Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-08-27
THE NEW WORK HOUSE.

Visit or MIR. Ettxg erald, OF Dstroit-A
startling Series of Imperfections In the |
Structure-Three Times as Much More
Building Room Necessity-Plans OF
the Directory.
Yesterday Il representative of the
GLOBE happening to meet Mr.. Lamson
inquired of him as to the condition of the
st. Paul work house, what Mr.. Fitzger-
aid SAID in regard to the project, and the
plans and intentions of the directors of
the institution. The result is given be-
low in the form of an interview:
Reporter-Mr. Lamson, | have under
stood that the newly elected superintend-
'ent of the work house has been here
L would like to know the situation of the
institution
MIR. Lamson--We have been expect
ing to receive persons at the work house
by the lst of October, but on taking Mr..
Fitzgerald to inspect the building we are
obliged to say that we have hardly made
a commencement yet in the way of build
1ngs and conveniences. The present
building is only 50xl00, three stories
high We find the building is not at all
PLANNED SUITABLY FOR WORK HOUSE PUR-
FUSES.
1t would answer very well
for small county Jail. The
cells now pelng constructed in the
building are of iron. They will be very
unhealthy for the prisoners, and they are
very unwisely made with view of put
ting two prisoners in cell. Being of
iron plate, communication can be had
through the cells, and can be sent from
one prisoner to another though all thejail.
Mr.. Fitzgerald says they would answer
very we'll for dungeons. The cells
should be built of brick, and of size
calculated to receive but one prisoner.
The part of the building in
tended for the superintendent residence
is entirely too small for that purpose.
1t allows for no office, and there is no
dining room provided for in the building,
and nothing that can be called suitable
kitchen or reception room for the pris-
oners. There is no bath room, no bar
Der shop, no place for religious services
on Sunday and there is no provision for
a laundry. The location of the building
is entirely too far from the center of the
city and will involve much larger eX-
pense in running the institution than had
it been one-half nearer. Without suit
able walls surrounding the premises it
would be impossible with safety to work
prisoners out doors. Mr.. Fitzgerald is
not friend Of the
BALL AND CHAIN.
business. Working some 900 prisoners
at Detroit, he has not put man in the
dungeon for six months, and yet he has
men in that work house of the most des-
perate character such as road agents and
murderers of the toughest sort. The in
stitution must be put upon certain
basis and have a certain capacity before
any attempt can be made to receive pris-
oners without great and improbable eX-
pense. 1t cannot be started in minia-
ture way. 1t will be necessary to add to
the present structure at least
THREE TIMES MORE BUILDING ROOM
Than there is at the present time, and a
good deal of solid brick wall will have to
be constructed besides A residence
building for the superintendent must
be built. The present arrangement
would require every prisoner to be taken,
no matter how profane, violent, or filthy
through the presence of the superintend-
ent's family In the present building
there is no place for a guard or watch
man to sleep. The directors, however
are not the least discouraged They be-
lieve the people of st. Paul
WANT A WORK HOUSE,
a good one, profitable one. The di-
rectors believe they will be thanked in
the future for not involving the city in
an inordinate expense merely for the sake
of nominally starting the work house the
present season.
Well, Mr.. Lamson, what do you pro-
pose to do then?
Mr.. Lamson-We propose to ask the
city of st. Paul for sufficient funds to
construct the additional buildings that
are found to be necessary. 1t is a mere
matter therefore of postponing the time
that we can receive prisoners and carry
out the wishes and expectations of the
people in this respect. Mr. Fitzgerald
stands pledged to come to us when we are
ready for him, and in the meantime he
and the whole corps of officers at the De-
troit house of correction will render us
all the assistance in their power in the
way of plans and suggestions, which
are the fruit of long expe-
rience and wonderful success. With
proper buildings, suitably equipped, Mr.
Fitzgerald thinks workhouse at ST.
Paul, located as we are, with large terri
tories at our border, can be made sue
cess financially, almost from the start.
Mr.. Fitzgerald is delighted with st. Paul,
with the people and the very evident
great future in store for us, and hopes to
be at very distant day citizen among
us. He left for Detroit last night
Two Tho usand Majority.