Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1907-06-20

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 it's appoint
ments of any of the government pris-
ons, it is probable that this will not
altogether take away the sting Of
their incarceration. The immense
structure, which is nearing compile
ton, looms up from the Low Seavey
island at Portsmouth, ~ H., to yes
sells 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 it is so situated on
the hill at Seavey island, a part of
the navy yard, that it is seen far
at sea and has already become a 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.
1t 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 a 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 freproof, 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 78 feet
square and 10 feet high, while the
prison wing is 26S feet long, 81 feet
wide and 81 feet high.
The general style is that of an an,
cient castle, with round turrets on
each of the four corners of the ad-
nlinistration 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
70 in oh nf hA
geant, and this has a bedroom and
bath attached. On the same floor is
a large reception hall, from which en-
trance is had to four towers, in one
of which is an elevator to the tor
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, 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 7S feet square and about 80
feet high. 1t 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 900 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-
tion 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 massive
concrete stairway, under which there
is 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 800 cells, 80 to tier,
and each cell is the same. 1t con-
tains a bunk, a wash bowl and sani-
tary arrangements. and all are light
and roomy. The latest device for