The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-08-07
THE PENITENTIARY.

| dlcates that the Penitentiary appropriation
is at last available and that work will speed
lily be commenced thereon. The appropria
ton was made subject to the direction Of
the Attorney General, within whose super
vision the U. s. Penitentiaries are. 1t ap
pears, however, that officer endeavored to
have the construction proceed under the
direction Of the Interior Department and I,
Is doubtless owing to this that action has
been 30 long deferred. Advices now indi.
cate that the Interior Department will ex-
pend the appropriation. Governor Hauser
has instructions to proceed q: once to have
the necessary plans and specifications drawn
and has ordered the same from Mr.. N. J.
Mcconnell, which we presume will be sent
to Washington for approval before the con.
tract is let unless the Governor is given en-.
tire authority In the matter. Marshal Kel>
ley has been active and prompt In urging
the matter and Governor Hauser telegraphs
he will be here to-day to give such impetus
to the work as his personal investigation
and action may permit. We mention this
as IL Is due these officers to credit them with
activity In Q matter that has been seriously
retarded by the delay at Washington.
When the penitentiary was originally
planned full plans and specifications were
drawn and approved at Washington.
Amended specifications were also approved
for the north wing many years ago; but in
the interim of completion portion of these
original plans and specifications were lost.
When the central building was erected last
year, all the specifications and one of the
three sheets of the plans therefor, could not
be had here, nor could duplicates or origi-
mails be obtained from the other Territories
In which prison wings were erected at the
same time. As result, . portion Of the
plans and entire new specifications had to
be drawn, considerably retarding the con.
struction. The same difficulty appears to
exist now. Even IL the plans and amended
specifications were available they do not
cover the necessities of construction. The
old plans contemplated the building Of three
tiers Of cells, and would leave the top of the
third tier close to the roof with only brick
arch intervening, and through which there
has been practical demonstration prisoners
can readily cut their way TO the roof, from
whence by means Of improvised ladders they
could swing TO the ground. The top tier of
cells should be capped with iron or steel, as
on windy nights the work of escaping con-
vlcts on brick arch could not be detected
by the guards. Again, the provision for
egress from the wings In case of FIRE In the
central building is inadequate As the cells
are now locked. Either there should be q
fire escape door from each of the wings or
system Of lever locks introduced that would
enable instantaneous release into the corri-
doris. At present, the officers of the prison
have method for providing against disaster
from that cause but In the construction of
the new wing there should be incorporated
10 the building plan system Of Quick egfess
under ready control Of the guards. The
location Of the tagging floors in the lower
tier OF cells on the ground has also been re-
ported by the medical inspectors as I'M
healthy. This should be obviated by an air
chamber, and all walls underground should
be Of stone laid In cement.
While we do not know that the terms Of
the appropriation will permit 1t, or that the
appropriation Is sufficient therefor, We be-
lieve It Is demonstrated beyond question
that the prison should be heated by steam,
generated In building separate from the
prison, and that no heating apparatus should
be used therein as originally provided. The
hot air system originally devised is extreme
ly dangerous and unhealthy and the local
heating by stoves Is scarcely less so. Either
Is more expensive and dangerous than steam
which would also be available for raising
water 10 interior tanks which can be located
at small expense TO protect the entire build
Ing. There are other matters, which would
properly come within the report Of an srchi-
tect in providing for safety, security and
economy at the prison, but these we consider
Of eminent importance deserving Of atten-
ton now and that. should receive the active
consideration and support Of the officers.
Something like year ago, the crowded
condition Of the prison and the many con-
vctions being made In the courts, led TO an
order from the Attorney General that no
more Territorial prisoners should be re-
ceived until further orders. As . result
many Of our jails now contain convicts who
are kept 1t IN expense to the Territory Of
$3.50 per day, while the rate Of maintaining
them In the penitentiary Is IS cents per day.
Some Of these Jalis are insecure and very
much crowded. By the natural course Of
expiration Of sentence, pardon, ETC., the
Number In the prison has now decreased to
10. In view OF this and the contemplated
early construction Of the wing. Marshal Kel.
ley now believes be can take Is or 80 pris.
oners ~ an early day from the county jails
and has notified the Attorney General II
permitted he will receive that number,
making requisition for them as facilities
justify. On completion Of the south wing
all Territorial convcts can be cared for Is
they are sent In.