Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-07
REN0VATING THE JAIL
What the New County Prison Ad-
miniStration Has Done.
ACCUMULATED RUBBISH OF YEARS
Hauled Away, and the Entire Institution
Now Spiek and Span.
PROFESSIONAL L0AFERS PUT TO WORK

Since ! chm McAleese became Warden Of
the county Jail many notable changes have
been made in that institution. In the few
weeks he has had charge he has made some
quick transformations which the most care
less observer could scarcely fail to realize
and appreciate. The county prison has
been given taste OF that same spirit of dis
cipline which the ex-Inspector infused into
the First police district in the days when he
reigned there.
No perscu can be better aware Of the I'M
proved condition of affairs than the en-
forced guests of the Warden. While his
work has resulted directly in making the
place more presentable in appearance, it
has also bettered the condition of the pris-
Oners in many wavs.
When Warden McAleese assumed control
he found there WIS plenty to do. The first
thing was to get the cells in order. From
look into few Of these the Warden came
TO the conclusion that general cleaning up
was necessary. The resultwas a surprise.
Cells Filled With Rubbish.
From the so cells two big wagon loads
of rubbish were taken out There were old
baskets and bottles, piles of old clothes and
thousand different things belonging any,
where but in prison cell. Several articles
were found that had been left by the me-
chanics when the institution was built In
almost every cell was a piece of rope, strung
across from one side to the other. Alto
gether there was enough of this to reach
from the Court House to the Point. After
two days work all the stuff was gotten out
of the wav.
Then the warden spread CONSERVATION in
'vagrant's row. by drafting Is tramps into
active service. This class OF individuals,
never so well off as when in jail, was chosen
TO keep things in order. The gang was put
TO work and for four weeks scrubbed and
secured until the big prison fairly shown.
One at a time the cells were opened and
scslded out with hot water from a hose.
Nermin vanished like magic. The cure was
followed by preventative in the shape of
liberal coats of whitewash. In the kitchen
and laundry pans, kettles and pipes were
deprived of their masks of dirt and grease,
and windows once again admitted light:
As soon as the whole place was gone over
the work was started again at the beginning
and will be kept up in that way. The men
are kept at work from s o'clock in the
morning until locking-up time at P. NJ.
In spite of the fact that the majority of
kueU nave never Deen hnOWE TO IaOOr while
at liberty at all, the men seem to enjoy
the work.
Even professional loafer prefers scrub
bing windows TO the solitary confinement of
a cell. Those who work are given little
extra feed in the evening. After getting
the cleaning-up project well under way the
warden turned his attention to the kitchen,
where he found quite field for work.
The King of the Kitchen.
The cooking is done at present bv a big
eolored man, serving a six months term.
Having presided over the culinary depart
ment of several restaurants he is right at
home. One man is detailed to assist him.
The morning and evening meals are not
very elaborate, consisting of nothing but !
bread and water. At noon hot edibles are
served. After a few days in the |
Office the warden concluded that /
without any extra expense he could make |
the dinner considerably more palatable than
before and made up the menus for each |
week about as follows:
Sunday-Tea and bread Mondav-Meat |
and potatoes Tuesday-Meat and cabbage. |
Wednesdav-Meat, potatoes and turnips. |
Friday-Meat and pea |
soup. Saturday-Beans and hominy.
Each man is allowed about three-fourths |
of pound of meat per day. He also gets |
quart measure of whatever vegetables are
served and a quart of coffee Every morn
ing he gets big Loaf of bread. The warden
superiutends the purchase of everything.
As there are on an average 200 prisoners
the amount of food required is large As an
example, it takes five bushels Of potatoes
for one meal.
In order to keep out vermin it is peces-
sary to use rigid measures with newly ar
rived prisoners. some of whom are decidedly |
iilthy. These are hustled off to the bath |
room, while their clothes are treated with |
boiling water and steam. They don't like |
il, but have no alternative. Prisoners are
shaved and given bath once week The |
Warden mas put stop to unnecessary visit |
ing, and only in rare cases does he allow |
meals to be sent in by friends