The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-08-06
REPORT OF ABBEVILLE
COUNTY JAIL

REFOkl OF AbbENlLLE
COUNTY JAIL
Mr.. F. B. McClain, jailer. Visit
ed July 10, 1918, by Assistant Sec
rotary Broyles. Inmates, 1 white
male, 8 negro males, 1 negro fe-
male; total, 5. The average daily
population in this jail for the past
two and a half years has been ap-
proximately 6.3 prisoners.
Since our last inspection, a bath
tub has been installed in the hail
way OH the second floor, and some
steps have been taken to lessen the
fire risk, the Commissioners having
ordered a steel trap-door and ladder,
which is to be installed in the floor,
at the end of the hall opposite the
entrance, as recommended by US in
former reports. e.
We commend the Commissioners
for these changes and improvements
The Abbeville jail is a very old
building, and lacks many things that
a modern jail would have, but the
jailer attends to his duties well, and
keeps the jail about as clean as
such, a building can be kept We
commend him for his interest. Per
haps the greatest need in the plant
itself is a new arrangement of sew
erage facilities. There should be- q
flush toilet in each cell. At present;
the inmates use ordinary $>metsl
buckets in their cells, bringing them
into the hall and dumping them into
the one toilet when the rooms are
given their daily cleaning in the
mornings. Drinking water is also
kent in, the cells in similar buckets.
To better these conditions would in
volve considerable expense at this
times, but meantime al should be
taken to keep these sewerage buck
cts covered always, and the prison
,ers should be made to scour them
until thoroughly clean and free
from odor every morning. ~. -
We recommend that the Supervis-
or and Commissioners have the
prisoners quarters completely
screened with Is mesh wire; that
enough good iron beds be provided
to do away with pallets entirely,
which are destructive to the blank
cts and uncomfortable for the pris-
oners, besides making them breathe
the foul air which always settles
near the floor; that straw ticks be
provided in place Of the mattresses
now used; and finally, that more
medical service be provided for by
paying the county physicians for
and requiring them to-make a ply
steal examination of each new pris-
oner within IL hours of commit
ment, to vaccinate against small
pox when indicated, and to make
daily inspections of the prisoners
quarters and food, all of this in ad-
dition to serving on call as at pres
! ent. ~: ."a~'+
We recommend that the sheriff
add to his Jail records the age, sex,
and race of the prisoners, and put
down in the Jail book the reason for
the discharge of each prisoner. We
recommend that the jailer have the
! floors sprinkled when they are
swept; and that the blankets be
washed regularly at least every
month land oftener if needed. Fin
ally, we recommend that he have
the floors mopped up at least week
ly, coming as near to securing the
building each time as the condition
of the plant will allow. We real
ize that because the floors leak the
jailer cannot scour the floors in the
regular way, but they can be mop
ped up frequently. We believe
that the j~ailer's idea of oiling thu
floors is a good one, and we suggest
that the Supervisor secure a barre
! of sweeping compound for use IL
the jail. This compound will pre-
went dust when sweeping up, ans