Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-11-19
The Branch Penitentiary at Eddy
Vile, Ky.
A cREDITADLE STATE BUILDING.

A CREDITABLE STATE BUILDING.
Let me now give you some little
description of the building as it is
proposed to be. The little town of
Eddyville, containing some 600 peo-
pie, is situated on both sides of
cone-shaped point which descends
almost in precipice to the Cumber-
land river 157 feet below. On this
point the prison is located. The walls
inclose an area of twelve acres. On
the south side fronting Main street is
the "Administration Building" 1T
has three stories and basement.
Two flights of stone-steps arranged
in a semi-circular form, reach from
Main street to the front door. The
building will be used for offices for
the Warden and Deputy Warden,and
for an Armory. The upper stories
will provide dwelling-places for their
families and rooms for the guards.
This prison is entirely ASSOCIATED
from the prison proper by stone
partition of the same strength and
thickness as the outer wall. The
building itself is surmounted by a
tower, the summit of which is l6O
feet from the foundation of the struct-
ure. AT the top of this tower, there
fore, the observer is BIZ feet above
the Cumberland river. The view
from here will be truly magnificent.
One can see twenty miles up the
Cumberland valley, and looking west
ward can probably discern without
strained vision the junction of the
Cumberland and the Tennessee. Look
northward it is not improbable that
Princeton, the county seat of Cald-
well, twelve miles away will be plain
ly visible.
PERFECT IN ALL ITS PARTS.
To the right Of the main building
stands dollhouse No. |, three-s stories
high, and containing III cells. These
are the best cells in the prison. Next
to it comes dollhouse No. 2, with 100
cells; then joining 1t in the form of
an L is dollhouse No. 3, with 37s
cells. Thus you find accommoda-
ton for 6l5 prisoners. The walls OF
all these buildings and the Enclosure
wall are of solid gray limestone taken
from the quarries two miles away
and transported by means of tram
way. They are eight feet long, six
feet wide, and'in the center eight feet
high. The floor of every cell is oil
stone, and the roof is arched with
brick. These cells are SO arranged
that guard can pass along corri-
dor between the tiers, and by meani
of a sliding bar can at any time in
fpect the occupants. The buildings
will be heated throughout will
steam, and will be entirely fire-proof
The roof will be ofiron and stone
A recess in front of each cell-houst
furnishes bathrooms, dressing-roomi
etc. The means of communication
are admirable. There can be nc
communication between the prison
ers in the different cell-houses undel
any circumstances, but by the guards
corridors the architect has cunningly
deyised means of communication
for the officers and guards. / think
il is no exaggcration TO say that thu
prison, when finished, will be thu
most complete in detail and conve
nient for management in the world
The kitchen and workshops will bt
in the rear. The drainage is admir-
able. A reservoir in the center o.
the Enclosure will furnish the entire
building with water. 1t is proposed
at some future period to build three
additional cell-houses on the left o.
the main building, exact duplicates
Ofthose on the right. When this il
done the prison will present solid
stone front of 6S6 feet in length. In
addition to the central tower there
will be small towers at each from
corner, so that the traveller, floating
on the bosom of the Cumberland, 8
few miles away, will be reminded
when his eyes rest on this grand
structure, of baronial castle of thu
feudal times.
THE COST OF THE PRISON.
There has already been appropriated
for erecting this building $27500O
OF the first appropriation of $l500O(
there has been expended $l42, "a
IT is believed that the remainder OF
the appropriation will be sufficient to
complete the present buildings, and
every effort will be made 10 have
them ready for the use of the State
within one year from this time. The
farm belonging 10 the prison lies
back of the inclosure, and with some
fertilization the land will be very
well adapted to gardening and farm
ing purposes. The brick used in the
building is manufactured here.
The c., o. Il S. w. railroad runs
within a mile of the prison. A switch
will be built from the station to the
wharf in front of the building. The
freight whichis shipped or discharged
by water or train will be carried TO
and from the wharf by means of an
inclined tramway running from the
prison gate. There are two gateways,
both having double doors. When
one door is open the other IS closed,
thus eilectually guarding against the
possibility of escape. After a thor
ough inspection of the new prison in
all its details, l can only say, in one
word, it is admirable both in design
and execution. S. NJ. B.