Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-05-29

Soon the prisoners of the United States navy will have a--brand-new prison in which to serve out their terms, and while it will be the largest and most completet in its appoint. ments of any of the government pris- ons, 1t is probable that this will not altogether take away the sting ot their incarceration. The immense structure, which is nearing compile tion, looms up from the Low Seavey island at Portsmouth, N. H., to yes. sels out at sea like some huge mediae. val castle.
 One wing of the prison with the ad. ministration building has already been practically finished. The prison is by far the most imposing structure in this section, and 1t, is so situated on the hill at Seavey island, part of the navy yard, that it is seen far at sea and has already become land mark of prominence. At the present time the administration building is being finished up so fast that it will be ready in a few months. Then the prison will open for the reception of prisoners, who will be transferred here from the Charlestown establish. ment, which will be done away. with. It is the idea of the department to make this prison so large that they will be able to care for all the naval prisoners on the Atlantic coast. The entire building can house over thou. sand men. To begin with, however, there will be less than 400 men taken care of.
 The entire building is of concrete, the walls on the wings averaging from two to three feet in thickness, and it Is absolutely fireproof, inasmuch as only the doors and the window stills are of wood, even the roof and all flooring being of concrete and steel The administration building is 7S feet square and 110 feet high, while the prison wing is 263 feet long, 52 feet wide and 61 feet high.
 The general style is that of an an cient castle, with round turrets on each of the four corners of the ad- ministration building and the prison wing, with massive entrances. The administration building contains on the first floor the office of the gov. ernor. Col. Allan c. Kelton, U. s. M. C., with an adjoining bedroom and bath. Across the hall from the main en. trance is the recording room, which will be in charge of the prison ser geant, and this has a bedroom and bath attached. On the same floor is q large reception hall, from which en- trance is had to four towers, in one of which is an elevator to the top floor, in another a toilet room, while the other two have spiral stairways.
 On the second floor there are offices for the prison surgeon. a clothing room. where all of the prisoners clothes will be kept, a large visiting room and five receiving cells.
 In these all of the prisoners will be searched and their clothes changed previous to being sent downstairs to the recording room. About this large visiting room there is a three-side gallery leading to the other wing of the prison.
 On the third floor there are the sleeping quarters for the guard of the day. On the fourth floor is the largest and by far the pleasantest room in the building, the auditorium or chapel. This Is IS feet square and about so feet high. It will contain a large stage, which may be fitted up for an altar or a speakers platform, placed in one corner so that all the seats face it. A gallery runs around three sides. With the floor space and gal lery 600 men can be accommodated. From one side there is an iron stair way leading to the dome of the build ing. In this hall every Sunday there will be services for both the Catholic and Protestant prisoners, and here will be given a series of talks and lectures during the year. the educa- ton of the prisoners. In the base ment of this building Is the large mess hall. capable of seating 400 men. and In the sub-cellar are the heating, cleo trical and hot water systems. The main entrance to the administration building. facing the river, is a massive concrete stairway. under which there is a drive.
 In the prison wing there are but two floors, the basement and the cell room In the latter the cells are ar ranged in four tiers. each having an entrance to the administration build ing There are 32O cells, SO to a tier. end each cell is the same. It con tains a bunk. a wash bowl and sani- tsry arrangements. and all are light and roomy. The latest device for locking all of the cells at cnce is in- stalled. and every cell has an cleo