The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-01-23

reported to the Governor, over their sigma
lures, as follows:
while we believe the tiers of cells as at
| present built, with the Strengthening we
suggest, may stand with safety for some
years, we are decidedly of the opinion
that II Dould not be safe to erect thereon
"d'aother additional tier Of cells, requiring
nearly 10000 brick beside heavy iron work
NOR to materially increase the present
weight on the cell foundations as they are"
The proposition to increase the incarcera-
ton capacity by that method was therefore
necessarily abandoned, unless it should have
been persisted in with reckless disregard for
the lives of convicts in the face of the above
official report
While the erection of the central building,
with its deep basement walls, it being really
the main building with the wings projecting
on shallow foundations, was the emnently
proper method of continuing the construc-
ton of the building as contemplated by the
"eriginal plans" Governor Crosby was so
DESTROYS of securing additional incarceration
facilities, notwithstanding the third tier of
cells could not be built, that investigation
was Immediately directed to that object with
reference to the south wing. The season
was late; the only frst-class rock quarries
are in the mountains, twelve or fourteen
miles distant from Deer Lodge, and trans
portation was liable to be shut off by Snow
and bad weather. As apreliminary measure
an estimate was secured of the amount of
rock necessary to construct the south wing,
and after due publication of invitation for
proposals to quarry, transport and deliver
the same, the contract was awarded for 900
perch (the necessary amount) of Caribou
rock, which was promptly delivered as con-
tracted.
Investigation then developed the following
facts: That the "original plans" did not in
clude iren gratings in any but the lower win
dows, and that gratings had subsequently to
be put on all the windows Of the old wing at
vastly increased expense and to the injury
of the walls; that the sanitary construction
ofthe old wing according to "original plans"
had been condemned in their reports
by DIR. G. G.. Glass, prison physician,
under appointment by Marshal Botkin, and
by DR.. G. X. Cole, Inspecting Physician for
the Territory. And further, no estimate
could be obtained of any contractor to erect
this wing, defective and incomplete as the
plans were, and put in any cells for the APP
preparation. The lowest estimate made for
furnishing the material and merely erecting
the exterior walls and central supporting
wall aud covering it in, according to the
original plans, was $4,000, without any cells
or the necessary upper window or interior
iron work whatever. This would have fur.
nished the mere shell of a building, aud on
plans nscessitating continued construction
after an additional appropriation should be
obtained, with the same sanitary defects as
the old wing it would have resulted in two |
isolated wings, necessitated the demolition |
or removal of one or more of the occupied |
log buildings in the beginning of winter
without even supplying anything in their
place when the expenditure would be COM |
pleted; it would leave the guards in scat |
tered quarters remote from either wing, and |
ii would have been method Of construction |
of such structure any builder would dIsap-
prove.
Proposals were therefore invited by adver-
tisement, as heretofore mentioned, for the |
construction of the central building, and it |
was awarded by acting Governor Tooker to |
McDevitt & Mcconnell, of Butte, at figure
falling inside the appropriation, the next
lowest bid being some thousand dollars in |
excess. The building is now nearly COM
pleted, and while we believe the contractors
feel rather proud of their work, we venture
to say that neither they nor the rock con-
tractor would duplicate their contracts at the
same figures. The central building is an
essential part of the originally designed
structure. 1t contains, beside the basement
compartments, fifteen rooms for occupancy
and use by the Warden and guards, and gives
them full control over one or both wings.
We do not know of any portion of 1t being
designed for a "Marsha's Office" or any
occasion there would be therefor. 1t is built
with projecting bond walls to receive the
south wing, If constructed, and there are now
piled up on the grounds, and paid for, over
400 ofthe ] 900 perch ofrock required for the
wing, there being that excess after the CEN
trail building walls were laid. 1t will cost
$3.50 to properly build the south wing, and
5000 to $1,000 more to provide proper heat
ing facilities and adequate protection from
FIRE; the s15,0 600 would, at best, have only
built the shell. If the U. S. Government sees
proper to complete the structure as contsm-
plated, the construction so far is necessary
and in the right direction; lift does not pro-
pose to co rplete the structure, then this GEN.
trail building is infinitely better than the in
complete and useless walls of an isolated
wing Estimates for the south wing have
now been placed in the hands of Delegate
Maginnis, and the defects of the "origInal
plans have been represented to the Depart
nent. Delegate Maginnis, when here, con-
,urred in what had been done and expressed
mis- belief that the necessary appropriation
% complete the building could and would be
obtained. The building can be put up, ready
or occupancy, in four summer months, and
he reserve of rock on hand will enable i'm
Mediate operations when the contract Is let
We have thus, at length, related such facts
# this transaction a. seems necessary to
how Governor Crosby's connection with it !;
o show his desire to increase the ipearcera- |
i've capacity, and why 1t could not be done
o set forth why what has been done was
lone, and have merely to add that the writer I
those things after as thorough
Investigation and as much care as he would I
evote to his personal matters that the re- {
ult approves every step that has been taken /; /
hat he is confident IL will meet the full ap. {
roval of every competent and appropriated I
erson who investigates it, and that he be-
ewes the work will commend itself in judi
iousness of procedure, in economy, excel 7
snce and durability Of construction to all fair
minded men. If any wrong did exist in this
natter it should be laid at our door, and not
{ that of Governor Crosby, who we aver
ought energetically and diligently to do the !
est that could be done under the circum-
tances.
Rucklen's Arnica Salve.