The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-08
SUGGEST lions
AND CRIT ICISM.
A Jail and Lock Expert Has Examined
the JAIL
TOO WEAK FOR OLD JAIL BIRDS.
Says It is No More Fit'o Hold Prison.
ers Than a Pig Pen, and
is Not to he Compared
With Modern Prisons

The question of a new jai! for Richmond
Z is being asitated. Along that line letters
have been received from local oranch Of
Il large construction company, with criti-
cism on the present structure, and Sug-
gestions concerning the erection OF z new
Jail. The letter. is an interesting &c c't'4ienl,
and reads as follows:
Richmond, Va, Sept. 6, 1860.
Dear Strive have been informed by
Mr.. Schenck, the Jail and lock expert,
that ne has made careful eXll:ll::atiCn
of the city Jail, and that everything FER
tanning to the 1aii is worn out; and that
the so-caled Jail is no more Mt, or much
more secure, to keep prisoners IN than
pig pen. Mr.. Schenck has the reputation
E OF being, one of the best lock experts in
America; besides he is the patensae and
manufacturer of the highest sraces of
locks in the country. He has many friends
amongst the business men AID bankers Of
this city.
Ii you were shown a modern. up-to-date
Jail. same as Baltimore, Washington and
other cities have. and then examine the
Richmond Jail. you would then be SO dis
gusted with this one you would feel as
though you would like to see dynamite
placed under the building and oicw it up.
The building is disgrace TO any CIVILIZED
COZ ntry. The object and intention Of the
law is that a prisoner will be pacci' in
a cell that will prevent him from soap
ing. Good, secure cells that will hold any
prisoner, are made and are in most Q. the
jaiks in the United States. When prison.
ers are placed in such cells there is no pos
sibi!ity Of their esca ping. Mr. Schanck in
forms us that any professional jail bird
would not want more than five or ten
minutes to get out of any cell in the
Richmond Jail. Those parties study tie
art of picking locks and the easiest way
of getting out of prisons. and unless the
cell is burglar-proof they are soon out
and gone. If there is one weak point in
the Jail they can locate it at a glance.
Modern Jail doors are locked by a system
of levers from the Jail office. and there is
no necessity of padlocks.
a good Jail is of great Importance to
any city. as the protection and welfare
OF city depends upon them for the Gus
tody of prisoners and criminals Besides
being secure. a Jail SHOULD have the proper
sanitary ARA ngements: because person
is arrested there is no reason why he
should be placed in such a place as the
Richmond Jail.
WORN-OUT HEATING APPARATUS
Mr.. Setlenck reports the heating appa-
ratus as worn out and cannot be used
another winter. Some of the prison doors
are hanging by one hinge, and others are
IN Sucn DaQ SHdpe tlldl LHteN are IidOic "
drop eff at any time and fail on come Of
the guards or prisoners; and if such should
occur and some prisoners or persons were
injured it would cost the city large
amount of money There IS enough cid
brick in the old Jail to build one;
the new Jail could be succeed and no
new brick would be required.
A new modern Jail can be i.;lilt hitch
cheaper than you have any idea, and the
city can bulld a Jail and never miss the
money: besides it will give employment
to a great many laboring men that need
work. This is the year to do building, IS
Presidential years are Off years in trace
and building material is cheaper. All
kinds Of steel is cheaper now than it has
been for years, but this is not S"lns 70
be the case long. as every ;teel mil IN
the country has booked all the ,r;ers for
the coming year that it can turn cut.
This is good proof that prices will be au-
vanced, and for the next few years, at
least, all building material and the cost
of building will be nearly twice what lt
could be constructed for this year; ana
our advice to the city of Richmond would
be to act at once regarding the building
of a new iail. and it would be big
saving to the citizens if plans and specl-
fcat;ons were adopted at once and the
contract let for the jail.
Mr.. Schenck Is a busy man and expects
to leave the city in short time to make
the final tests and examinations on
large steel jail that he is consulting ensi-
reer for but he has consented. while IN
Richmond to furnish any information on
the iail question. We would be pleased
to meet any committee and give any in
formation and submit any plans and specl-
ications. Architecture has become such
a wide field that it requires an arcnl-
tect to conine himself to one class OF
buildings. 1t has been demonstrated that
an architect that builds residences. stores.
and such like. is not qualified to build
iails, courthouses. theatres. cotton mills,
etc. Th:s is the reason why we have con-
fined ourselves to jails and county build
ines. The field was too large, and we
preferred to adoot public buildings.
EXPERTS MUST RTTILD.
You realize that the building Of a Jail