Morning journal and courier., 1885-08-22
ArrHE oouNrx HALL


 The way Business Is Done-AM Ex-
 penses Paid By the State-The Coun-
 ty Fire Department = Chief Joe seSreenfieId.
 There are some facts connected with the County jail, which is so pleasantly located on Whalley avenue, that are not generally known. It is we'll known, however, that this county institution is patronized at a greater or less degree by every town within the county limits, New Haven of course, from it's large population, being the largest patron. It is quite generally supposed that the expenses of running the jail, which in- clude board of prisoners, salaries of officers, expenses of light, fuel, Src., are paid by a county tax. This supposition is very er- roneous one. Previous to this year the State paid to the several counties $2.50 per week for the board of each prisoner, and the amount thus received was sufficient to pay all expenses and leave 8 small surplus in the county treasury at the end of the year. Last winter the General Assembly reduced the weekly allowance for board from $2 50 to $2 25 per week and it is thought by the coun- ty commissioners that even this amount will provide for all expenses and perhaps leave a
 
 up by judge of the Superior court and the money is drawn by the clerk of the court and paid over to the county treasurer.
 The bills contracted at the jail are audited every month by the county commissioners and if found correct an order on the treasur- CT for the gross amount is given to the jailer, who draws the funds and pays the bills.
 There are at present about two hundred and forty inmates at the jail, two hundred of whom are men and the remainder women. Last winter there were nearly hundred more persons in the jail than at present. The cold weather always increases the number tramps commit offenses on purpose to be sent where they will not suffer from cold or for the want of food The male portion of the prisoners are employed in the workshop caning chair seats, which is the work performed in the shop. The work of the prisoners is given out by contract to the highest bidder, the present contractors being J. Henry Martin & Son, of Hartford. All prisoners who have been sentenced must work in the shop or be shut up in their cells during the day, except such time as they may be given for exercise in the jail yard. There are but very few but what prefer working in the shop in preference to con- fnement in their cells. Those who are only held pending their trial in the Superior court
 
 to do so.
 The female portion of the prisoners are employed in the kitchen in cooking, washing dishes and washing the clothing of the pris- oners. They also do the scrubbing in their own department, this work in the male department being done by men only There are twelve men Martin to do general work about the jail yard. These are usually old men and short term men, to whom it would be no object to run away, as the penalty for "breaking jail'' would send them back for much longer term than what they would have had to serve had they remained
 The prisoners diet consists of bread, salt beef, salt beef hash, salt fish, salt fish hash, beef soup, vegetable soup and mush and molasses, being varied on different days of the week, but always fish on Fridays. If the prisoners have fine and costs to work out they are allowed at the rate of fifty cents per day for their work; so that, if man has a twenty days service to cancel the debt. Fines and costs that are paid at the expiration of the time for which the prisoner was sentenced are turned over to the cities or towns from which the prisoner was sent.
 The salaried persons employed at the jail consist of jailer, assistant jailer, engineer, uOOrkoepeT, OT0rSeor or the WOfKSnOp, nl9nG watchman and matron, who is the wife of the jailer.
 A new feature, and an important one, is fire brigade" made up of prisoners, of which Joe Greenfield is chief. Joe was sent to jail from Southbury on charge of manslaughter and has not much longer to serve. A hose carriage has been purchased and an abund- ance of hose provided to reach anyhere about the buildings. The force of water from the hydrant in the yard is sufficient to throw stream over the flagstaff on the jail tower. Chief Joe calls his com pany the Greenfield Hose company" Although the chief has an impeachment of speech, he manages in practising with his company to give his orders with sufficient to have them understood The county commissioners have not as yet decid- cd to unifor n the couapany and it is not un- derstood that they will be permitted to ap- pear on iremen's parades.
 The moral and religious teaching of the prisoners is we'll cared for. On Sundays there are both Catholic and Protestant services held at different hours in the workshop, which is used for 8 chapel on that day. Prisoners they prefer, and many attend both.
 Under Jailer Stevens management the best of discipline is preserved and everything about the prison is kept in frst-class order.
 His Collar Bone Broken.
 Lawyer George D. Watrous, son of Presi- nent George H. Watrous of the Consolidated road, was thrown from his horse while out riding Thursday and broke his collar bone. MT. Watrous was at his office yesterday, however.
 Excursion to NexEBort.