Evening star., 1909-03-14
Offers of Locations for Penal
Institutions Invited.
LAND THAT is AVAILABLE
Tracts in Virginia and Maryland
Which Would Be Acceptable.
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES
Special Commission to Get to Work
Planning for Buildings and for
Choice of Architect.

Looking TO the establishment of new
penal Institutions for the District of Co
lumbia to replace those on the Eastern
branch. in accordance with the recon-
mendations Of the jail commission and
the provisions of the District appropria-
ton bill. activity is displayed by officials
having direction of the matter.
Within the next month, it is expected,
sites for the new workhouse and the re-
formatory will have been selected and
preparation of the plans for the buildings
begun. The District Commissioners, upon
whom rests responsibility for the estab-
lishment Of the new prisons by congress
sional enactment, are pushing the matter
as rapidly possible. with view to
securing the best results.
Advertisements for offers of sites will
be inserted in local papers and in promi-
nent papers in Virginia and Maryland.
These will call for two tracts of 1000
acres EACH widely separated, to be To-
Gated either in Maryland or Virginia. The
offers must be in the hands of the Dis
trict Commissioners before noon April 10.
Commission to Assemble.
A meeting of the special commission
appointed by the District Commissioners
will be held this week to consider the
selection of an architect who will pre-
pare the plans for. the buildings to be
erected. Engineer Commissioner Spen-
Ger Cosby, chairman of the special COM
mission. said yesterday that Justice W.
+. Stafford and John Joy Edison had
been notified of their appointment as his
associates on the commission and that
he would call a meeting soon. Two mat
ters Will be discussed at this first Ses-
sion, the architect to be designated to
make the plans for buildings and the
character of the structures to be erected.
Chairman Cosby expects to have some
definite plans 10 lay before the commits
sion. 1t is believed the other members
Will have many suggestions to make, as
| result of their observations made as
members of the Jail commission, which
recommended the general plan to be de-
veloped practically within the next few
years.
In calling for offers of sites the Dis
| tr1ct Commissioners have decided to ask
| bidders to outline in the proposals the
general topography of the sites offered.
their accessibility by railroad or boat
from Washington and the distance from
the heart of the city, where the courts
are located. The proposals must state
| it is specified, the nature of the soil; the
comparative area of forest, open land and
water courses: the general topography;
| the name of the nearest railway station:
the distance and direction therefrom Of
| the proposed site, or. In case of communi-
cation by water. the name of the nearest
| navigablea stream and the nearest steam
boat landing, with distances and direc-
tion: the distance and direction of the
land from the center of the city of WASH
ington. and the Improvements, If any, on
the land and their value
The accessibility Of the proposed sites
from the District either by railroad, cleo
trio line or steamboat, will have an i'm
portant bearing on the choice. 1t was
stated by one of the Commissioners yes
terday that nearness to railroad stations
or steamboat landings would have more
weight than nearness to the District al
though. of course, an accessible site near
the District would have preference over
one just as accessible farther away
Acceptable Locations.
| 1t has been suggested by some that sat
| isfactory sites could be found fronting on
| the Potomac river and not many miles
| below the District line. The limit of the
appropriation made by Congress for the
purchase of the two sites of 1000 acres
each-s1o0. .0OO-will preclude the purchase
| of many tracts Of land within easy ac-
cess of the District.
In lower Fairfax county, along the Po-
| tomac river. it is suggested there is land
available for the money. Such a site
could be easily reached by prison ship.
| On account of the provision in the law
separated it is pointed out that only
one of the institutions could be placed
along the Virginia shore in that locality.
| But those who have talked of such site
| suggest that the other institution could
| be located on the Maryland side of the
Potomac river. in Prince George county.
Ii that plan Is adopted boat could be
used In transporting the prisoners from
the courts here to the prisons
Another locality in the same general
direction from Washington is a tract of
land just over the District line in Prince
George county. beyond Congress Heights.
The land along the Potomac river it Is
said. is too expensive. There are other
tracts back from the shore which might
be available. Should such site be cho. en-
it is not unlikely that the street car line
to Congress Heights would be extended
and an electric car used to transport pris-
onerS from courts to institution.
Others have suggested that the land
around the old st. Asaph race track and
betting ring would make a good site for
one of the institutions. In the vicinity
is Alexander Island. near the Virginia
end OF the Highway bridge. The cost of
this land however, it is suggested might
be prohibtive.
Along the line of the electric line to
Baltimore and Annapolis. it is said there
are numerous tracts that could be used
as sites for penal institutions. Along the
Patuxent river, 1t has been suggested,
there is considerable wooded territory
which would afford ideal location for
penal institutions. because the buildings
could easily be hid in the forest The
site. too would be accessible by means
of the electric line over which the prs
oners could be transported.
Other sites at a greater distance from
believed that the Commissioners will de-
eide on some tracts within short dis
tance, if any are offered within the ap-
preparation and are accessible.