Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-30
TANKS REEK
BIT RELIEF
IS LACKING
CITY JAIL CONDITIONS YET UNI
ALLEVlATED
PRISONERS TORTURED BY YER.
MIN AND FOUL AIR
FrishtfuI Filth Makes VeritabIe Hell
Of BastiIe-Llves Endangered
Constantly by Infection.
No Help In Sight

The vermin-lnfested. stench-reeking
city Jail Is still in the same overcrowd-
cd condition that 1t has been for
months past, and no relief is in sight.
With 2S1 prisoners crammed into a
space provided for 1876 human beings,
che baneful effects from a sanitary
standpoint may be estimated, even
were the quarters in a clean and
kealthful condition and the inmates
themselves free from disease.
But when 1t is remembered that
every inch Of wall and floor has its
colony IF filthy bacteria and that the
polluted air which seeps through the
cells is overburdened with unseen bill
lions of fearful microbes, the time has
arrived when the most drastic meas
Tres should be taken to relieve Los
Angeles of its monumental pesthouse-
an obnoxious thing in a garden of
loneliness and a disgrace to the most
slncivilized community.
Confired in this miserable pen are
men strong OF arm, filed with rich red
blood, who are every moment of their
Incarceration laid open to the dangers
CT infection from the diseased bodies
of other unfortunates, breathing the
same foul air and absorbing into their
lungs the germs arising from the spit
tie of consumptive thousands that
cannot be eradicated. Notwithstanding
the most strenuous efforts on the part
of those chosen to do this work.
Lives Sacrificed
Procrastinatjon is placing the city
before the eyes of the country in the
tight of a nurderer-unintentio
so. nerhaps, but nevertheless, a taker
Of human lives.
Already a number of prisoners have
been taken from their cells, placed IN
an ambulance and hurried to the coun-
ty hospital, there to receive treatment
for diseases with which they nave be-
come afflicted while In the city prison.
Placed behind the bars for petty
crimes, they receive a sentence there
before appearing in court, and 1t Is the
sentence of short lives, filed with the
agony OF broken health.
In the dark malodorous cells ana
flth-ridden atmosphere scores of men
law down each night-not to sleep, but
10 become overpowered by the heavy
air Other scores sit in uncomfortable
positions, their backs against the IRON
rratings and their limbs drawn up IN
an effort TO cram themselves nto the
an effort to cram themselves into the
panions may find room to exist
The fitfuI slumbers of all are never
disturbed by dreams CO S!..sh.ne. now
ers or home They are broken often,
however-so frequently in fact tnat
the periods of wakefulness and doubt
full res. are about the same the
former perhaps a little more extended
than the latter.
The cause is easily ascertained by
sny person privileged to make an IN
vestigation. Every portion of the
cells has its myriads of vermin, and
the stings of these pests, oesloes
heing a source of the greatest dlscom-
fort carry with them the extreme
probability of infection.
Consul Intervenes
Co fearful have the conditions be-
conoa that the representative of a Tor
eign mower has found it necessary TO
talxe measures in order to protect
citizen of his country from danger
which. more insidious than the
weapon of an enemy, is none the less
deadly. o,,-
ernor of the state on behalt OF thls
man. and already action has Deen
taken looking to a restoration OIL ms
liberty and to take him out OF ms
dangerous surroundings lhroush
medium of pardon.
MeanWnlle AllleiiSnii -. A.
confined in this pest hole aWaltlns ue e..
laved action of those whose duty IL 10
to bring about relief. -
Another floor on which could DC
Ylaced forty beds has been proposed as
= relief measure, but to do this wouio
only make matters worse, in that II
would decrease the necessary air
Relief is urgent and delay dangerous:
rot onl,, to the unfortunates connnea
in the prison, but to every cltizen VINO VINO
has the health of himself MS IdlnliS
and the community at heart