The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-10-16


Leon COunty's New Jail.
The taxpayers of Leon county, and even the
county prisoners themselves, can we'll be proud
OF our new Jail, for il is one of the most complete
handsome and secure jails in tho Southern
States.
The finishing touches are now being put on
and the Jail will be complete and ready to turn
over to the County Commissioners next Satur-
day, at which tim they meet TO receive it.
The building is a massive brick structure, of
artistic architecture, and the outside view pre-
sents quite an attractive appearance
Knowing that our readers feel cOnside rable in
teIest in all public affairs, FLoRIDIAN pencil
pusher made thorough inspection OF the build
ing yesterday, so that we might intelligently
write up an accurate description Of it,
Entering the front door, with the genial and
accommodating Mr.. t. H. Flynn, who has
charge of putting in the steel cells, ETC., for the
contractors, The VanDorn Iron Works Com.
pany of Cleveland, o., as our guide, we found
a small but neat hallway, with stairs leading to
the upper story. To the lett Of the entrance is
a large airy front room, 15X18 feet, which is to
be used as the Shertf's office. This is en- tirely
separate and distinct from the jail proper, as is
the strong room which is Immediately in the
rear of the office The Strong room is Is feet
inches by 20 feet inches in size and is di
vided into two large cells, with plate steel floor
and ceiling, and highly tempered steel bar sides
These are to be used for special prisone rs fe-
males or any prisoners who it is desirable to
keep separate and apart from all others. I'm
medialely over the office is the seep.n. apart
ment Of the jailors, and back of this is the large
and roomy kitchen, ID by Is feet, connected with
which is large closet and a pantry. These
rooms constitute the north half of the building
anu SO completely separate and distinct from
the Jail proper, that one might live quietly and
contentedly in them without knowing themselves
to be so near 10 incarceraled criminals
We now turn to the south half of the building
in which are located the cells and cages Cross
ing the hall we come to a solid steel plate door
in the solid brick partition. For the moment we
will suppose that we were the jailOr, and that
we had dangerous prisoners inside. We turn a
little knob, and small peep hole opens in the
steel plate door, through which we Can see
whether any one is waiting inside to bump our
heads or not. No one is there, so we turn The
key in the massive lock, lay back heavy steel
plate from the edge OF the door and open it, 10
find heavy, hardened steel, grated door barring
our farther progress. In the center OF this is an
arched mask, so to speak, in which we stick our
heads; can then see all around IN the jail ,
and find no prisoners waiting to pOunce upon US.
We then unlock the grated door and enter the
Jail proper In the center are the cages, all
around which is narrow passage-w way, so that
the aior can walk entirely around the cages
and see that every prisoner IS quiet and safe In
his cell. We are now on the first floor. In the
center of the cage is large corridor for the
prisoners. On the east side OF the cage are two
cells and a dungeu n, and on the west side, two
cells and bath room. The jailor can stand in
the passage way, and, with simple twist OF
his wrist, lock or unlock the doors OF every
cell in the cage at one move OF lever.
Each cell is fitted up with canvass cot, so that
the prisoners can sleep quite comfortable. Each
cell is also supplied with q commOde. The bath
larp II Of
and prisoners will have no excuse for not keeping
clean and healthy In the bath room is also
resOvOir into which the prisoners empty their
commode pals, etc, without going outside OF the
cage, and the dirty water, ETC., IS carried oil by
drain pipes. The bathroom is supplied by
tank which holds about 400 gallons, and this
tank is filled by force pump which is supplied
with hose and a strong stream OF water Can be
thrown bv it entirely over the building. The
cages have heavy steel plate floors and ceiling,
and the grating is of extra hardened steel, Which
is tempered bv peculiar process and is so hard
that the Van Dorm Iron Works offer large re-
ward for any man that will find a saw or file
that can cut through it. the second floor cages
are in exact duplicate Of The first floor, having
also bath room.
The floors are all ccmented and then covered
with the steel plate flooring, and, with the steel
ceiling makes it as near n tire-proOf building as
one ever SEES The brick, lumber, and all ma
terial used in the construction Of the Jail are OF
excellent quality, AL Of which was examined
and approved by Messrs. J. A. Edmondson and
p Houstoun, of the building committee, who
have personally inspected all The work as 1t pro-
crossed and who have c0uscienciOusIy seen aud
approved OF each stepin the work to IT'S compile
ton
The entire building is SO by 81 feet in size, and
is "a feet high in the body, the turrets being
higher. The rooms of The first floor have IL foot
ceilings, the ceilings Of the second floor are 10
feet high and all rooms and cells, and even the
dungeons are well ventilated.
The contract for building the jail was taken
by the VanDorn Iron Works, Of Cleveland,
Ohio, and it will cost the county complete, $lO,-
III, which is money well invested All OF the
wood and brick WORK was done by the enierpris-
ing Tallahassee contractors and builders, Messrs.
Gilmore & Davis. and right well have they
worked Mr. L. II. Flynn, who is representing
the VanDorn Company, in the putting in OF the
iron work, cages etc, is yonng man who thor
oughly understands his business. He is delighted
with the Tallahassee Country, and says that he
is sorry that he cannot remain longer among our
high clay hills
We understand that the building committee
contemplate having an iron fence, say seven feet
high, with sharp pointed iron pickets, placed
around the Jail, and we really think that this
will be very necessary and important addition.