Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-23
A BALLOON In JAIL.
Warden Mclleese Has Very Novel
Idea for House-Cleaning.
TRYING TO REACH A DIRTY DONE.
HOt Air and Inflated Canvas Cheaper Than
Scafolding.
lying TO REACH A DIRTY DONE.
WAITING on A TENTURESoME PRISONER

Warden AIcAleese is looking for an aerial
navigator who is also accomplished in the
use of the brush, and if Mile. Decca, the
''cloud kisser," who created several sensa-
tions il this city last summer were only
here now, she would have grand opportu-
nifty to further extend her fame. 1t is not
often that a balloon is used in connection
with house cleaning operations, but that is
just what the warden wants to use and he is
so anxious 10 try it that every prisoner en-
tering the Jail is examined as to his skill in
sky scraping He hss not yet found one
capable of performing the feat desired, but
he still has hope.
There had never been an organized effort
to clean up the new county jail properly
until Warden McAleese took charge. Since
that time great transformation has taken
place, and the interior of the prison looks
like a different place.
frightening Up the Gloomy interior.
The long cell corridors that had become
black and gloomy with smoke and SCOT have
been scrubbed and whitewashed until they
are as white as snow. The inside OF every
cell has been cleaned, scrubbed, white
washed and painted similarly, and even the
great granite pillars which support the
main roof of the building have been
scrubbed from top to bottom, and are as
white and clean as the day they left the
ouarries The high windows that light the
building, but which had never been intro
duced to soan and water, and showed in, are
bereft OF their four wears accumulation of
CRIME, and once more admit the hight of
day. The iron railings through the build
ing, the cell fronts and the window frames
have all received coat of fresh paint and
shine as thev perhaps never did before.
But there is one part of the jail vet to be
cleaned which has given the Warden much
worry In the center of the building there
is a dome III feet from the floor and totally
inaccessible except by balloon or high
scaf1old Around the dome are several
strong barred windows, and like the balance
Of the dome's interior are absolutely black,
showing in strong contrast with the white
walls below.
a Problem That Puzzled the Court.
How to clean the dome has been puzzle
that everv official about the building, in
Guiding the Judges of the court, have en-
deavored 10 solve. The County Commits
siouerS suggested scaffolding, but the cost
would run up TO 5000, and that was consid-
cred too much for simple cleaning Of win
dows and couple of coats of whitewash On
the DOME Block and tackle and other
schemes have been suggested, but all were
discarded as impracticable but one.
That one is an idea of the warden's
which may be put into execution unless a
better one is presented. He proposes to
send man up in hot air balloon to do
the work. He figures that 4 canvas bag 10
feet high and about 5 feet wide would sup
port a man in perfect safety if filed with
hot air, and he proposes to keep up the
supply of air by building a big fire on the
fagstone pavement under the dome. A
volunteer from among the prisoners
will be called tor He will be attached to
the balloon seated on chair, and provided
with mop or whitewash brush as the work
TO be done may require. The balloon can't |
get away, and rope will connect it to the |
floor so that it can be pulled down at will |
The warden explains the proposed feat |
very entertainingly, but it willing to receive |
suggestions from the outside for better |
plan.