Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-01-23
STRUCTURE SHOULD BIZ
REMODELED OR REBUILT
while Commission Complains Of Filth
Existing at Time Of inspection Two
Months Ago, II Also Points our
Necessity for Enlargement and
chsnses--clean Now.

AOUutlfOHO tAtoNiHH Ah NHN
al the time the Inspection was made
last December. as well as the jail
building itself, are condemned ny the
leport OF the commission which Judge
4. j. Barham, in the Corporation
Court, appointed in November. 1909
To examine the jail In accordance
with the state law The commits
sion. which was composed Of DR..
Joseph T. Buxton. w. NJ. Parker and
4. w. Judkins, presented its report 10
Judge Barham yesterday and, AFTER
confirming IL. the judge directed the
clerk to send a copy or It to Mayor
Marquis Jones. The mayor proDaDiy
viii make the report the subject Oh
q special message TO the city council
The commission points cut that the
jail was In an uncieanly ana I'M
sanitary condition and declares that
the 'ccndit. on OF affairs arising IRON
the condition of the sewer system Is
iuexcusable and a disgrace TO the
city,
.sot Enough Air Space or Light
In the very beginning of the report.
the commission states that the jail
If entirely inadequate as to air.
SPACE and light; that almost twice
az many prisoners were confined with
In IL as should be according TO
recognized standards of hygiene and
aanifation and that this fact, coupled
with the uncieanly ana unsanitary
condition OF the Jail itself. makes con-
TO the health Of the prisoners and Is
rot far from q crime against human
ity."
The commission recommends In
conclusion that the entire jail should
be rsmodeled and enlarged so as TO
Effcrd sufficient space, SUFFICIENT air
and sufficient light for the number
of prisoners connned In it. The pres
= emf structure. TIE report says. is large
enough for only forty people. Al
the time the inspection was made. 75
prisoners were confined in the JAZZ
and the average number is about sew
enty.
following is the complete report:
The Report.
ITO the Honorable T. J. Barham.
Judge OF the Cooperation Court of
the city of Newport News, Virginia,
THE undersigned. appointed by your
honor, to inspect the jail OF this city,,
respectfully report that they have
made this inspection and beg to sub
init the following:
The city Jail is divided into two
departments. one fer the males and
one for the females. The depart
ment for the males according to
measures heretofore taken and which
the undersigned believe to be cor
rect) is SIS feet and inches long, %
feet and 9 inches wide, II feet and
3 inches high. making total cubic air
space OF 1S.447 cubic feet. This air
space is estimated to be sufficient for
40 people This department encloses
In its center cage containing 10
cells, eight above and eight below.
The department for females accord
ing to measurements heretofore taken
and which the undersigned believe
TO be correct) is IS feet and 2 inches
long. 81 feet and 10 inches wide and
2 feet and l inch high, making o
total air space Of S.S7s cubic feet.
The department contains five rooms. a
toilet room and hallway.
Entirely Inadequate.
Both OF these departments are en-
tirely inadequate as 10 ar, space and
light. Almost twice as many pris-
oners are now confined within these
departments as should be according to
recognized standards OF hygiene and
sanitation This fact coupled with
the uncieanly and ansanitsTy ccnd:-
ton OF the Jail itself makes connne-
ment therein a serious menace 10
the health OF the prisoners and is not
lar from crime against humanity.
Most Serious Complaint
The most serious complainant Is
against the plumbing system. Al the
time OF inspection. no water closets
we're IN working condition. With one
exception. All excretions. urinal and
from the bowels. are deposited in
buckets and they In turn removed by
hand This very much befouls the
CIR and makes a most unhealthy en-
vironment which. naturally. j. ac-
cenfuated BY the overcrowied condi-
tons. Consequently upon this dissr-
rangement Of the sewer system. the
corridors sroand the sink and bath
tun are vet and unclean. The con.
diiion a. affairs arising from the con-
alton Of the sewer system - ines
crsable and a disgrace 70 the city
Immediate steps should be taken. N
the opinion q the undersigned. look
ing to The thorough overhauling Of IN,
entire system.
-One Of the rooms. known as ths
cark room OF dungeon. II worthy D
especial comment The room Il no.
more than ten feet square With ns
light AMI practically no air C0udne
fnenf IN this room under existing con
difiOns IL liable 10 undermine 30
health ~ the prisoners The undeT
signed are q opinion this room shoui,
pct Be used untn its construction .
% altered a. 10 permit q light sa'