The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-27

The Virginia penitertiary has been the
subject of no little talk and discussion
during the past year or two because of
the distressing inadequacy of the accom-
modations which this unfortunately pop
ular hosiery is III position to offer.
With the criticism and general disre-
pute which have come TO this old building
in its later years, the glory OF dts youth
has been forgotten, and the days when
it marked a notable advance over all pre-
LiouS penal establishments.
It's connection with two Of the most
prominent figures in the early history Of
America-ThomaS Jefferson and Aaron
Burr-is well-nigh forgotten as well.
AS early in the History of the Common
wealth as October, 1I76, the worthy Bur
gesses in Williamsburg assembled, decid-
ed that of the onenses then punishable
with DEATH there were many for which a
different punishment should be provided,
and hard labor on roads canals and 9th
er public works was suggested.
"a bill for proportiOning crimes ana
punishments in cases heretofore CAPT
tal' was drawn by Mr.. Jefferson, and
also a bill for the employment, govern
ment and support Of malefactors con-
demned to labor for the commonwealth.
THOMAS JEFlBF,RsON'S PLANS.
At the request of the Board of Direct
ors OF Public Buildings, Mr.. Jefferson, IN
1856, drew up a plan for q prison on the
principle of solitary confinement.
While it is generally known that Viz
ginia's Capitol building is Mr. Jefferson's
ADAPTATION of the N1aison quarree OF Ms
mes, and that in the rotunda at the UNI
yersty Of Virginia he reproduced on
reduced scale the Pantheon, possibly it
is not so widely known that for the State
penitentiarv building Virgtnians are in
debted to the travels ana stay-abroad OF
Mr. Jefferson also. 1t is modelled after a
prison of the Bourbon Kings in Paris,
which has Ions since been torn down,
Any student Of the University OF virginia
recognizes in the brick arches at the
penitentiary the same architectural Ines,
drawn by the same hand as those OF the
University -otunda, and the basement OF
the Capitol. Then, too, the main thought
in the penitentiary plans was Mr.. JET
ferson' s-naInely, that the door OF every
cell should be visible from some one point
near the gate. The arrangement OF the
cell doors and pillars necessary to produce
this result, is the cause OF what seems 10
a visitor to the penitentiary as he walks
around the galleries, to 5e ae peculiar ire
gl1larity, some doors being just between
the pillars anu some much TO one side. If
he will go to the right point and stand
where Mr.. Jefferson planned that q guard
should always stand, he would see every
cell door in the prison, but for the hospital
recently built.
CORNER STONE INSCRIPTION.
In the iils Of the Columbia Mirror,
paper published in 4AIexandria> in 1887 ana
preserved in the Congressional Library,
there is to be found the inscription on the
conversions OF the penbtentiary. The
Mirror states that it copies 1t from a
Richmond paper. 1t is as follows:
THE Legislature of Virginia, having
abolished the antient sanguinaly Grim
inaI code. the first stone of a building,
the monument of that wisdom, which,
While it Furnishes, would reform the Grim
inal. was laid on the 18TH OF August, m
the wear 1897 and Of American independ-
ence XVII, by the most WorsklipTul Nat
Price, Master of Richmond Lodge, No.
10: John Strange Monroe, Of Manchester
Lodge, No IA; W. T. Fitzwyson, of Rich
mond-Randolph Lodge, No 10; James Nc
Ml1Iian, OF ST Johns Lodge, No. 50; the
Worsfipful r. Brooke being Grandm2st-
er; A. L. SOL; his Excellency James Wood.
being Governor Of the State; Hon. Har-
den Burwell, Lieutenant Governor; Carter
Rraxton, James Pendleton, John Cur
wand. NJ Jones, John Mayo, Alex. NIcRae,