The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1879-02-11
OUR JAIL.
Report Of DR.. Jones, Attending
PhyNcian.

The condition of our Jail is most de.
plorable one, and the Couaty Court should
take immediate steps to improve it. One
year's incarceration in il h enough to break
down the strongest constitution, while it Is
almost certsin death to a man Of weak
physique The fsnlt is not with the
Sherifi,for he - careful and attentive TO his
prisoners, treating them with all the co.,
sideration con. listen, with safety; bot il
lies IN the CONSTRUCTION Of this abominable
rat trap, that lie neither safe nor healthy.
The BAzoo hopes the following sugges-
tions from DR.. Jones will receive the favor.
able consideration OF the County CGurt.
for the people Of Pettis would cheerfully
bear the expense necessary rather than to rest
under the opprobrium OF being enemies TO
common humanity in Perpetuating this
Young Black Hole Of Calcutta.
The following is Ds. Jones report:
To the Honoraite County Court q Isxs County,
Missouri:
GE>rLEMEx-H will probably be admis-
sable for me, a. attending physician to
the County Jail, to call your attention to
its condition. Several weeks ego vent
through it with the Grand Jury and pointed
out 10 them the Deficiencies, and | under
derstand that they have made . report SET
Ting forth the fact that certain improve
ments are absolutely necessary.
In the first place the room containing the
cells is too small--there being barely room
to walk between the cells and the walls on
either side. The rosi Of the cell leaks.
The floor is laid with brick-it II washed,
as it must be, several times a week, and the
brick are damp all the time, and water
soaking through, instead Of running oil.
The number Of cells is insufficient.
There are only six cells each, one barely
enough to accommodate two men, and yet
there are frequently twenty persons con-
fined there, and know that at one time
there were over thirty.
The cells are set down IN the floor. The
sewerage is bad ia that, and there are no
traps TO proven: the return Of noxious
gases into the room.
There are no bedsteads, and the conse-
quence is, the mattresses are laid on the
iron floor of the cells, and besides the dirt
and iron rust rendering the mattresses filthy
in the extreme. and it lie very detrimental
to the health Of the prisoners.
l would recommend that the roof be
remedied at once, and that an extension OF
the building by forty feet West, and At
least ten feet wider than the room now
used, aud that six cells more be put IN il.
suggest this because it is impracticsble
to put the new cells on top of the Others As
was originally intended.
/ also suggest that the cells now in use
be raised at least six inches, (preier ten)
and that the floor Of the old and new rooms
he laid with stone inst. ad Of brick-that
il be so laid that when it is washed the VA
ter will run Of that permanent iron bed
steads be placed in each cell. And that At
least four iron bedstesds (Permanent) be
III aced in the hall for the use Of sick persons,
and that the walls Of the rooms be white
washed twice yearly.
The Court can easily zee the necessity OF
these changes, when SO many prisoner (men
aud women, white and black are herded
together in filth, there is = great dear OF
disease, and some of it Of the most loath-
some kind.
While the average prisoner does not de-
serve much consideration, yet humanity
dem snds that while in durance they should
have CLEAN. wholesome quarters.
Respectfully. JACoB B. JONES.