The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-02
PLANS DRAWN FOR
 NEW CITY PRISON Forty Shower Baths Will Be
 a Feature THREE STORIES HIGH Ample Air and Light Are Provided and Sanitation Feature Has Been
 Given Special Attention in the Plans

The commissioners have received draw ngs by H. B. wheelock, the well-known architect of this city, relative to the proposed city prison to be erected at cost of s4O,O0o near the Standard Oil com pany plant on Avenue F. west. The plans are tentative, but it is understood that the drawings submitted represent tie general idea of the commissioners, and while some changes may be made the final result will be in line with the draft.
 The structure will be three stories high- containing the most modern convenienees- All told about 30 or 40 shower baths will be placed in the new prison, where those imprisoned will be compelled to avail themselves of cleansing showers. In this innovation it is believed those op- posed to bathing will be persuaded there- by not to transgress the law, and thus affect a reduction of the arrests.
 The first floor as submitted contem- plates a decorative entrance into lobby. The warden's office will be to the left of the entrance, while to the right will be another office.
 The sleeping place on the lower floor will be for male negro prisoners on either side The total space used will be ap- proximatey 1920 square feet. or 9l4 square feet to each inmate. The negro mess hall directly adjoining the negro male apart ments will be PISA feet square and will have a. capacity for about 100 or more negroes Each sex and race is provided with separate eating halls, separate baum and separate hospital comforts. Seven hundred and eighty-four feet will be utii- ized for lavatories. | The total space contemplated Is 10,3Io square feet. On the first floor will be located 10 shower baths, half on one side and half on the other, and very con- venient to the tiers to be constructed q physican's room is directly at hand on the floor in the plans of Mir. Wheelock
 Adjoining the physicians room will be the newest innovation, that is a shackle room, where at night the prisoners will be relieved Of their chains, but In the morning they will don them again. The shacl1le room is to be 13x2S feet.
 The mess table on this floor will bo 32xs7 feet. with F tables. The capacity will be 1g7 at one time. A storeroom, kitchen and corridor will be located on the first floor. The kitchen will be 12x37 feet.
 The entire space Is to be provided with efficient light and windows to eliminate as far as possible the closeness which has characterized prisons constructed in the past.
 The second floor rontemplates a male negro shower room with four baths- The negro male hospital will be 26xl6 faet, while the hospital for the whites will bs 10x16. ;
 laundry 22x20, female hospital for negroes and whites and other conven- fences and approved features will be on the second floor.
 The third floor will consist chiefly of sleeping apartments for the wardens and turnkey, while other accommodations will perhaps be included later.
 The new jail is expected to be construct ed of prison labor under the direction of Stree Commissioner Gafford, although no final word has been spoken on this propo- sition.
 The jail will be constructed with an eve to strict sanitation safety for the inmates and thorough cleanliness.
 It is expected that garden will be an auxiliary of the prison, where the inmates will be required to grow the necessities for the prison in that line.
 Work is to be started on the prison irn-