The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-18

after the jail was erected. IL was AZ
c., an extremely small affair, but was
added to from time TO time, as us hecu9
Increased. until some time slice VIII ,,t, ~
r.sds were suffered TO incl ease WIZ
tho enlargement that should nave "0'""'
panied them. ,..,o,.
Yestorday I made critical insoecuon
81, Tho iaii with view OF presenting
IN IN. public a statement Of iis true con-
dltior that would fully set forth the
great need Of a new and larger structure
In this inspection l was ancIded every
assistance and courtesy by MI. H. ti%f
borne Epps. the efficient deputy OF the
city Sergeant.
ITS DIMENSIONS.
Tho size If the iail outside the walls is
alnut lrOX75 feet. Within il a court con-
st-ilcted IN the end nearest jan alie!,
which is GINS feet and to the east OF
,hts are the rows Of cells; 10 the west
are the sleeping quarters OF the oUlclals'
tho Kitchen boiler-rOOm, etc, WINE 10
the north OF the court are situated the
rooms used as hospitals. The largest
room in the Jail is l2xl6 feet WINE nc
smallest Is ks feet. The only means Oh
ingress 10 the jail IS small door 'front.'
ins on Marshall street. To your lets
hand as YOU enter this door. behind
strong iron grating. stretch the long row
Of cells used for the white male prison
ers There are nineteen OF these, fronting
on a long. brick-paved corridor fourteen
feet wide by 1870 feet long. There are
now Twenty-Five white prisoners comm
ed In the jail. and In view OF the smaii
number this part of the jail is in better
condition than any other.
FINALE WARD.
Immediately above this row Of cells is
the female ward. In this row are seven
cells which are considerably larger tn'h
those occupied by the men. The nrst
cell in this row is used for the white ie-
male prisoners. and small padded room
adjoining IS used for insane white le-
males. These two rooms are barred OF
from the rest Of the corridor by heavy
iron door behind the massive bars OF
which are confined the colored females.
There are now thirty Of them thtre, ana
they are apportioncd off six to a cell.
These quarters are small ana close ana IL
IS only by the most active supervision
Of Captain Epps and Mr. Claiborne Eprs.
and the liberal use Of disiniectants, lhat
they are kept habitable. Every TWO
weeks ths cells are well whitewasned ana
every morning each prisoner Is required
o. assist in thoroughly securing out his
cell. .
The worst state of things, however.
prevails I'm the ward where the male ne
gro prisoners are kept THIS Waru i
situated I'm the southern part 81 The pnlia-
ing and consists of a double tier Of cells
fronting upon a narrow corridor. There
are thirty-cight cells in this ward all
small and close. and in them are now
locked up every night l32 prisoners.
This section Of the Jail requires the IN
Cessant efforts Of Captain tpps ana lls
assistants to keep 1t in habitabie cohdi-
ton Hot water and disinfectants are
freely used under the personal supervi-
sion OF Mr. Claiborne Epps, but the smah
space allowed to this larse number OF
persons makes the task a hard one.
THE SANITARY ARRASGrM
The sanitary arrangements are simply
execrable. the fixtures used being old
fashioned and entirely inadequate 10 the
needs of the jail. The pipe in The rear,
which Is tho sole means of carrying OF
q large part of the refuse. is very small.
and often becomes stopped up forcing the
evil-smeline matter back into the Jail.
The size OF all other fixtures Of this
nature is on a par with this little pipe.
and the wonder IS that human beings
are able 10 live there at all. Nothing but
constant effort makes ii possible.
The boiler which supplies the steam
which heats the whole structure, was pur-