The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-03-12
EIGHTED BY ELECTRICITY
4 BIC IMPROVEMENTS AT THE SLATE
 PRISON.

NOW WVoinpieteu-Web May nave Its Streets Lighted by Electricity. Hartford, March 11.-On Monday evening the Connecticut State prison at Wetherstield was lighted by electricity for the first time.
 The substitution of electricity for gas is in the line of the policy of improve ment which Warden Woodbridge inau- gurated when he assumed charge of the prison, and which he has faithfully adhered to ever since. The electricity is furnished by the Hartford Electric Light Go. Two feed wires extend along the outside of the north wall of the main block fronting the yard that lies between the block and the shop building. The wires enter the base ment of the building to two transform CTS, passing through iron conduits, that are insulated, the conduits beginning about twenty feet from the point of entrance into the basement where the transformers are located. The wires before they reach the transformers have voltage of 2,200 volts. This volt age is reduced to 220 volts in the trans formers and before the electricity en- ters the wires that run through the buildings. A handsome switch board Of marble slate has beend built at the right wall of the enclosure between the gratings that divide the block from the place for visitors. There are twenty two switches on this board, and they give the officials of the prison complete control Of the electric lighting of the institution. Each switch connects with department or division of a depart ment of the prison. There are three extra switches to be used for the exten- sion of the electric lighting when found necessary. The departments at pres- ent lighted are the main block, incan- descent lights, the insane ward, the west end, the prison kitchen, the flospi- tai and the chapel In addition to these there are four arc lights for the watch towers on the outer walls, and for the front wall. These arc lights are also controlled by the switch board No time will be lost in wiring the execu- ton house, the school room, the female department, the warden's apartments and the officers quarters. The three extra switches are not included in those which will be used to control the lighting of the departments which are not yet lighted. When the entire work of electric lighting is finished there will be nineteen of the twenty-two switches ill use
 Each cell is furnished with an incan- descent lamp. In the main block there are 360 cells. Around the walls there are eighty incandescent lamps and, be- sides, four arc lamps. In the west end there are sixty-four cells, and in each there Is an incandescent lamp besides twenty-two lamps in the hall. In the hospital there are twenty-one electric lamps, forty-one in the chapel and twelve in the kitchen. Tn the west end kitchen there are seven lights. The cells in the insane ward, if such bright, cheerful rooms can be properly called cells, are lighted by fifty-four lamps. Outside the door of each cell in the in- sane ward there is a switch to enable the. officer in charge to turn on the light at any. time to see that the de- niented occupant is not doing anything to injure himself. The electric wires are not visible. They all pass through conduits of iron thoroughly insulated HG COlluullS dIG kuOWIl cdS Iron ctTIH- ored conduits. Each light in the hall is let out of a "box" fastened on the wall and the electric lamp is adjusted to the gas lamp, the insulation being kept perfect. In the kitchen where there is more or less dainpness caused by the steam the conduits are steam and wa ter tight. The lamp in the cell is fas- tened close to the wall, no part of the .,,i~, H1;,. oP pant It is impossible for the convict, if he felt so disposed to reach the wire. If he is inclined to mischief all he can do is to break the lamp and then he will be the principal sufferer in depriv- ing himself of light. Convicts may be depended on not to abridge their own comforts. On the wall of the chapel behind the platform there is a pretty cluster of three lamps. When con- vict is in red uniform, which is sign that he is refractory and disobedient, the electric lamp is taken out of his cell.
 The work of electric wiring the in- stitution and of making all the adjust ments was done by Officer John F. prison, assisted by four convicts. It
 
 bored through the sixteen-inch wall to each cell in the main block. In the first grade department holes had to be drilled through the steel walls Of the cells.
 The wiring of the entire institution will require 7,500 feet of insulated pipe. The cost to the state will be between $2400 and $2,500. This expense is for material only. There is no other ex- pense.
 The arc lamps on the outer walls will be kept lighted all night lighting up the exterior of the institution. There is decided advantage from the stand point of health in having the prison lighted by electricity instead of gas or oil. Electricity affords an immeasur- ably better light, it is cleaner, and it does not vitiate the air as the light from the gas and oil does. MT. Rielly stated on Wednesday afternoon that owing to the consumption of oxygen by either gas light or oi 1 light a single lamp from either affects the air of a cell just as badly as if it were occupied by five men, The only persons who may object to the electric lights are the convicts. Under the old system of lighting the cells, the convicts could