The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-30

Inc New Female Ward nj the Penifenfisry
About crmpleted-Ifs Cost Sfo.ooo-com-
ferts and Conveniences or Prison Life.

The new ward for female prisoners af IA,
peniteutiary is. about completed. II is 4
brick building on granite foundation. Ia6
leef front by 1872 deep. and Is l,cated close
70 the western wall OF the institution. front
ing southwardly a. that does: but thrown
back from the line Of the other about 100
Yards. IL i easiest approached by wav Of
Jefferson and Beiyidere streets.
For many wears past the female convicts
have been confined ia mean frarned build
ings outside of the walls: buildings which
are not secure against pTison-hreakers. not
safe in case Of fire, not toIersble 70 live In,
not pleasant 10 look at.
The building OF new ward. long con-
templated and talked about. was. under au-
tbority OF the General Assembly, con-
mepced by the Board OF Directors
some Two years ago upon a plan resolved
upon by the Board, after Superintendent
Williams and Alr. Andrews, one of the di-
rectors, had made a visit Of inspection to
many northern prisons. In those DAYS the
convict Marvin seems to have had some
thing to do with the plan: but his connec-
ton with II seems 10 have been as costly to
the state a. il was distasteful 10 the public.
FIRST LOCATION.
The superintendency of the work was
given 70 Mr.. Andrews, and the building was
located quite near 10 the front line Of the
penitentiary; but after a great deal Of
heavy masonry had been done Il was de-
ter1nined by experts that the ioundsson
there was bad, and il was resolved to cease
work and 10 select q new site tc the rear
~ ir~ Ir Irssf i
ri T.. Lindsay Walker was put in charge
o. the work; a fine foundation below the
gravel-beds was found; and the faults Of
the plan, as far as could be done, were
remedied.
Under General Walkers supervision the
building has been brought to completion.
1t is neat, solid-looking, well-venti-
lated, well-hghted, comiortablv-arranged.
and secure prison. There are about 80 fe-
male convicts in the institution at present.
This new ward has $50 cells-j0 in tier
and each cell is eight feet long. four and a
half wide. and nine feet pitch. Fresh air
Is brought in through The grated doors and
by means Of ventilators reaching 10 the
roof. Chapel. hospital. laundry. &C., have
their proper places in the building.
A door viii be cut from the penitentiary
proper, through the western wall thereof.
into the yard Of this ward, and the women
viii then pass directly from their quarters
10 their workshop, where most Of them are
employed in work OF parts Of shoes.
NEw OFFICES.
The rooms Of the first story Of The
front Of the new building are for the
use Of the superintendent. surgeon. and
~ -
long-existing want. The old Offices
at the arch-that i, az the door Of
the main entrance-necessarily had a
shabby appearance. and were void Of
privacy. They VIII be kept up only so far
a. the reception and discharge Of prisoners,
passing in and out Of workmen, &c.
render them necessary.
The LOT Of old wooden buildings in which
the women are now confined viii. after
they are ablndOned-say about February
1st-be torn down. and the ground occu-
pied BY them smOOthed over, and the en-
tire frontage Of the new ward made into a
grass-plot. The surroundings Of the prison
are bad enough at best. Some effort oug ght
10 be made TO improve them.
THE COST.
The new building win cost about
$4,000. and seems TO have been-barring
the grea, blunder Of the first location
money well invested. General Walker has
been congratulated by his brother-engi-
neers and architects upon his success in
changing the location; in working out the
plan and utilizing the resources and ma
terial II hand. No doubt his efforts have
been well sustained by the Board and SUI
periutendent.
MORE WORK NEEDED.
Prison-life is bad al best. II Is not ne
cessaTy for the state 10 add new horrors 10
il by Yileness Of PRISON arrangements.
y et such j. the cslse now with the men
in our peniientiary: they are crowded
tive. ten. fifteen 20 q cell
Il i a reprOach TO our civilization.
II The pcnitentiarv i % stay where Il
is-and thi, last addition makes IL re-
moyal more than ever improbable-the
men convlcts, in their sleeping quarters.
ought % De given more air 10 breathe.
Yes. air j. what they want.
Ii the Legislature could hut look into
the crowded cells al night and breathe the
feiid air the convict, breathe they would
vote the money necessary 20 make the en-
lArgement demanded.
The women viii now have good quar-
ters; good quarters should be given the
men.