DESCRIPTION OF PRISON PLANS.

ARRANGEMENTS.

The dwelling house, by covering the entire front of the prison, places that portion of the building as far from the street as convenience will allow. It is separated from the dwelling by a hall for the purpose of securing ready access to the different divisions of the prison, convenient observation of the corridor doors, ventilation and isolation of the prison. The separate divisions of the prison are reached by open iron stairways and platforms in prison hall. The dwelling is probably not too large for our smaller counties, and may be enlarged as required.

THE ACCESS TO THE PRISON

Is only through the jailor's office and prison hall. The office has an outside door, and also connects with the dwelling.

THE CELLS.

The doors of entrance are in the rear of the cells or from corridors B, and are close or tight doors. While the light, ventilation, &c., is from the opposite or front end facing corridors A. In this end is an opening three (3) feet wide, extending from floor to ceiling, protected by fixed lattice work and opposite corridor A, are the outside windows.

Three stories, in rear of a two story dwelling, is the most economical arrangement that secures the requisite for a good jail. To be constructed of boilor iron, separated four (4) inches-the space to be filled with grout as deafener. The entire block of cells to be further strengthened or protected by a lattice work of "homogeneous steel," or other burglar-proof material, to surround the whole, and also to be used in forming the lattice work in front of the windows.

Homogeneous steel is a combination of hard and soft steel, which is exceedingly tough to resist blows, and has a hard side that is drill and saw proof. It is used in the construction of burglar-proof safes.

SEPARATION.

Each cell is separate, and prisoners can be taken to or from any one of them unobserved by other prisoners.

THE CENTRAL CORRIDOR

Is introduced to perfect the separation of the prisoners in their entrance, and exit their movements while in confinement. It is important in its convenience as affording a safe and ready access to the bath rooms, water faucet, slop sink, and in the care of the night tubs. The food is passed in at the front of the cells. This is certainly more humane than to use the same or adjoining openings for the passage of the food and all night slops.

LIGHT.

A window three by six (3 by 6) feet square, opposite the latticed opening of each cell gives to each direct light. In the lower sash, ground or painted glass being used, will cut off all near view of the ground. To be thoroughly protected by lattice work of homogeneous steel.

VENTILATION.

By placing the chimney in the center of the prison, and carrying up flues, one on each side, for ventilation and water-pipes, a double result is secured draft for the ventilating flues, and warmth enough to prevent water-pipes from freezing. In the rear wall of each cell, starting one foot from the floor, is a ventilating flue, six inches square, to be carried up straight to the attic, thence to the main flues adjoining the chimney. The furnace pipes opening into corridors A should be ample enough to supply an abundance of fresh warm air in winter, but the outside windows, also opening into the same corridors, and entirely under the control of the keeper, will supply any deficiency or required change. Abundance of fresh air may be secured through the same channels in summer. At least two large ventilating flues should open into each of the corridors B to secure fresh air for the corridors.

NIGHT PAIL CLOSETS.

In the rear wall of each cell or in walls of corridors B, there is a closet for the night pail, from which there is carried a small ventilating flue, to open into the first flue, some six or eight feet high. These night pail closets have a door opening into the cell for the prisoner, and also one opening into the hall, for the convenience of removing the pail-the doors to be so connected that the hall door will not open unless the cell door is closed.

These doors to be strong. The latch of the outer door to be connected by a rod or bar running through the wall, having a transverse bar on the opposite end.

By this arrangement one door has to be closed before the opposite one can be opened, and the outer door is thereby utterly beyond the control of the prisoner.

For a jail that cannot have the benefit of an unfailing supply of water, no doubt can exist as to the advantages of a night pail, when properly provided for, over water closets in each cell. The relative merits of the two is a disputed point with most of our experienced prison keepers. The liability of the water closets to get out of order, and the dampness which resulting from every leak, and which is so objectionable in a prison, has caused them to be discarded in some of most extensive and modern built prisons.

WATER AND BATHING.

By means of a reservoir in the attic supplied from the roof, and replenished from a cistern by a pump in the basement when necessary, and with the use of the furnace fire or stove in the basement, an abundance of cold and hot water may be supplied to each bathing room, one of which is placed on each floor of cells.

The bathing rooms are placed adjoining the chimney stack, so that the water-pipes may be placed in the ventilating flues along side of the chimney, thus preventing any liability of their freezing.

In each bathing room is placed a sink, in which may be emptied all the slops of the cells. The sink-pipes to be also placed along side of the water-pipe for similar reasons.

A faucet in the bathing rooms will supply all the water required for cleaning or use of the cells.

Of course where a public reservoir can be had for furnishing water, it is every way to be preferred to a cistern, but the same precaution to prevent freezing in the pipes is necessary.

Each bath room should be supplied with a warm air pipe and a larger ventilating flue than the other rooms, and these should be made to close when desired.

SEWERAGE

Abundant and reliabie must be secured for the prison, or the supply of water will be comparatively useless.

HEATING.

By hot air furnace in the basement, and air pipes carried up, so as to open in corridors A, the prison may be comfortably warmed, and as each row of cells is connected with a separate corridor, either one or any number of them may be warmed without necessitating any further expenditure of heat.

EXTENT.

The number of cells in each block may be increased or diminished as the necessities of the various counties may require, and still retain all the features of the plan, which, whether large or small, makes each cell as en