Evening journal., 1889-06-25
VIEWING THE COUNTY JAIL.
The Unhealthy Abode of the County's
Wards-Improvemen

The Unhealthy Abode of the County's
Wards-Improvemen
The special committee of the Levy
Conrt. on improvements to the county
iail. met at the Jail in New Castle this
morning to look through the building
with Fl r. Carswell the architect who
has prepared plans for the contemplated
| improvements.
There were present. President Grubb,
and Messrs. Roberts, Rothwell, Sutton,
Weir, Kilgore of the Levy Court; Dr. j.
j. Black, Jail physician, Architect F. R.
Carswell A. S. Reed, Joseph Jenkins of
the firm Of Miller & Jenkins, and repre-.
sentatives Of the Morning News and
EVENING JOURNAL.
| Before tour was made of the Jail, the
members gathered in the reception room
and while waiting the arrival of Mr..
Carswell Dr. Black in vigorous language,
pointed out the need of improvements
and enlargements, and urged that imme-
diate steps be taken to effect them.
The party was then shown through the
Jail by Sheriff Allen and Wardens Toner
and Smith. DIR. Black pointed out the
execrable system of plumbing and drain
age and the unhealthy tramp department,
or "bums cell, as it is known, which is
directly over the jail sewer. Mr.. Cars
well explained the nature of the proposed
additions, according to his plans, spread
ing them out on table set on the plat
| form of the second tier of cells.
| The Jail had stufy and unhealthy
smell, ana only the fact of the day being
cool, prevented the noxious gases from
the sewer from being offensive. As the
members of the party sauntered near
this disease breeding sewer, occasional
foul smells would greet their noses.
There are now 146 prisoners in the Jail
and but 80 cells in which to confne them
AS a consequence, 3, 4, 5, and sometimes
6 are crowded into one cell. The Jail will
accommodate properly about rs prisoners
1t was built 33 years ago, and
at that time was sufficient for the needs
of the county. The population of the
county has almost doubled itself in the
interval and the rate of increase
of the criminal class has been
proportionatelY great. but no improve
ments or enlargements have been made
to the jail beyond the erection of the
tramps' quarters, which are a disgrace
to the county. The latter is
about 15x40 feet in size. Light
and ventilation are obtained by
| buEee Suldli MlnuOWss anu JW6uLy mel
were walking or lOunging about the room
: this morning, This room is of wood and
! as has been stated is built directly over
sewer Of the Jail. On warm days the heat
is intense and the stencil from the sewer
almost uRbearable. There are no beds
and the men sleep on the floor with a rest
under their heads. Here are con
fined all prisoners serving out bre
terms for minor offences drunks
disorderlies, etc. The twenty men tina
filed it this morning were of all ages ant
conditions, from the youth who had beeI
engaged in a drunken brawl to the hard
ened criminal who is serving ou
term. perhaps for an assault
Some were sprawling on the floor other
8 walking to and fro One was naked +
the waist and the clothing of all wa
! ragged and dirty. The average numbe
e of prisoners confined in thi
i room is from forty to.ffty, and as nigh
!, be expected Generalization peigns 81
t preme
The prisoners who occupy the cells ar
T allowed the liberty of the corridor an
l. yards ON two days of the week from 8 I
j o'clock.
t This morning gang of twenty-one wer
t pacing up and down or talking in grou
i Among them was Graham, the murdert
J. of Koerder, Curly" Harris, the crack
l. man and Calhoun, who was convicte
d Of rape. In each cell there is a fauc,
e and the drainage from the water closet
T. is direct to the sewer without any trSI
d The sewer is kept comparatively clean 3
,e flushing it continually with water. l
Vt the corridor stands a barrel {
II chloride of lead, which DIR. Blae
has copiously used as a disinfectant.
10 The occupants of the cells were play
IS ing cards, sleeping or occupying them
% selves in other ways. Crowded as the
are, three to five in eel
l. all grades of criminals togeth,
" the demoralizing influence is patent
te the most thoughtless
ID The proposed plans have been describe
of in these columns. They provide for 9
additional story containing twenty-ol
ne cells, making in all 61 cell
Of in the prison. The rebuilding of Il
at trRmps' department is also provided 70
with sick wards at the second and thil
TX story. Bath rooms on each floor are al
e. arranged.
Tx 1t is estimated that the additions W
cost, built of Trenton brown stone, sbo
i'll $l7 500, though the use of cheaper sto
ct and certain notifications would perha
All lessen the cost to $4,000 This includ
r. the plumbing. The additions would Ia
four months to complete.
ps The matter was thoroughly discuFse
N all present being heartily in favor
$ doing something at an early date, b
q Mr.. Grubb. who considered tn
es the cost made it hopelel
@. Decisive action will be taken at the ne
20. meeting of the Levy Court.
at IL o'clock those present were ente