The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-11-27
LOCATION OF THE BUILDING.

LOCATION OF THE BUILDING,
The structure is located about fifty feet
north of the Court House, and on front
line even with it, facing Elm street. 1t
is built of brick with stone trimmings,
and rests upon an excellent stone foun-
dation. The Sheriff's dwelling is OF q
fine style of architecture, and presents
splendid appearance both in respect to
BEAUTY and solidity. The Jail. which is
at the rear on the east side, is constructed
on the latest improved plans for prison
ers. All plans for institutions of the
character must be submitted to the State
Board of Charities for it's approval, and
the first plans submitted by the Commits
sioners were rejected. The plan of this
was accepted, and it is the only one of
the kind in the State, conforming to all
the requirements of heat, light and san
itation. So perfect is the plan in every
detail that not a single inch of room is
wasted, and the symmetry of the whole
structure without and within must be
pleasing to the most aesthetic eye.
THE JAIL.
The Jail proper is thirty-three feet eight
inches by forty-two feet eight inches,
and, save the iron bars that stretch across
the windows on the three sides, would
scarcely be thought sufficient to restrain Z
the characters that are at times confined
in a prison. But when one steps inside
the outer corridor of the Jail his views
quickly change. The brick walls he saw
from the outside are only kind of ve-
neering, as it were, and have practically
nothing to do with keeping the prisoners
in. They might rather be thought of
as more to keep the prisoners frierds
out. Inside this brick enclosure, and
surrounded by a four foot corridor on ev-
cry side, is large steel burglar-proof
cage, with upper and lower tiers. Each
tier has corridor six by twenty-four feet
through the middle from east to west, di-
viding the large cage into six smaller
ones, three on each side. These smaller
cages are eight by fourteen feet aud are
separated from each other by solid steel
partitions. This, as will be seen, gives
| twelve cages-siX on each tier. The ends
of the cages next to the central corridor
are composed of steel bars, as are also
the ends opposite; the partitions only
being solid. This affords light, air and
heat.
The upper tier is arranged a little diff
| ferently. The outer corridor is removed,
| thus giving more room in each of the cells,
which are closed in front giving more pri-
vacy to the inmates. These upper cells
are intended for women and boys, aud
prisoners that could not be classed with
criminals. The furnishing of these cells
are rather more comfortable and conven-
lent than the others, to suit the class of
prisoners that will be confined in them.
The upper tier is completely isolated
from the lower tiers by thick
cement floor, thefloor of the corr i
dor being composed of iron and glass
which admits light to the lower corridor.
! The floor of the lower cells consists of
about eight inches of concrete, that is
harder to dig through than stone, and on
| top of this is a solid sheet of half-inch
steel. Water for washing and drinking
| purposes is supplied 10 each cell on the
upper lltit buN III lllt ioNt ~ - luI-
nished at the end of the central corridor,
and can only be operated by an attend
ant.
There is not a particle of wood within
reach of the prisoners in the lower tier,
even the he'd or bunk is of iron, fastened
by hinges on the partitions and swung
into position by chains. All the steel in
the Jail is of the finest quality and is so
tempered as to defy the drill, file or saw.
The entrance to the Jail is from the
south side next the court house, where
one passes from very neatly construc-
ted porch into small room Known as
| the Sheriff's reception room. From this
a large, heavy wooden door, with its
massive lock admits one into the outer
corridor of the Jail, which is four feet
wide and extends around the entire cage,
between it and the walls Of the Jail. In
to this corridor the prisoners are never
admitted, being used only by the at
tendants, from which they can have full
view of every part of each cage and from
which also the prisoners meals are