The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-01

OF the party, was thoroughly delighted
with the Jail. He was Warm in his praise
and showered Mr.. Wheelock, Nr. Gafford
and Mr.. Allen, the contractor with con-
Gratulations upon the success of their
difficult task
CleanliI ess, Light and Air
The prison stands for cleanliness, light
and air above anything else In every
detail there has been created place
where those who are unfortunate may
exist decently.
The building is located in the city on a
tract of and about 10 acres in extent. Ii
is near the Standard Oil plant, the Gre
matory and the Decatur Car Wheel
works. It stands far from the roadway
1t is approached by winding drive. In
time a beautiful lawn of Bermuda, grass
will be created in front. Flower beds
will abound Ivey will encompass the
walls and Myrtle bushes will form row
of silent sentinels to provide beauty as
well as a certain degree of privacy for
tho inmates.
In the rear is now a farm 1t has fed
the prisoners at the old jail this year.
Okra, corn, beans, tomatoes, radshes and
other vegetables are grown there. They
have been raised in abundance. And Mr..
Weatherly has started the work of MAX
ing the place a model farm for the city
the situation. The work IS all performed
by the prisoners and will continue to be
performed by them under the model farm
experiments that are to be made.
Building Is of Concrete
The jail building itself is of concrete
reinforced. It looks like substantial
private residence, as there is little de-
tail which would suggest a prison. Grated
irons may be seen on close inspection
and safety is assured. out as a general
proposition there is nothing forbdding
about the exterior. The warden has a
nice office. He has call bells for the
different wards.
The negroes will occupy the ground
floor. They have a ward to lccommo-
date &c men on each side there being
two wings to the prison. They have solid
Iron, convertible hunks with canvas ar
rangements for the bed. These may be
folded up when the eieanng is to be
done while they are let down for sleeping
purposes. The seats in the prison are
made Of concrete. There have been pro.
vided Is windows in each large negro
ward for fresh air and sunshine. The
ysashes are iron worked by a clasp clos
ing and Enclosing with one twist. TIL.
grating is outside the windows Leadnt
from the extreme point of the ward /,
the bathroom. They have long wasl
troughs. shower baths, hot and cold wa.
ter and every modern sanitary provision
all unbreakable and indestructible.
Shower Bath Every Day
The prisoners enter from work into
the shackle room. where the irons are
removed from their legs for the night
This action resulted from an Agitation
begun by DR.. Thomas D. Parke of this
city and others Interested in the better
ment of Jail conditions. They are there
provided with clean clothes and made T.
take a shower bath.
The white males have a separate COM
partment. dining room and clothes room
The white women have a connecting
apartment with baths between the sleep
ing room and dining room. The negro
women have a separate place and added
to this Is a sun porch. where the clothes
of prisoners washed by the women will
be taken to dry All the windows and
exits are adequately protected. The hos
pital department comprises an office for
the city physician, DR.. Charles Whelan
and also an operating room on the third
floor There the walls are paneled to a
halfway point, while the latest operat-
ing appliances are part of the genera
equipment. In every detail the surgica
department is modern.
The wards are plertifully supplied
with DdtHs, DOt1l tuD ana S1OW6TS, Wnlle
the floors are constructed 70 that wa
ter thrown upon them for cleansing
purposes VIII run by gravity into the
screen sewer. The building is arranged
for cross draft of fresh air which
renders the place entirely comfortable
even on the wormest day.
The kitchen is provided with huge
boilers, soup ladies' and tin receptacIes
for cleansing vegetables, dishes and
1T 11fa ct 10 4.
a huge affair only for baking and fry.
ing purposes. a grease trap has been
installed to add TO the cleanliness OF
the place, while the steam boilers in the
basement which provide heat for the
prison provides vapor steam for the
vegetable tanks and the cooking ladies
No Wood About Building
The roof of the building is of con-
crete and entirely freproof, while there
is not piece of wood in the total con-
struction excepting a few window
sashes. The floors are painted red u
keep down dust and every precautior
taken to provide economy in cleaning
the place. Sight holes are provided fol
the guards while from vantage points
every bed in the wards may be viewed
from one central point.
Mr.. Wheelock, who designed the
building, was sent all over the country
to study prison plans. The old jail oil
the Southside was condemned by publi
spirited citizens many times, but 1T wa.
only when Capt. Frank p O'Brien wal
elected mayor that the movement
started for new jail. He caused MI
Wheelock to visit many cities and thu
result is shown In the ew prison. Thu
city council, however. did not take an.
action on the jail and it was only a
the coming OF the commission that tn,
Jail was authorized.