The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-01-23
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Proposed Central
Wing. Old Wing.
Build
-'--'-'-'''-''''''-'-''Ii ing.

o.. Wings each 20 feet iRches by A feet 4
inches and 30 feet inches high, and built as
one story. (2). Central building, SO feet in
ches by 40 feet and A feet high, to be in three
stories and basement. The wings were to
contain cells for incarceration; the central
building to be for wardens office, guards
rooms, dining room, heating apparatus, etc
All exterior walls of stone, two feet thick,
cells of brick or stone; all buildings covered
with tin, etc. But one Of the above divisions
was originally erected, land that not COM
pleted), the same being the wing designated
by the black rule. The central building, des-
ignated by parallel rule, is the one now in
course of construction, and the dotted lines
indicate the south wing necessary to in
crease incarceration facilities. In this con-
nection il is proper to state that the "origi-
nal plans" did not include iron gratings for
any Of the upper windows of the wings, ian
absolute necessity for security; that the
upper windows were subsequently iron
grated, and additional necessary iron work
put in the interior, the entire appropriations
and expenditures for building, up until June,
1884, being, as stated to us, SGT 900. The
north wing was designed to have three tiers
Of cells, with fourteen cells in each tier.
Only two of these tiers were built, making
% cells in all, which, with temporary wooden
buildings within the enclosure, is all the in
generation facilities there have ever been,
and the number of convicts at one time has
reached as high As 122. This building be-
longs to, and is Differed and controlled by,
the United States, the Governor of the Terri
tory, on behalf of the Territory, contracting
with the United States Marshal, on behalf of
the United States, fer the incarceration of
Territorial convicts therein at so much per
man per day.
The appeal of the people Of Montana
through the press, grand juries, and officials
has been continuous of late years for the
completion of this building, or so much
thereof as would afford secure and humane
Incarceration of all Territorial convIcts, but
without avail until last year when Delegate
Maginnis secured an item in the appropria-
ton bill appropriating $4,000 for the COM
pletion of the building according to the
original plans,"-"to be expended under abe
direction and general supervision Of the Cor |
ernsr Of Montana" Incidentally 1t may be |
here, and this Is all that need be |
said to show the animus of the dissent in |
which he INDUCES himself, that United |
States Marshal Botkin was then con- |
testing the seat of Delegate Maginnis In |
Congress and that Marshal Botkin and Gov
ernsr Crosby were not then, and are |
not now, on amicable terms. When the s40,-
900 appropriation came up for consideration /
in the House, some controversy was raised in
which the estimated cost of completing the
building was called for, and pending which,
IL we recollect Alright, Delegate Maginnis an
imadverted on Marshal Botkin not having
estimates, and an application to
the Department resulted in report there
from that no estimates had reached it. The
was cut down from S40, 600 to
$4,000, in which form it passed and became
4 law July Z. 1854. While manifestly INSULT
Gent for the purpose, Delegate Maginnis ac-
,epted what he could get, the appropriation
being commitment of Congress to the pur-
pose of completing the building, PROPOSE
don which has been previously met with the
'ejoinder that the prison, rs it was, was ade-
luate for all the requirements Of the United
States.
We heard nothing more Of the matter until
August 81, 1884, when Governor Crosby came
% Deer Lodge, having the day previous re-
,eived notice that the appropriation was
AVAILABLE to proceed with the work. On the
st Of September he visited the prison. As
tated before, but two of the three tiers of
,ells in the old wing had been put in. There
emained yet space for the third, or upper,
Ter. 1t was determined to build IL at once.
)n September ID proposals for construct
ng this tier Of fourteen cells were called for,
and within three days published in the Her.
I'D, Inter Mountain and NEW NoRTH-WEsT,
lanes III. Mills being appointed BY Gov
rnor Crosby TO have immediate supervision
II the work. The construction OF this tisr of
'ells would have increased the Incarceration
capacity one-third.
On Sept. 9Th, credible information com
ng to us that there was question whether
he existing cell walls were of sufficient
tire myth TO safely carry another tier of cells
IN top-requiring some 80 1000 or $4,000 brick
I'VE telegraphed Governor Crosby the ru-
nor and recommended an inspection of the
rails BY competent builders before proceed
ng further. On Sept. 9th Governor Crosby
appointed w. Y. Simonton OF Helena and
John T. TriRg or Deer Lodge, experienced
ind repufa BILE builders, commission to In
poet the walls Of said tiers Of celIs and re-
port 70 him II they were OF sufficient strength !
% carry another tier Of cells. On Sent. It'll