Year: 1875

Mr. J. E. Cook, the well known and scien- fife architect of this city, and Mir. Heath, of the firm of Randall, Heath < Livermore, proprietors of the Chickasaw foundry, are the inventors and patantees. 1t Is already patanted in this country and Europe, and, if we are not mistaken, it is destined to work out revolution in the economy and disci- plne of securing prisoners. It is a very simple contrivance by which the walls of the jail are hollow and filled with fine, dry sand almost as volatile as water. A large reser- voir is located on top of the building, where by the pressure is maintained and any defi- ciency easily supplied.

 A model was on exhibition yesterday af ter1ioon at the Chickasaw Foundry, and dozen or two gentleman, including represen- tatives of the press, were present to witness the workings of the new invention. A wall of wood, with a supply tank above, repre- scented a wall of the jail. It had plaIn, strong notwithstanding or planklng, and the space between, as well as the source of the supply hopper like above, was filled with common dry loose sand small section of the wall, large enough for mans body possibly, was removed by some one who was supposed to be anxious to get out. The spectators could readily understand why his operations would come to an inglorious end. In the first place, heavy weight resting on the top of the col umn of sand as 1t began to ascend touched off an alarm bell, which might be supposed to be in the lailor's room, and loud as ho- tel gong. Such an alarm would arouse a whole village. But bell or no bell the help less prisoner would be much more anxious to stop up the opening thus made than to make It larger or bore at the outer shell of the wall.

 The pressure above and all around is such that the sand comes through in a resistless tide like grain in oulk emptied from an i'm mensc elevator into the hold of a vessel. An ordinary cell would be speedily filled up, and tue solitary prisoner would see and feel and hear nothing but sand, sea of sand pillows rising higher and higher on every side to en- gulf him in their deadly embrace. About this time we can easily imagine how much he would feel interested in letting the out side world know that somebody had been trying unsuccesSfully to break jail. Imagine such colossal State prisoner as Boss Tweed. weighing 340 pounds, floating up to his mid de on the crest of such an innundation, and shouting lustlly, "Stop thief stop thief and stop this d-d sandm m The whole ar rangement is as simple as an hour-glass, and admits of an infinite variety of structure and material The walls can be made of cast iron, of brick, stone, heavy panels of sawed or hewed timber, or even, as the Appeal sug gests this morning, of papier mache paste board, thin siding, tin or leather. It is per fectly simple, and could be constructed of ordinary cheap material, though, of course, for permanent use and utility 1t would be better if erected by some one like the inyen- tors, who would put every piece in its place with scientific eye and a skllful hand, cal culating to a nicety the relation of each to the whole, and making no part too thick or too thin or too wide apart, and avoiding an excessive use of material, as we'll as all pos abilities of weakness or deficiency. It is susceptible likewise of the most elaborate finish, and could be made a marvel of arch itectaral proportion and finish and durability. The invention cannot fail to attract the at- tention of scientific men everywhere, and of prison authorities throughout this country and Europe. and we doubt not that when it's merits are understood it will be adopted in all progressive communities. and that the old-fashioned, clumsy walls, always easily passed by expert iail breakers, will gradually pass into desuetude.

 The applicability and the utility of the in veniion will commend it to every city and county not already provided with a jail structure too costly and massive to throw away or convert 10 other uses. It is more than likely that it will be the means of solv- i9gthe most difficult problem, as to the best means of properly securing prisoners, which has long perplexed the world. Messrs. Cook < Heath deserve credit for their genius and enterprise in bringing an important improve ment to public notice, and We desire, in con- mon with many friends to congratulate them on the success which apparently awaits their efforts This is surely making good use of their talents, and at the same time illustrates that the very cheapest and simplest substan- ces in nature may be applied to important uses. No one can look at this contrivance without wondering how it happened that nobody ever thought of it before. But there is time enough left to think of it yet, and turn it to the best advantage.