The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-12-18

4. building to be occupied by the sherii
J. and has successors appear to be insight
J, ly but when it is considered that tn
so-cailed Queen Ann style of architec
c. ture was adopted in the construction o
], the building, enc must bow with com
l piacency to ais lncongruOus as well as tx
o It's ialr proportions. As one approach
:, es, however, to a near view Of the build
ing he notices that the two projections
J. are UPWARD extensions of bay apart
/ ments, and a close view, to some extent
;, restores harmony of proportions. These
: upward extensions also afford relief oil
S projecting chinlneys. On the south
!. front one notices handsome veranda.
and under the south and east gables in
tertissued work hat would not disfgrre
drawing room Oh : parlor. A rounded
corner OF the projecting wall of the Jail,
at its terminating point on the south
| west, would relieve the mind of the tor
ture of abrupt angles at ali approachable
sides of the building. The diversified
size of the glass, pertaining alike to all
windows, is an agreeable departure from
usual custom. The inside divisions into
apartments in this building, as well as in
the court house, are admirable in con-
| ception and accomplishment The cor
ridor, extending in north and south
direction, is intercepted by a court of
moderate size, from which ON the east
one may enter small apartment con-
tanning bathing appliances, babbling
stream of water, and pump with which
soft water is raised from its place of de-
post.
1t cannot perhaps be said in reference
to those who are thrust into prison |
God hath sent them sad accidents to
ensober their spirits 1t may, however, |
be remarked whatever may have been
the condition of the imprisoned, clean
or unclean, who were placed by the Off
GERS OF the law in the unlighted and
damp apartment underneath the former
Court House, that the same was a barbar-
ity that could not well be tolerated with
out an abrasion of public conscience.
In the construction of the new jail,
Mr.. Simmons, who has maintained con-
tinuous and general oversight of the
work upon the county buildings, has
wisely provided against escapes also
undue physical exposure. The under
lying walls of the jail reach to three feet
below the surface of the ground, and
have an upward rise of four feet above
the surface of the ground. The last
named space is filled with clean lake
sand, and has an eight-inch cement floor
covering. That work closes the door
against dampness and liability of under
ground escape. The heavy, latticed
iron doors and duplicate iron grating of
the windows must necessarily cause a
" fight for liberty on the part of the in
mates to be hopeless undertaking
Amalgamating, in Imagination, the
two new buildings into one, and looking
back toward the Court House the same \;
supersedes, but few will be likely to ex-
claim
The builders were with want OF genius curad,
The second structure is not like the FIRST.
1t is always best in the construction of
county buildings that the community
should not be tied to contractors by writ
ten undertakings, and especially if the
purchase of material, employment and
general oversight can be placed in Judi
cious hands. What has been accomplish
ed by Mr.. Simmons in cost and quality of
material, in cost and completeness of
workmanship, fully sttests the accuracy !
0fthat conclusion. The cost of the en-
tire structures reaches only to the mod =
crate sum Of $28, 500, and if the inhabit- .
ants of the city and county of Kenosha
possessed the habits of the jockey, they
would hardly feel inclined to swap"
their county buildings for the $4,000 .
Court House of the adjoining county on
the north or the equally expensive Court
House built by the adjoining county on
the south. Itmay be proper to add that
the city of Kenosha laid down q contri-
button of IS 900 toward the completion
of the structures herein above described i
but the city, in consideration of that out.
lay, becomes the lawful owner of the
lower story of the Court House and a
municipal lookup in the jail. On the '
other hand, the county has an option,
reaching to period of ten years, to re-
imburse the city for its outlay and &C +,
complish full ownership Of the buildings.
Mr.. John Hoye, in the immediate SUI
perintendence of the work, has evinced
the same fidelity that characterised his
oversight of the new st. James Catholic
church. Upon the carpenter work of
the two buildings Kenosha mechanics
were employed, with the exception of
the inside wainscot and other inside
wood work. which was done by Messrs.
Thomas Driver & Sons, of Racine. The 4,
brick and mason work was accomplish
ed by Messrs McElroy and Harcourt.
Iron work for the Jail, vault door and
fastenings for the Court House was fur
nished by Mr.. II. S. Harris. of Chicago !;
glass by Mr.. Kimball, of the same city
furniture by the American Desk and
School Company, also of Chicago slate,
copper and iron finishings for the roofs
Of both buildings, by Kinsley & Miller,
Chicago stained glass, by Healey &
Willets, also of Chicago John NJ. Rob-
erts, of Racine, the stone work Of both
buildings. The plumbing work for
both Court House and Jail was we'll and
thoroughly accomplished by Mr.. Ray
mond, of Racine. Messrs. Burnham &
Root were the architects.