Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-05-13
WORKHOUSE AS
JAIL APPROVED
BY GRAND JURY
Collins Gets Behind Plan to
Move Prisoners Before Ex-
pert Makes Report.
ADVANTAGES ARE CITED

Indorsing the proposed plan to re-
move the county Jail prisoners to the
abandoned workhouse and using that
discarded institution as a Jail instead
OF the present structure, the Marion
county grand jury made a special re-
port to Judge James A. Collins of
the criminal court today.
The grand jury did not wait until DR..
Henry c. Wright, an expert on institu-
tional management OF New York City.
who has just comoleted survey Of all
Institutions, ma l. lie Official report to
the county commissioners.
A few hours before Or. Wright ar
rived In indianapolis 10 begin his survey
Judge Collins called a conference with
representatives Of the government, the
various charity boards and the county
commissioners.
COLLINS GETS
BEHIND Project.
At .hls conference the judge urged the
moving OF the prisoners. both county
and federal, to the workhouse.
Some Of those present said they de-
sired to wait for the report OF DR.. Wright
before indorsing such step as sud
denly proposed by Judge Collins aud IA
vored by Joseph q. Hayes, county
commissioner.
Members Of the county grand jury
state In their report that they visited
the workhouse and that IL would rem
der better conditions and accommoda
tious for the prisoners than the present
jail.
The hnding OF the grand jury is as
follows:
THAT the workhouse is in a good
state OF repair and that with small
amount OF work could be made into 4
very satisfactory and sanitary place to
house Marion county prisoners.
"The place is large enough TO provide
ample room for jail purposes for the
city Of Indianapolis for several years to
come.
I'm order to make the place deslr
able and sanitary Jail, IT, OF course. will
have to have certain equipment. remodel
| Ing and repairs.
'The entire place would have to be
fitted out with beds and bedding.
RELATE DETAILS
OF REPAIRS NEEDED.
! "On the inside Of the workhouse. the
walls need reanlshiuE. and n the work
! mouse IS occupied during cold weather
| The heating system will have to be gone
over and repaired
| ''Tbe plumbing seemed to be 10 thor
| ough condition.
There is a good kitchen and dining
| room which could be utilized 10 very
good advantage and there Is plenty OF
: room 20 provide for a sick ward. tn
zane ward and a separation for persons
who have communicable diseases.
ErafF ffrtar a. Fes ton a nd
We believe would last a long time.
I'VE think there IS about hfteen acres
Of ground which could be utilized for
garden and truck purposes, which would
| provide a great deal OF vegetables which
would be used in connection With feed
ing OF the prisoners.
.sThe lower hoor Of cells seemed to
he dark and not very we'll ventilated,
hut this could be remodeied and rene
died with a certain amount Of expense.
The transportation 10 and from the
workhouse is a problem to be considered
and we arc unable 10 give an opinion OF
the practIcabiHty Of the transportation
Of prisoners or an estimate OF the ex-
pcnse.
I'VE have had no contractors estimate
of the amount that It would require to
put the Marion county gorkhouse in a
usahle condition. but we believe that the
expense OF making the repair would be a
great deal less than the estimated ex-
pense OF $4,000 for putting the Marion
county jail IN a good state Of repair and
that there would be a great deal more
room and better conditions at the work
house than at the jail, everything else
being equal"
II Is understood that Dir. Wright did
not favor the proposed plan OF removing
the Jail 20 the workhouse, but as yet he
has not reported.