The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-19

Yesterday Col. Thomas O'Brieu, DR.,
j. W. Mccoy and Captain Q. j. Rawl-
ing, recently appointed by Judge PAUL,
of the circuit court, as committee to
inspect the county jail, in accordance
with the statute requiring such an in
spoction to DO madeeach year, filed their
report in the Office Of the clerk OF the
court. 1t is voluminous document
but meaty and interesting throughout,
and as it touches on subjects which
have been lately matter OF moro or less
controversy, it is printed below in full;
TO MS Honor, Joseph r. Paul, JUDGE OfRe circuit
court;
The undersigned, q committee APP
pointed by you for the purpose OF exam
lining the jail OF Ohio county, and to re-
port upon its condition and its con-
duct, appointed on the 18th instant,
made such examination on the 18th,
and report to you as required by your
instructions md our obligation. Upon
entering the building the first impress
sion made upon the visitor Is the un-
finished appearance, which is not en-
tirely removed by examination. This is
caused chiefly by the absence OF plaster
or whitewash. The commissioners
present stated that this want would BIO
supplied, but that the building being
new, up to this time 1t was thought
unnecessary to whitewash 1t.
The main cell room is As feet wide, 763
feet long and So feet high and contains
40 cells, each feet wide by s feet long
BY 81 feet high, 40 cells each s feet wide,
s feet 10 inches long and 0 feet high.
Dungeon room, size 50 by 2S feet con-
tanning seven cells, 8 feet wide, feet
long and 8 feet high,
Female coll room, "a by 81 feet, by Is
feet high, containing 10 cells 5 feet wide
by feet long and 8 feet high. Guard
room, % feet by % feet, by ID feet high.
Two cells on the third floor, 5 feet wide
by 0 feet long and 0 feet high. Main
cell building outside 49 feet wide, 81 feet
long and So feet high. Guard room and
residence 50 feet long, IS feet wide, 40
feet high.
Whilethe committee wished to ignore
altogether the reported differences, said
to exist between several officials con.
nected with the administration OF tho
county affairs, this difference would
present itself incidentally or casually
during the investigation, but was only
regarded when bearing on the subject
in question, and in line with the object
OF the committees appointment, not
for the purpose OF considering or decid.
ing on the merits OF the differences.
The examination leads tho committe to
tho conclusion that tho Jail is well plan
ned, security and comfort having been
obtained when the uses OF the appli-
ances provided for them are intelligent
ly and faithfully used. The officials in
control are anxious to perform their
duties satisfactorily, and mainly have
been successful. Where they have
failed, has followed chiefly from the
building and appurtenances being new
and untried, aud some OF tho officials
Just as new to their duties. Minor de-
fects have been discovered in tho one,
and certain amount Of friction has fol-
lowed in the other, both Of which may
DO remedied or removed by some
changes in detail OF the material, and a
proper system inNugurated. This, with
q little Cancellation on tho part OF tho
officials in their intercourse with each
other (Obsent heretofore) will remove
tho other.
The present jaller has been in charge
less than six months, and thas, your
committee believes, performed his duty
well and generally to the satisfaction OF
the county authorities. The exceptions,
as indicated before and alluded to- here
after, having grown out Of unfamiliarity
on his part with the details, and the
newness OF his superior officer to the
requirements OF the position, necessa-
rily following on the changes OF officials,
and at times, probably little exhibi-
ton OF intirmity OF temper not war
ranted by the circumstances. This,
coupled on tho other hand with the re-
quired rigid Observance oil custom here.
tofore prevailing with the controlling
power, and not fully understood by the
subordinates, are the factors producing
the friction, all OF which were presented
and discussed, and your committee Boz
lieves, now fully understood by them,
and not likely to interfere in the future
in the conduct and management OF the
institution, the relations they bear to.
ward each other having been clearly
defined by this examination. In any
event, II there be any jarring or fric-
ton in the conduct OF the jail hereafter,
each officer knowing his duty and what
Is expected of him, the responsibility
for such can DO placed and the remedy
applied. The committee avoids do
tails, reporting simply that the situa-
ton, it is believed, requires nothing
further than this general reference to 1t
TO insure remedy; at the same time
warning those directly interested that
II tho relations heretofore sustained
continue to DO OF the same strained
character the interests OF tho county
will suffer, and the comfort and even
tho security OF the prisoners DO endan'
gered.
Tho building was found in all its parts
well adapted TO tho purpose designed
cloan aud we'll kept; tho sanitary con
dition good; the appliances for heating
and ventilation good, (dotocts in which
had been discovered, and, II is believed
remedied,) making 1t equal to all de-
mands likely TO be made on II, having
In view the health and comfort OF the
inmates. III the opinion OF tho com
mittee tho soil pipo" at tho south end
OF tho coll building Is u menace to the
security OF tho prisoners.