Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-11-08
The Old JAN and the New jail.

The Old jail and the New jail.
TO the Editor fHe Register:
SIR: There is evidently much decided
opposition on the part Of the taxpayers TO
the county being enc1mbered with an sd-
ditional unnecessary debt, which will he
the case if a new all is built. We can't
build a Jail, such as we need, modelled
after the present plan OF building jails, for
less than 800, ,000-and this estimate will
be found low enough.
The question is, can the present Jail he
remodeled so as TO meet the criminal wants
Of OHIO counN2 / answer, Yes, rotwith-
standing Architect Wells takes the mega
tive of the question. l know as much
about the present county jail as, perhaps,
any one 10 Ohio county. The present Jail
can be remodeled so AS to meet every re-
quirement of the criminal wants of the
county for many years to come. at the ex-
pense Of say $4,000 How will you re-
model il? / will begin at the basement
and 90 up. Under the prison part oi the
Jail, in the basement, there we're at one
time what wss called the dungeon cells OF
the Jail, where bad prisoners were con-
fined. These have been lopg since aban-
doned and are useless. This basement
should be cleaned out, ard oil of these
old cells removed, and one room
constructed in their stead, with dry ce-
ment, or paved floor in it, and all needful
ventilation provided for in the way OF
openings in and through the outer wall.
This room could be used as store-room,
and for many purposes about ths Jail,
whereas, it is bow only breeder of dis
ease and collector OF filth.
Now for the char ges on the second floor.
In the prison department all the present
stone cells should be removed, and iron
cells substituted. There should be no
central hall at all. The gaDgway should
he on the sides of the Jail wall, north and
south, beginning east and ending at
the west end. and not euciIcling both
sides of the cells. B5 this management
the prisoners would be kept apart, and
much trouble saved The iailer. All the
pipts should come up from the basement,
and as far ss possible kept away ffom the
prisoners. who, under the present arrange
ment Of the cell pipes, cost the ccnnty
every year, by stoppsges, many dollars.
This can he easily done by having de- !
scending pipe from each cell to large
se yer pipe in the basement, which could be
made trough fashion, with lics, all along it's |
entire length, so as 20 be easily cleaned al
all times This should empty into the
yard sewer pipe. The water should |
come up from the basement, and |
each cell furnished with faucet. |
There ehould be no double cells on this
floor Elch prisoner should he left by
himself, furnished an iron bedstead, and
the cells thould not exceed four feet in
width. There should bs an iron stand, a
chair and such things as minister to the
needed comfort of the prisoners. The
opening to this apartment should be from
the Office, by ruunibg hail ca tho north
side of the dwelling apartment Of the jail
20 the prison part. This can be done by
running the cflice room over 10 and occupy
he present hall Say. The present opening
to the Jail ahOuld be closed,
and door made for tbs admis-
sion of prisoners, from EOf street TO
the north side, directly into the present
Office. For the family uses and purposes,
he opening from E1tf street should be from
the south side of the Jail. As it is now ar
ranged, be family of the jailer and ev-
every body else is brought face to face with
the prisoners. The stairway TO the kitchen
Should bs from the private part OF the Jail
and not az it is now. There should be a
hallway, with two double doors, entering
tie two gaDgways If the private apart
ment. The stairway on the second floor
on the north side should be reversed.
This arrangement will suit for the third
q lor, leaving cut tbe two entrances from
EFF street into the ofAce and the pri-
vate apartments Of the jail. The
stsirways can be dispensed with
by the substitution of an elevator.
AS additional room is wanted for The ac-
commodsiion of prisoners, this can he pro
yided for by the erection of an additional
story, in which can be kept sll misdemean
or prisoners, and especially women and the
ineane, who are now badly cared for, ss
the Jail is now erransged. The women and
the insane shonld be kept separate and
apart from all other classes of prisoners
There should be no communication be-
tween them cf any kind. This sto:y can
be built of brick and the windows made
secure by iron bars, as below. This story
could be SO constructed as to contain fifty
or mere prisoners without endangering
their health
II these changes were made good, safe,
healthy and cheap jsil can be had and
large sam Of money saved to the county
aud her now over-tsxsd people.
l make these suggestions, because they
are feasible and founded on q practical
knowledge OF the present jail by an
EX-JAILER.
Wheeling, NOraaJer 6, 1889.