New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-12

Fortunately this building. with others. Will soon
be torn down indeed the work Of demolition or
OF the smaller structures has already been
begun and some attempts have been made at an
Improvement OF the sewers II is while viewing
the excavations in connection with this ast named
work that one IL enabled 10 form a toeraby cor
rect idea Of the Doggy quality OF the ground upon
which the prison rests Before going six feet deep
the water began flowing rapidly into the ditch
that II became necessary procure a force pump
10 keep It down. II is supposed 10 be the water
OF the river the level OF the ground at this point
is really below the high-water mark OF the stream.
When this fact Is realized the folly OF wasting
further money In Improvements at this place Is APP
parent: ye, the last Legislature passed law au-
thorzlng the Warden to expend not exceeding 800
GO out OF accrued profits from the earnings OF con-
vic,s In making necessary repairs and In recon-
structlng buildings Warden Durston has among his
prisoners quite expert draughtsman. and he has
drawn him into service In the preparation OF plans
for a general overhau.ing OF the Interior. IL Is
proposed to accomplish the results wholly by con-
vic; labor. and already work has gone so far that
all the prisoners except three or four who
recllcl'rant and locked up In their cells, are
employed The work in the shops has been light
recently. owing to the genera, depression in indus
tries. and II is a godsenl to the prisoners TO be
thus employed. as otherwise they would be obliged
20 spend drcary hours in their cells. subject only
70 the prescribed amount OF exercise In the prison
yard.
CONTEMPLATED IMPROVEMENTS.
The plans Of Warden Durs:on contemplate the
tearing down OF what is the messroom. with
the chapel on the floor above II IS about time
that this done for disgusting outfit
hardly be imagined The messroom has
capacity which, when strained. will provide for
the seating OF about 400 convicts at the
tables but tho ceiling IL only ten feet from the
moor. and whether Il be A hot cold day. the
doors from the food. which Is necessarily OF a
coarse quality almost unbearabe and indeed
nauseatng 20 many stomachs. To be sure, hunger
Will eventually drive a man TO eat almost anything
under almost any circumstances. The food Is wei
cooked and clean; but even the clothing OF the
prisoners cannot help retaining the fumes Of the
hot soups and meats. Above the messroom
the two chapels. for the Of Protestants
and the other for Roman Catholics. In order to
get proper ventilation for the messroom. particu-
larry at this season OF the year, square hole IL
cut in the ceiling OF tho latter and the fumes rise
TO and circulate through the auditorium overhead
At the present time e.so. the prisoners obliged
In all OF weather. TO file out OF the shops
through the courtyard In order 10 reach the mess
When 1t is raining hard their garments
must Of necessity In this short distance be-
come saturated with water This condition adds 10 the
general onensiveness OF tho o1ors when the men, ~
the number Of more than thirteen hundred. to each
OF whom is allotted only suit OF clothes a year.
congregated within the limits Of this miserable
apartment
IL is proposed TO combine the messroom. the
chapel and the hospital in vast building. and
to so arrange the approaches from the lhouse
that the men may pass through corridor con-
Meeting that with the building contemplated. thus
avoiding exposure To the falling rain. and on Sun
days enabling them to pass directly to the chapel
under throughout the entire distance. This
building Will be about 2o2 feet In length by 76 feet
In width. The messroom Will be the first floor.
and overhead VIII be the chapel while on the third
floor the hospital will be located The present mess