Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-03-08
HOME AGAIN.
The BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BACK
PROM THEIR TRIP.
The Plttsburg jail and Western PsniisntiMy VISITED
Ysstsrdsy-Ths Idea, Gathered
Of Value.

The Board Of County Com .nissioners and
accompanying party arrived home from
their trip at 800 O'Clock last night, via
the "Pewiky," convinced that they had
secured god deal Of information which
will be of value when the members
come to decide upon the general arrange
menis, sizs and cost of the proposed new
jail building.
Yesterday morning the party, which
was Joined by Commissioner Fritz, who
went up from this city on the early train,
visited and carefully examined the ALE
gheny county Jail. They we're escorted to
the building by Deputy Sheriff Brown,
representing Sheriff McCandless, who
was absent from Pittsburg, and under his
guidance and that Of the Wsrdsn, the party
went through the entire building. The
details of construction and arrangement
were carefully examined by both the Com
mi ssioners and the architects, and all the
essentials were carefully noted for future
reference.
At noon, through the personal effort Of
CHARLEY Howell, an appointment vas made
with Warden Edward s Wright, for q
visit to the Weetern PepiIentiary, on the
Ohio about three miles below the jane
ton Of toe Allegheny and MonoDgahela and
early in the afternoon visit was made TO
this mammoth institution. They found
an enclosure of fifteen acres, Oh the bank
of tbs river. facing which siresm is the
penitentiary building, 1,040 feet long
by $50 wide, a5d high enough
to give ample accommodations for
five tiers OF cells. The cell build
irgs extend hotl ways from O central
structure devoted 10 administrative cffices,
AID each wing accommodates 74O cells.
The cells are now being placed 10 position
in the eastern wing, ell ths c3nyicls, 73O
in number, being OF present accommodated
in the west wing. AGoog the prisoners were
Kress, Rus. and Riddle, the three Wheeling
boys committed for the Wayresburg shoot
ing affair. All are in good health, aud
the prison officials say they are among ,hs
very best prisoners 10 the institution.
The party returned TO P.ttsburg at s
o'clock, and at embarked for home.
The idess of jail construction gained by
the Board at the Pitleburg institutions
were much more valuable aud practicable
than the Iesul!s Of their observations at
Newark. Ia that city ideas Of srchitec.u-
raj beauty and personal luxury were al
lowed to outweigh considerations of a more
pracl nature, and the result is, that
while they have very beautiful home for
their convict, there is 10 immediate pros
psct that their building will be extensive
ly copied. The iii is perhaps the fioest
prison in the United States. Toe sides,
floor and ceiling OF each cell are composed
of one solid piece Of stone, the cell, are
about as large ss his average botel room,
there lie handsomely fitted up bath room
on each h1or, the building is finished
throughout in hard wood, and the matters
OF ventilation, plumbing, elevators, auto
matte locking system, etc, are each OF the
most complete and therefore most costly
character. Every partition wall, side wall,
floor and ceiling throughout the building
is OF cot Indiana limestone, in blocks as
large as nine feet square, end with the
truly sumptuously fitted up residence OF
the Sheriff, the edifice forms pablic in
stitution which would be considered too
costly for most cities, considering the &C.
commodatiOns afforded.
In Pittshurg, wnile tine jail is hand
some and massive structure, ideas OF beauty
were not allowed to predominant over ca
pacity and the easy handling of large
number OF inmates. The result was that
for about $3.50 900 they have ia Pittsbure
a all with 400 cells, while 10 Newark, for
SIG, 600, they have but about CD cells.
The element of safety is much more ap-
parent in the Piitsburg jail than in the one
at Newark, and in add ion there are 90 tly
electric light plants and other items at the
Pittsburg institution which are entirely
lacking in the one at Newark.
After a complete tour of the Pittsburg
Jail, the members of the Board agreed
that q cell building erected within and en-
tirely discon nec!ed from the outer walls Of
the all, was more desirable than build
ing in which the cells were Incorporated
in the main edifice, aad the idea was
roughly blocked out, 10 an Informal way,
that building having about eighty cells,
arranged 10 about four tiers f twenty each
and built with the idea OF adding another
tier in years to cone, If necessary, would |
be about what Ohio county would want, |
provided the entire cost OF sie an ground
could be kept down TO 500, 900. This
idea WAS strengthened in the afternoon |
when the Western penitentisry Was visitsd, |
that institution, erected at total cost, 10 |
date, Of 81, 200, 0O0, and still incomplete,
being virtually On Allegheny county Jail
on large scsle, as the arrangement tf
cells etc. ia identical.
The seven commissioners making the
tour will formally report to The full Board
and then tangible and formal action will
oe taken.
Before leaving the cars, last evening,
the guests of the Board formslly thanked
the officials for the cCurtesies extended on
the trip.