The herald., 1896-08-20
The New City Jail atLast Prac-
ticaIIy Finished
A COMPLETE MODERN JAIL
Description OF the Various Apartme nts
In the Building
The Big Steel Tank and the Smaller Cages for
FeIons and Muricrers -Women's AMI
Juvenile Departments

! Yesterday the public was given Its
first opportunity of viewing the new city
jail on First street. which is now nearly
completed, and q large number avalled
themselves of the privilege, it being
estimated that over 1000 persons passed
/ through the doors during the day. The
| interior was hardly in the best of shape
to show advantagcousiy, as the hall
| ways were Uttered with lumber and tool
chests, the rooms had not been cleared
of the debris that naturally accumulates
during the process of finishing and a
score of mechanics were pounding and
hammering away putting locks on the
steel doors of the cages while the paint
ers are slapping the final coat on walls
and ceilings.
1t has been the intention to move into
the new quarters by the eth of this
month, up to which date rent has been
paid for the old city hall building. but
1t seems now as though the new Jail will
not be ready for acceptance by that
date While it would be possible to
move in and occupy it, such will not be
done except under certain contingent
cies. Police Commissioner Wirsching
has called attention TO the fact that tht
act of occupancy by the city would be q
virtual acceptance of the premises ana
the work that remained to be done could
. be by the contractor charged for at cX-
ira rates, unless stipulation was en-
tered into between Mr. Rebman and the
city that the act of occupancy should not
be construed as a qualified acceptance.
The building COMMITTEES of the council
cannot accept the jail until it is com
plete in every respect and fulfilling all
contract conditions. but an opinion is to
be asked Of the city attorney as to the
bearing it would have on the matter
should the department move in before
formal acceptance by the regularly au-
thorzed body The work yet to be done
consists in grading and laying the ce-
ment sidewalks and driveway to the
rear of the jail and the concrete floor in
the basement There is also lot of re-
touching of paint and varnish and plas-
ter. especially on the walls of the west
erly courtroom, where considerapie
patching was done to fill cracks that
developed.
The building as whole is credit
to both the architect, MIR. Strange, and
the contractor, John Rebman 1t is spa
cious light and airy ard everything Is
finished in the most modern style. On
the easterly side OF the building on the
ground floor are the offices of the cap
tain sergeants and booking clerks also
the assembly room, or rather hallway
for il is hardly more than that. where
the men are lined up for roll call at every
change of watch. Off to one side Is
toilet room of large size. with every con-
venience of modern sanitary plumbing.
The huge double doors in the center
of the building open onto the main stair
case, which leads to the court rooms on
the second floor. To the right or west
of these doors are the offices of the chief
and his secretary, also a private con-
sultation room for the chiefs use. Across
a hallway on the extreme left of the
building are two large Offices for the
detectives.
Immediately back of the detectives
rooms is the receiving hospital. The
main door opens directly into the oper
ating rooms. wairscoted and fioored
with pure white tiling, and into which
every patient must be brought before
access can be had to the wards, which
lead off on either side. There is one
ward for male and another for female
patients, each spacious, but rather dark
for sick rooms. The apartments above
enumerated. together with closets, etc.
form the front half of the main floor of
the building.
The Jail proper is entirely distinct