The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-11
DEFECTS IN LoCK-UPs.
Secretary Hart Makes Some Very
Sweeping Criticisms.

sweeping Criticisms.
The Improvement Bulletin this week
says: IN
The editor has received a commune
cation from H. H. Hart, the energetic
secretary of the Minnesota Board of
Onarltles and Corrections, touching
upon the topic of the architecture and
construction Of jails and lock-ups. We
think, perhaps, he is too sweeping in
MS reHectlons upon architects and con-
tractors, but in general his attitude
seems to be a fair and reasonable one
Ihere appears to have been some fric-
t1on between the state board and archi-
tects, oihclals and others. There
should be, on the contrary. a shirt of
mutual respect, and a common pul pose
TO secure the erection of suitable build
1ngs for this purpose. The state de-
partment, deVoting it's Investigations
and energies to the subject. ought to
be In position to give architects and Of
hclals valuable suggestions, and these
should be welcomed and given due
weight. Here is what Secretary Hart
has to say:
Dear Sir: Please accept thanks for a copv
OF your issue of Nov. 10, with its excellent
article on the matter of jail architecture
Inc great trouble that we have found in
this matter is that very few architects have
had any experience in building jaiIs Usual
ly county commissioners do one of two things.
they employ an architect who has had no ex
perfence to prepare their plans, and as a re-
suit they get building with an imposing
exterior, but badly arranged. poorly lighted,
badly ventilated, and often insecure By the
time the architect has built his first Jail and
discovered its defects, he is prepared for a
second, but is not Likely to have a second on
pOrtunity The other plan is to allow some of
the firms which make a business of building
jails to prepare the plans. Such firms are ac-
customed to donate the plans provided the
contract is awarded to them. This plan works
in two ways The architect usually tries to
plan the building that there will be a
large profit for his firm. and, also, so that it
will be easier for his firm to bid on it than
any other. The sheriffs residence and the
superstructure of the jail invariably let to
subcontractors, whose only interest is to 90
the job as cheaply as they can, as they know
the credit or discredit will go to the chief con-
tractor who is q resident of another state.
We have several architects in this state who
have built good jails, and many others who
can build them if they have the requisite in
formation. 1t is the practice of this Office to
furnish the counties and architects, without
expense. any information in our power which
will assist them in securing satisfactory plans,
and we invite correspondence from such peo-
pie.
1t is our invariable practice to advise coun-
ty commissioners and architects proposing to
build jai;s to visit other iails both good and
bad, before making plans. There are good
tails at West Duluth, Fergus Falls, Crooks
ton, Red Wing, Rochester Mankato and
Worthington MINI. There are good lock-ups
at South Minneapolis, Brainerd, West Duluth,
saltwater Owatonna and Newport The New
port lookup is a village lookup built at
cost of less than $780, 1t is fre-proof, has
two separate rooms two good cells: it is we'll
lighted we'll heated and can easily be kept
in good sanitary condition. Yours truly,
H H. Hart, Secretary.