Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-12-02
THE NEW BIRD-CAGE.
Transfer of the County Prison ers
to the New Jail ON the Hill.

to the New Jail ON the Hill.
1t was easy to see yesterday by look
ing at the fence of the old county Jail
that something was in the wind. The
fence was covered with great number
of worn.out grey blankets drying in tie
sun. In the yard there was great ac,iv-
ity, things being moved around in q
lively manner--unfailing signs of q
change of domicile. Old Col. Jim
Thompson was very busy overhauling
shackles. handouts. Oregon boots and
other similar jewslry, and had no time
to talk much. It was understood that
Mr.. Phillips would charge $3.50 if the
prisoners were not removed on
the first, of the month and the
Board OF Supervisors had come
to the conclusion that the new jail was
in sufficiently completed condition to
put the jail-birds into it. The removal
of these gentle wards of the county was
set for P. M, aud promptly at that
time it took place. Most Of the prison
ers, who numbered 55, were shaokled
and taken across the street to their new
quarters by the deputy sheriffs and q
number of policemen. They were taken
out by the gate in the back fence and
seemed to feel rather pleased to leave
the old cage, thoughthey wentto fresh
place of captivity. The prison proper
in the new building is in the part front.
ing on Fort street. 1t consists of huge
two-story cage, the bars of which are
made of chilled steel, crossing each other
after the manner of checker board.
Wherever the bars cross each other they
are boiled together. This cage is en-
closed within the building itself, leaving
plenty of space all around for the guards
to circulate and see what is going on
the cells. The cells, CT which there are
six on each side on the ground floor, and
an equal number on the upper tier, may
contain four prisoners each. The cots
are pieces of canvas stretched by means
of leather straps from one sideof the
cell to the other, two being above the
others, as the berths in railroad sleep.
er. The inner part of the tank, on both
tiers, is spacious hall, which
will be used for the purpose of letting
the prisoners exercise. At the end OF
the tank are the washstands which are
contained in two cells, similar in size to
those used for sleeping cells. As the
stairway to the upper tier is not yet
completed, all the prisoners were placed
in the lower tier temporarily. The up.
per one, which is the airiest and best
lighted, will be used for prisoners
awaiting trial and the lower tanks will
be affected for prisoners undergoing sen.
tence. In the basement are two dark
dungeons for refractory prisoners, boi-
ler and hot air apparatus for heating the
Jail and q very large range for cooking
the food for those confined in the jail.
In the middle part of the Jail on
the second flour are the women's
ceHs to the number of four, en-
closing also large hall in which they
can take exercise. There are in the
front part of the building three more
cells, which will be occupied by women
in the event of the others becoming
filled, or they may be devoted tomale pris'
oners who are not to be placed in the
large tanks. The only occupant OF the
woman's department is Jennie Peterson,
a woman who is to he tried on Friday
for having with two men tried to rob an
old German several months ago. With
the exception of the cells now occupied
the remainder of the building is not yet
completed, and it will take no less than
ten days before it is quite ready. The
transfer of the prisoners was made sue.
cessfully, and the old building will soon
fall under the pick of the workmen of
the contractor. A large hotel is to take
the place of the old county Jail.