Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-09-20
PROPOSITION FOR BUILDING
NEW eAsTlLE WILL COME UP
BEFORE CITIZENS OF WAPEL-
10 COUNTY At FALL ELECTION.
AN ISSUE OF BONDS
WILL BE NECESSARY
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SUBMIT
MATTER OF ISSUING $45, 900 IN
BONDS TO DEFRAY EXPENSE OF
CONSTRUCTION.

WINS OSttONs
The voters of Wapello county will
be given an opportunity to vote on the
proposition for a new county Jail at
the fall election to be held November
8. The proposition provides for the
issue Of $4,000 in bonds to cover the
cost Of the building, which will in a
measure conform to the material and
general appearance of the court house,
at the rear of which the new structure
will be built if the measure carries in
the election. While the bond issue ex-
pected to be made provides for $45.-
600, the board figures on structure
that will not go beyond $4,000, but
has added the additional amount to
make it safe in the event Of any
change in prices of material or any
thing that might otherwise increase
the cost. The bonds are to draw an
interest not to exceed 5 per cent per
annum and are to become due and
payable in not less than five nor more
than twenty-five years after date OF
issue.
Withheld Action.
The board Of supervisors has had
this matter under consideration for
several months, but have waited until
now before acting, in order to learn
as much as possible about what is
needed in a modern Jail for the county.
Several architects submitted plans
and drawings suitable for such build
ing, and these, too, have been under
consideration by the board for some
months. The supervisors have finally
adopted the plans submitted by Archi-
tect G. NJ. ,Kerns of Ottumwa, which
provide for building that will be
pretty in exterior appearance and
a substantial interior will meet the re-
quirements of the modern Jail. It will
be built to connect with the court
house by a covered bridge at the rear
of the court house.
Built Of Stone.
The style Of the building adopted by
the board IL that of the French Re-
naissance with modern features. Bed.
ford stone will be used and slate
roof will cover the structure. The
ground dimensions over all will be OK
37x74 feet, in the shape Of the letter
ct" Cell rooms are in the rear Of
the building and there is a front porch
10x37 feet, with cement floor.
The basement in the residence por-
ton is divided into laundry and drying
room, fruit and vegetable cellar and
storage, reached by inner and outer
stairs. The Jail portion is divided into
boiler and fuel rooms, with private
entrance for the janitor to same. There
is cell room for tramps, to accommo'
date three cages and bath room. A
work room is provided for working
out male prisoners A driveway from
the south side OF the building will facil.
itate the bringing Of supplies, etc, and
there will be Jail laundry with dryer,
etc. An iron stairway will reach to the
level Of the bridge floor and thence
rises to the first floor level.
Residence Portion.
The first floor will have modern
residence section that will include re.
ception hall and stairway leading to
the second floor; dining and living
rooms, den, library, kitchen and mod
ern dwelling equipment, including a
large lobby from which entry to the
Jail proper may be had from the resi-
dence Entrance will be made from the
north side porch. A paved court is pro.
vided for the patrol wagon and the
prisoners entrance is from the north
side or alley. The main entrance is
screened from Court street by wall
eight feet high. The main cell rooms
are two In number and are twenty.
eight feet square, containing eight
cages, 5x7 feet, with corridor 1920
in the center. The cages are set three
and one-half feet from the outside
walls, with five and a half feet corri
dor to the center of the building A
consultation cage is provided each cell
room, SO that interviews may be had
with prisoners and they not come in
contact with the interviewer outside
A dungeon and padded cell are among
the many features OF the equipment
Closed Bridge.
A stairway from the lobby and di
.rectly opposite the main entrance
leads to the bridge. The basement and
second floor bridge is so arranged that
prisoners on trial can be conducted
to the sheriff's office and thence to the
court room without being seen by the
public. A Jail Office and wardrobe fol
prisoners, a place for examination Of
prisoners and private office, with prac
tical1y every modern device of jai
equipment are provided in the plans.
The second floor is divided into 9
residence portion and Jail department
a hospital, doctors lobby, female eel
room provided with four cages, CORR
dor, etc, "a matron's room and juve
nile cell room with the regular equip
ment all go to make up this section