The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-11-11
THE CITY JAIL. !
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS APPOINT
] Ed TO INSPECT THE JAIL-RgsULT: OF
THEIR OBSERVATIONS = REcoMMENDA-
.s4TIoSs FOR THE IMPROVEMENT scF THE
INSTITUTION, &C., &C. go '.'5

The commissioners appointed By Judge
Christian, Of the Hastings Court. to inspect
and report upon the condition OF the city
Jail submitted the following report to the
Court on Saturday afternoon: r..
Judge George L. Christian. of The Hastings
| Court Of the City of Richmond
Sir,-The commissioners appointed to In
spect the Jail OF the city OF Richmond have
the, honor to make. the following report:
5 SIZE OF JAIL. ~
The building is of brick, three stories
high, 129 by 22s feet from out to out; first
story 8 feet high, second story high,
and the third story ten feet high: ----,
The first floor contains the following
cells: Twentv-four Sax6, six S4X5S, and
eight S4x53--in number thirty-eight,. 20 =.
Second story, twenty-four 97x6. Elk
l9sx53, and eight 9tx5-in number thirty
eight. 8. -q.3T. r1':Ey .1n-3.i
r. Third floor, or women's department, con-
tains the following rooms: Five in number
t14ax13, used for the women, and also three
used by the ofiicers-size, 11x143-in all
eight rooms. The cells on the first floor are
lined with boiler-iron, and all the doors on
the first and second floors, both sides, are
iron, with iron iambs. -
There are two corridors. one on either
side OF the Jail Second fIoor), extending the
entire length of the Jail. All Of the cells
and rooms have yentilating fues. besides
gratings at the doors, with close blinds ar
ranged to raise or lower at will.
SHED BUILDING ..-e.
is 50N11 from out to out, two stories in
[height-the first story feet high and the
second story 10 feet high, and contains the
following rooms:
Fhst floor: Boier-room, 1Otx22t; kitch-
en-, 1GtX275.
Second story: Lumber-room, 105x17 !:
store-room, .105x1G; and two cells 1O5xS&
each. .'.'
All of the windows in the entire building
are protected by iron bars or gratings.
There are two dungeon-ceIis located in
the west end OF the jal-size, 7sX43-ver-
tilatcd, but they cannot be much used on
account OF the water rising in them.
There are two wood and coal-vaults in
the front yard about 15x10 and 12sX10 re-
pectively.
The male department contains 14S rooms
or cells, 76 on each side, OF sufficient size to
accommodate three persons with comfort
although, if necessary, they would without
much inconvenience admit more. The five
rooms in the female department are sHffi-
cientiy large and commodious TO accommo-
date ten women each.
| There are three rooms now used as G
dining-room, chamber, and office by the
resident officers Of the institution, and also
by the attending physician as an apothe-
cary and prescribing department..
The engine-room requires two new gas
burners and some repairs to the BRICK
work.
- KITCHEN. $.
The oven and boiler require repairs, and
VIC recommend that this should be attended
to promptly, as they will be unfit for use in
short time. in which eyent'it will be. i'm
possible to furnish meals for the prisoners.
".: ... 80. = FRONT YARD.
| The pavement in the main yard or en-
trance IS damp and rough, allowing water
and trash of various kinds TO collect and be
deposited between the spalls. The yard is
thus rendered uncomfortable and unseemly,
and it may, moreover. be productive Of dis
case, We advise that it be grouted with &C.
ment, which can be done by the inmates il
the materials be furnished.
| DUNGEONS. s.-.
These cells, intended to punish and re-
strain prisoners who are obstinately DISC
bedient,4 violent, and unmanageabe, are in
dispensabe for the discipline Of the lnSti.
tuition. AS ut present, however, they are
totally unfit for the purposes for which
they are intended. The close proximity OF
the water running from the prvy renders
the floor wet and unhealthy, Impregnat,ng
tue air with most noXious mephetc etllu.
via, in hot weather intolerabie to the sense
of smell and dangerous to the health OF its
unfortunate occupants. Humanity requires
that these cells should be con demned. AS at
present situated torture aid disgrace may
be added in the ntliction OF punishment,
which, although severe, is nevertheless sal
utary and necessary. occasionally to restrain
turbulent prisoners. AS substitute fol
the present arrangement we recommend
that the two cells Oh the south side OF the
fiail be converted into dungeons to avoid
the objections applicable to these now in
use. -......-.
es CELLS. ...'.
On the whole, the cells are clean and
comfortable, and are provided with beds
and blankets. They are in good condition,
with the following exceptions: Nos. IS and
55, on the south side, require new flooring,
and also several OF the iron doors need re-
pair and painting, being much corroded
and broken by rust, rendering the keeping
Of the prisoners Unsafe. On the north side
(appropriated to white perscns), Cells Nos
&c. sc, and 33 require new flooring, the
present being much decaYed. Two door;
also require repair. In one Of these cells
there is leak proceeding from the hydrant
: in the women's department.. In severa
places the pavement, both on the north
. and south.side cells, is in bad and broken
condition, and we think it should be taker
up, relayed, and cemented, to prevent
dampness and contribute to the health anC
! comfort OF the. prisoners. We also recon-
mend that solid granite block twelve
inches square be placed in each cell, or
which the prisoners may sit, and at the
sametime be unable to use it to the injury
OF the :jai.er and others.
In order to economiZc and regulate heat
four stop.cocks should be placed on the
heating-pipes in the cells, both north anC
SOUTH There is much difficulty in main
tanning comfortable temperature in the
lower and distant cells, and it is necessary
to have this defect remedied before the re
turn of winter.
HosPITAL.ROoHs.
At this time there are no apartments ap
nrapriated to the sick, This is an evil o.
great magnitude, and needs redress. ManS
CAGES of disease, acute and chronic, RENE
diable with the aid and advantages OF
rooms devoted exclusively to the sick
prove fatal without them. TO establish
hospital, we recommend ttsat story be
built, over the kitchen, which will consist ol
three rooms, for the accommodation OF the
officers OF the institution; and that the
three rooms now used for that purpose be
appropriated to the sick. This much-need