Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-12-07
PERlTEETIARY COMMISSION.
Action Of This Body Regarding
the Erection Of a New
Prison.
J. n. Cook, Architect, Submits
Plans which are Adopted.
Nashville Banner.

| iOh ucW ptlbOu. Mayor hpfOheVal
Colonel Cole, Mr.. William Litterer
Drs Cheatham, Roberts and Plunke
we're present by invitation Of tn
commission. Mr.. Cook explained
his plans aud specifications in detail
after which they were unanimousl,
endorsed and adopted by the com
mission, and they will so report Il
the next session Of the General As
sembly.
The plan ADOPTED for the presep
structure is that Of central hall o,
rOtunda, with radiating wings, will
an observatory in the center OF the ro
tunda whereby the keepers can over
look all the cells at once. Also con
nected with the central hall is win,
Tor female convicts, and opposite thc
same hospital for males and females
RadiatiDg again from the rotunda 4
the chapel and the clearinghouse. AZ
the extreme end are the dining halls
kitchen, storeroOms, boilerhouse, en-
gineSoOm and laundries. Situated il
the yards are the waterworks. water
towers, heating and ventilating house,
the whole inclosed by high wall.
In front and connected with the 70
tunda are the Offices and guard rooms
and outside are two dwellings for tht
chief officers The building as do
slgued has capacity .or 1000 son
yicts, 4DS in each of the lesser wings
and 523 in the central wing The
chapel has a capacity for 1000 con
victs, and is so arranged that each has
q view Of the minister but at the
same time cannot see each other,
Tho central hall or rotunda is ninety
eet in diameter and rises to the full
iehth Of the building and above the
tops OF the wings and is surmounted
by dome Of glass and iron with
lookout on top. In the center OF
tie rotunda is the observatory, each
floor Of whicl is on a level with the
gaDgway Of the cells, and each floor OF
which is reached by fight of steps
Steps also lead to the basement of the
rotunds. Tho walls are Of rusticated
cou sed quarry faced masonry. with
dressed trimmings. The general con
strucliou Of the prison is that Of a
prison within a prison, according "a
paten's granted Cook 4 Heath August
II, 1874, September %, 1875, October
D, 1875, and October l9, 1875. These
patents extend into England and
other foreign countries, and under
these patents most OF the oonstruc
tion is made, but no royalty fees
are asked, so the expense is
considerably reduced as to cost. De-
sign No shows the frat floor plan
OF the whole work OF the penitentisry.
Design o 2 shows 10 part the base.
ment, and in part the roofing. Design
No 3 shows section through the
cells. Design No 4 shows lengitu
dinal section through gangway, also
side elevation of cells, aud a side ele
vatlon of exterior OF wing
The basement contains the columns
q ION which is bgilt the whole of the
eell structure. The object of thi-
building is for the purpose Of giving q
clear space beneath the cells for q free
circulation of air, aud at the same
time giving the guards an uninter-
rupted view OF all that is goingon The
lis being as it we're stilted from the
ground prevents the prisoners from
burrOwing out. lIF '.'
The hilht of each story is 8.6 feet.
There are four tier OF cells; each cell
is 8x8 feet in hight. The erst story
is reached from the rotunda by a
bascula gangwsy. This gangway is
hinged after the manner Of a draw.
bridge, so that it can be elevated or
depres,ad as desired. During the day
It can belowered whenever it is neees.
sary 70 pass from the rOtuuds to the
cells, and at night closed fast. 1t is
designed to VI < automatically.
The cells are instructed Of oastirou,
consisting Of platea three eighths to
one-halt incb2s in thickness, are
tongue and gro ved and also reinforced
by ribs 50 Os to give additional
strength tn to to ;a .ac same Inc plates fit
into channel iron frame, and az SO
arranged that all rivets and bolts are
not within reach Of the prisoner
Each cell is provided with one open
barred window. TIE door is con
struCted on the oblique plan, beinl
set at an angle to the face Of the wal
Of the cells. As shown by the plans
the side joint has projection ofabout
one foot, and sets out from the face Of
the cell. AS shown, it is perforated
for the admission Of both air and
light. Attached to this is a shutter
the uses of which are for the purpose
of closing up, when required, the
perforated joint; for instance, al
lock up time in the evening, this shut.
ter is closed and locked, and when
locked forms an impenetrable barrier
against escape. The cell door Is per.
iorated at the bottom also for the ad
mission of air when the shutter is
closed.
The arrangement of the lock il
new, being protected by bolster and
dovetailed into same, dispensing with
all bolts aud rivets, thus avoiding
the cutting OF same by the prisoners.
The door is also provided with trap
door, to communicate through to the
prisoners without unleating the doors.
Each cell is supplied with a patent
water closet and water basin, all acted
upon by an automatic arrangement.
The gangways between the cells are
Of perforated iron, so as to allow of a
free and upward circulation Of air.
The roots are composed OF wrou gh
iron principals aud purlins Of wrou gh
iron, and are to be covered with iron
plates specially manufactured for the
purpose. The windows are of cast iron
with perforations as shown. The
frame ia also OF the same material, and
the method Of in-building the same
forms a peculiar feature. All the
windows are supplied with glazed sash
in the usual manner.
The method Of warming the build.
Jog Is BY low pressure steam, through
pipes In the basement and coils II
the Off 'es, etc. / have adopted this
method as being the most effective
and at the same time the healthiest.
The interior viii be lighted Will
electricity. The water supply will be
abundant and the ventilation will bt
complete as he promises TO employ BIZ
own system foI this purnobe'