Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-01-20
Plans AreExhibited
By Chairman
Seligman.
WILL COST ABOUT $4,000
Present Structure is a Prison
in Name Only --- Much
Needed Improvement.

If the present plans or the Doard OF
county commissioners, Santa Fe Coun-
ty, are carried out, the Capital City
will have a new $4,000 jail building
during the present year. Hon. Arthur
Seligman, chairman Of the board. has
received plans and specifications for
the building under contemplation and
they will be on exhibition at his office
until the next meeting of the board in
April.
Citizens are requested to call and look
over the plans for the purpose of MAX
ing suggestions. Such will be gladly
received by members of the board and
duly considered. There Is nothing more
badly needed in Santa Fe county than
a new jail.
Excuse for jail.
The present building which is called
a jail by courtesy, was erected In the
| time that man "wots" not Of. 1t Is
built of adobe and the prisoner who
remains in 1t for long does so either
because it suits his convenience or
because he lacks the intelligence of
the average criminal. The county
yearly Is put to extra and heavy ex-
pense through hiring guards to watch
prisoners confined therein. So badly
is the new building needed that the
last grand jury recommended In no
uncertain terms that the county build
a new jail and that "muy pronto."
The new building when erected will
not only safely confine any prisoners
that the county may have, but 1t will
also be an ornament to the city. The
location has not yet been decided
upon.
Il The building, according to the plans,
which were formulated by |. H. Rapp
and w. M. Rapp, architect, will be two
stories high and will probably be Of
brick. 1t will have frontage Of
forty feet and depth of fifty feet.
On the first floor will be main cell
house twenty-four feet wide and forty
: feet long. 1t will contain one large
room in which there will be twelve
prison cells of steel and corridor.
These cells will be SO arranged that
one or all of them can be opened or
closed by pulling single lever
Modern Improvements.
The corridor will be large enough
for the prisoners to exercise without
leaving the jail. In this corridor will
also be bathroom and lavatory. A
heavy steel door and trap will lead
into the guard room in such man
ner that two guards, properly armed.
could without being exposed, with
stand the assault of a mob or any at
tempt on the part of prisoners to es.
cape. On this floor Is also located
the jailer's office and living rooms
D There will be In addition a large din.
l. ing room, kitchen and pantry.
$ The kitchen Is so situated that trus
e ties could be used to do the work
o without having chance to escape
e The second floor Is similar In arrange
r ment, having large cell house, con
j. tanning the same number Of cells, ex
J. cept that two are designed for female
e prisoners. On this floor Is located s
|. bedroom and bathroom for the USE
|. of the guards.
d Every precaution has been taker
a to prevent the escape Of prisoner.
Safeguards.
The cell rooms are twenty-five fee
high, so that the top of the cells d.
not reach the ceiling. There Is spac'
of sixteen inches provided between th'
\. cells and the walls, that the guard OF
duty may patrol around the entir'
prison compartment, thereby keepinI
prisoners always in sight. The guar
&c room is also designed as an armory
Is 1t is steel lined, thus making 1t bulle
le proof. The plans are patterned afte
e-l the latest design for prisons. i
st speaking of the proposed buildin
IL Chairman Seligman said:
70 IF the plans are accepted we sha
as make every effort to erect the jail dul
III ing the year 1906. The board will tr
er to secure convict labor for as muc
of the work as possible because thi
le would save the county several tho,
IN sand dollars. We know that Santa F
n. county Is in sore need of Jail an
n. will do all in our power to remed