The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-30

There has been a great tcai said lately
fn reference to the removal of the District
Sail from lis present location. No suCgCs-
zion however. Eas been made as 90 whcr,
the institution should BE- moved or gEai
advantage viii b. gained by the change Of
location. The proposition vas revived a
few GAYS ago Boz Congress whom the item
OF s5oe00 for Improvements al the jail.
Workhousc. and almshouss. was reached in
the District Appropriation bin. Il was
then argued that 30 was useless 10 o2pend
this amount 10 Improvement in connection
with the District Jail. and the other build
iugs. If il was believed that the jail would
Be removed from its present location in tn,
near future il is believed that If the jail
is moved the removal Of the other build
ings will follow.
Il is understood that the proposition 10
remove the District Jail originated in the
Board Of Trade, and that the special com
mittee appointed. TO which the matter was
referred. in turn named a subcommittee
10 investigate and report upon the subject.
Ii is also stated that the subcommittee
made one or more visits TO the Jail with a
view Of ascertaining the condition Of the
institution the area OF land occupied, and
its topography. what obstruction il offered
TO the extension OF certain streets. and
such other information as could be gained
concerning the subject The committee was
met by Warden Harris, who submitted
what Information he had and was likely tc
assist the committeeman in making their
report.
IL s-,-,tyir.e- ~ The rna4+ar Warden Har-
ris stated that the present building affords
ample accommodations for all the prison
ers held by the United States authorities
IN the District. At present there are some
few more than 800 persons confined in the
fail. while he said there are cell accom-
modations for 626
The Jail is located on a tract Of about
nine acres Of ground on the Eastern
Branch OF the Potomac River, fronting
west on Nineteenth Street, between B and
c Streets southeast. Immediately TO the
south are the workhouse and almshouse
buildings. and IN the rear is the Potter's
Field. At present the grounds Of the jail
are enclosed by an ordinary running board
fence which makes 10 impractiCable TO al
low the prisoners exercise In the open air.
In this connection "a may be stated that
some time ago a proposition was made TO
enclose the grounds with a stone or brick
wall high enough TO ensure the safety Of
prisoners confined in the institution. From
what can be learned on this subject, how
ever, % appears when the proposition was
submitted 10 Congress only $4,000 was sp-
propriated for the purpose OF completing
the wall. This matter has been closely
considered by Warden Harris during his
incumbency and he is Of the opinion that
should IL ever be decided to make the pris-
oners work outside Of the confines OF the
building such a wall would be indispensa-
bic. The amount appropriated, however,
he states. will not be sufficient to complete
the proposed work. After giving the mat
ter careful consideration Mr.. Harris said
he Is Of the opinion that such an enclosure
o. will be required Will cost at least S115,-
eee.
After this conclusion was reached by the
warden. # is understood Congress appoint
Cd & special committee to look into the
matter and it reported that a wall fifteen
feet high, with a sufficient base, could be
constructed for about slo0. 000 In this con
pection It IS proper to say that Warden
Harris In computing the cost OF a wall
based his calculations on the suppOstior
that the wall should be twenty feet high
which he believes will be necessary for the
safe keeping Of persons. It may also b.
said that In the event that il is decided to
surround the jail grounds with a wall %
either fifteen OF twenty feet IN height,
there is hardly any doubt but the sugges-
zion OF Warden Harris as TO the construc-
tion OF the front wall viii be adopted. He
suggests that instead Of extending the wal
along the line Of the grounds abutting on
Nineteenth Street, that from the north
and south points OF the fail grounds, or
that street the wall take a direction which
will connect il with the northwest and
southwest corners Of the building By con
stus;ing the front wall. or rather walls.
for ii will be in two parts i'm this way it
vii greatly improve the appearance Of
the building and grounds which otherwise
Nou.d De entirely shut ont from Wow.