The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1921-11-24
NEW ILLINOIS
PRISON IS MODEL
Modern Construction And
Sanitation Marks Great
Plant AT Statesville.

Joliet, Ill. Nov. 19.-The new IL
linois state penitentiary. walled
city of concrete and brick is on the
final lap of construction, and those in
charge now figure that within five
years the penal institution will be en-
tiTcly completed.
The new prison is located at States
VILE, near Joliet and has been view
ed by officials of seven European ma
tions, as well as governors and war-
dens from practically every state in
the Union
The prison wall ineloses sixty-four
acres The walls. an innovation in
cement construction loom up thirty
three and n half feet in height and
extend into the ground from ten to
twenty feet. They can not be scaled,
IL vs. figured, as there are no lodges at
the top where hooks or ropes can be
1astened- The smooth, gentIy-sloD-
ing sides afford no chances Tor foot
holds.
Nutn tutiC VIII UG GLIB III
eejl-honses, circular in construction
Two cell-houses will be for the "less
crtnlinal" and four ior those who ara
HB@er regular prison discipline.
Uuse Brick and Concrete.
ilNnTy NJ. Tcmlinson, superinttn-
deBs of construction, was confronted
vffk :; unique problem when he start
ed tho Dai.ning of the second ccl.-
house. The specifications cd,'ed { :
brick yea.ix. with white brick facing.
Cosf of materials and labor has adj
vancs1 so far beyond the state allot-
menf for the work that after consid-
cradle experimentation it was de-
ci1ed to pour concrete between two
walls OF brick. This saved 2,000.- !
eas brick. and. altogether, cost one
half the amount figured for solid |
brick construction. All of the other |
eeH-houses are being built along the /
GOncrete-brick plans.
The prison building proper is in the /
center of the prison-yard and is laid /
oar in a circular fashion, with the ,
dining room in the center and the cell
housss cirrling around it. The eight
cell houses will be connected to the
central dining room by means of one
story corridors, with easements, max
Jag the plans resemble a petaled
glower, with the dining hall as its
center,
The cells surpass in appointments
the roms of many hotels, each having
a Iavatory. with hot and cold running
water. a toilet. an outside window, a
sisei he'd, with ample clean bidding,
q rable and enameled walls.
sIOokont Tower.
In the center of the prison yard is
n tower with an underground en-
trance From the platform in the
tower the guard can look into everv
cell. He can open single cell
door or all of them from his station
and can switch on one light or all
lights from the same switchboard.
III the inmate is suspected of any ir-
his cell can be illuminated
Instantly from the central tower. and
if some of the prisoners get in pos
session of firearms and open fire on
the, guard a steel shutter can be in
stantly dropped.
The prison has its own water sys-
tenn. supplied by two artesian wells
and hospital at present
are pn6ier construction. Before plans
were finally drawn w. Carlus Zim- I
norman. former state architest, made
an extensive tour of Europe, visiting
ancient and modern prisons.
Tho SOLITARY" known in the OH
prison as The black hole is entire
ly different in design and object OF
past endeavors. Silence is the pam
melted out for infractions of
rules, attempts TO escape and other
ieYiaii0ns from rules which draw
for the convicts. In the
new solitary there is ventilation, but
he walls inside and out are abso-
IHtely soundproof. Not sound can
be heard within that little building.
There is cork linoleum floor, cork
walls and an ingenious window shut
Ter which hesps out noise.