Messrs. Cook & Heath, of
Memphis. They have Dc veloped a COM
plete system OF prison construction, COW
ering not one point alone, but all the
points in which the customary methods
have shown themselves incomplete and
faulty. The chief point arrived at is
perfect security with economy, while at
the same time The system is designed to
allow of the highest perfection in warm
ing, ventilation, and healthful arrange
ment, and also admit of the finest archi-
tectural design of exterior. The system
is remarkable in presenting so many i'm
provements which are quite original, and
refesSs great credit upon the inventors
| for their pains taking thought and the
large amount of time and money which
| must have been spent in developing it.
The first noticeable feature of the in,
venti2n is the predominating use of iron.
In their initial plan for prisons the cell
is made of plates of cast iron, so fastened
together that no rivets or bolts are ex-
posed to the operations Of the prisoners
| from the inside. The floor of the cell Is
made of plates of cast iron, two feet vide
running across the cell, and each one sup
ported by lip on the edge of the next
The sides are constructed III the same
manner, and in the partition walls one
edge of each plate, which stands verti.
cally, is let into groove formed in the
edge of the next; so that the first step
in the construction eff cell is to build
a cast-iron box, the top, sides and bot
tom of which are fitted into and support
each other. Outside of this is built q
solid bulkhead of wood, and the exterior
of the building finished off in verJ
| desirable manner with brick, stone
wood or iron outside of all, making, al
together, compartment from which
| skilled mechanics, with the best tool;
and appliances of their profession, can
cut their way out only with severe and
protracted labor, and the job becomes
quite an impossible one for prisoners IN
der surveillance. Proper ventilation is
also attained without impairing the Sc.
curity. Cast-iron windows and door
frames of ample size are built into the
walls in sue. :. sae8a sr that they cannot
be removed without actually taking the
walls down. IN the frames are inserted
cast-iron windows and doors, three inches
thick. perforated with holes large enough
to admit an abundance of light and air,
but still quite secure from any attempt
IN hreak tL---~h Hhe ordinary glazed