The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-24
THE new COUNTY JAIL.
1t Will Be Constructed by the De-
troit Safe and Lock
Company.
They We're the Lowest Bidders
and Are Awarded the
Contract.
Work to Begin ut Once-The Building
to he Completed In Ab0ut
Six Months.

A special session of the county commits
sioners was held yesterday TO award the
contract for building the new county Jail,
The Detroit Safe and Lock company, repre-
sented by r. A. Bell a. Co., OF Helena, we're
the lowest bidders and we're awarded the
contract. their figures being &43.425, which
10 for the Jail building proper and the cell
and steel work. This was one of the first
bids put in, and in order to give Helena
mon a chance to bid the successful firm was
required to put separate figures on the cell
and steel work. which they did, putting the
amount at $4,000. ID. p. Workman was the
highest bidder. his figures being $47.957.
Grant Il Whalen bid $23, 800 on the building
and 100000 on the cell and steel work, to be
put up by the Detroit Safe and Look COM
pany, plus S per cent, making the tota
amount of their bid $44, 800. Other bids re-
ceived on the building alone were: Fitzger-
aid & Dolan, 1924, 600; Isaac Meysen, $36, 500.
The agent of Pauley Brothers, of st. Louis,
who furnished the cell equipment for the
old Jail, was here some time ago, but was
not encouraged by the commissioners to
bid. Tho easy in which the
half-breed murderer Godas sawed his way
through the bars Of the old Jail WIS con-
sidered a very poor recommendation Of the
Pauley Brothers work.
While the contract has been secu red by
an outside firm, Mr.. Bell says .he work of
building will be done by Helena contr act
ors. There is no frm in the state which
could compete with the Detroit Safe and
Look company on the steel and cell work,
hence all the material and work on
the cells will be done by that COM
pany and shipped here. Mr.. Bell,
who figured on the contr act for his ompa-
NY. engaged the service 8 OF Mr.. N. j. Nc
Connell, formerly of Paulsen and McCon-
nell, to submit plans and specifications of
the building. These were accepted by the
commissioners some time ago. A number
oil handsome designs were submitted
by different firms. After having
them under consideration for about
a week the board decided to adopt
the plans and proposition of the Detroit
Safe and Lock company, and N. j. McCon-
nell. The designs accepted from this firm
show a handsome and imposing two-story
and basement structure of rubble granite
work facing west to the court house, with
which it will harmonize in it's general APP
pearance. The west front elevation shows
two arched entrances with short flights of
dressed stone steps. At either end are
towers projecting a short distance above
the roof line. h interior drawings give
forty-hve cells proper. with six others, all
surrounded by exercise corridors. Accom-
females. boys, insane and condemned pris-
oners. In the basement provision is
made for a steam heating plant and
laundry. Bath rooms and closets
are on every floor. The sherih's
quarters for himself, deputies ard iailors,
consist of eight commodious rooms in the
hrst floor with a reception room. Above
the second story is a large attic which may
be used for storage purposes.
From 10000 to 49, 600 pounds of the best
soft and hard Bessemer steel, VARYING from
five to seven ply, will he used in the
office OF the head iailors a number Of peep
holes look out upon the interior arrnge-
ment of the cells and corridors. From these
peep holes a command is had of the whole
interior, and they also can be used as loop
holes for rifles and shot guns in case of in
surrection among the prisoners. A novel
feature of the equipment will be a powerful
stream of water directed through a small
nozzle. by means of this a prisoner who is
in tho corridor and refuses 10 enter his
bel Sell' fo or , become ON . thu "nruly, may ::
his cell. Mr.. Bell has illustrated the work
lngs OF this feature of prison discipline to
Sheriff Jefferis, who Endorses it as Il good
thing. All of the cell doors will be capable
of operation from the ends of the corridors
by means of levers. While thus opening
the cells to give the prisoners access to the
corridors for exercise the turnkey will be
inclosed i'll what is called a safety vestibule,
which protects him from any overpowering
upon the part of the inmates.
The general design and the equipment
will give Lewis and Clarke county a Jail
which has been ne eded for some time.
When completed it will undoubtedly be the
best of its kind between st. Paul and Port
land, and the w~ell-known reputation of the
Detroit Safe and Lock company is q guar
antee that they will, RS usual, furnish a
frst-class piece of work. Mr.. Bell will, in
connection with MIR. Mcconnell, give his
personal supervision to all details.
Prisoners now confined IN the old Jail
building will be removed to the city Jail to-
day or tomorrow. Tn old building will
then be torn down and the cells turned over
to the city, which has agreed to take charge
of the county prisoners until the completion
of the new Jail. The old cells in the county
jail will be urned over to the city az com
pensation for keeping the prisoners. Work
on the new building will commence within
a week or two. The architect estimates
that it will require about six months to
complete the structure.
Misses fast black hose only % cents, at The