These seven blocks of cells are of the most simple form, being parallelograms, by their disposition, possess all the advantages of a polygon figure, without the expense attending it. Each building contains thirty-six cells, twelve feet long, eight feet wide, and ten feet high, each. The partition walls between the cells are calculat ed to be eighteen inches in thickness, their foundation three feet deep : the wall next the passage is of similar thickness and depth ; the exterior wall to be 2 feet 3 inches thick and 4 feet below the level of the yard, in each cell there is a floor of masonry 18 inches in thickness, on which is proposed to be laid long curb-stones, ten inches thick, that extend the whole width of the cells and termi nate under the partition wall, which would effectually pre vent escape by excavation. The windows are inserted in the barrelled ceiling, and formed by a convex reflector of 8 inches diameter, termed dead eyes; this would be found to give ample light to the cells, from 'a position the best for ventilation and the admission of light, and a desirable one, from its being out of the reach of the prisoners climb ing up to escape, or converse from one cell to that of another ; this glass is hung up at the apex of a cast iron, cone that is securely fixed in the solid masonry of the ceiling, and would he found a cheap and excellent window. A simple bed is provided, that is proposed to be hung against the wail, to which it is made to button in the day time, with the bedding enclosed in it, out of the way. It will be understood, that the wall next the passage con tains, annexed to each cell, a feeding drawer and peep hole : the drawer is of cast iron, six inches deep and six teen wide, projecting of sufficient depth into the cell to form, when closed, a table of twelve inches from the sur face of the wall on the inside, from which the prisoner will eat his meals. This drawer on the back is intended to be made with a stop, that when drawn out by the keep er in the passage, for the purpose of depositing food, or raiment, closes the aperture behind, and consequently prevents the prisoner seeing the superintendant, or re ceiving by this opportunity any thing but what is intended for him. By this means all the conveniences of a door are embraced, with more security and privacy, and at a con siderable less expense, than by the introduction of one, which would facilitate the evil of the prisoners conversing from one door to another, and defeat in a great measure the object of solitary confinement.
A hollow cone of cast iron is fixed securely in the wall, with its apex next the passage, from which small aperture of of an inch in diameter, you can command a view of the cell unobserved by the prisoner ; a stopper is slid over this peep-hole, and fixed on the outside, so that no person can make use of it but the superintendant. The door of the entrance is next the yard, properly secured with the most approved fastenings and provided with a wrought iron grated door, in addition to a strongly framed wooden one: this wooden door being kept open in the summer, or when occasion may require, permits the fresh air to pass into the cell, and the iron grated one secures the pri soner ; there is also a strong iron door intended to be fixed on the outside wall of the exercising yards. In disposing of the necessary accommodations of each cell all with eco nomy, security, and convenience, there is nothing so diffi cult to arrange to advantage as the means of conveying away the filth, where the main object of the institution is solitude. Various have been the plans suggested and
adopted in similar cases; but they have failed more or less in their purposes : it is of the first importance that a con trivance should be adopted whereby the contents of the privy should be discharged the least liable to emit any un wholesome air from the conveyance, or prove the medium of conversing from one cell to another. Escape has been effected by the facility these plans have afforded for con versation and other improper intercourse ; such are the evils that have hitherto attended the adoption of them. A well to each cell, it is obvious, would be unadvisable ; and to construct it in the yard would be useless and inconve nient. A portable pan would destroy, in a great measure, solitude, from the consequent attendance every day in the cell to remove it ; with these views of the properties of the privy, it will be seen how far I have perfected this impor tant appendage to the cells. From a reference to the sec tions and plans it will be perceived a reservoir is con structed in the centre of the prison under the floor of the watch-house, arched over, of sufficient capacity for the purposes of the jail ; from this basin of water are disposed under ground, out of the reach of the front, seven cast iron main pipes or sewers, say of eight inches diameter in the bore, one immediately positioned under the centre of the passage as shewn in the plan, into which is connected a pipe of four inches in diameter from each cell, of suffi cient height to reach 16 inches above the floor of the coil; the water being introduced into those pipes is, by means of a ball-cock in the reservoir, regulated to a height level within six inches of the seat of the privy in the cell ; by this means the pipe is always kept full of water, that prevents the prisoners from speaking through them, and the return of any foul air into the cell ; it naturally dilutes the water that falls, and of course destroys its power of corroding the iron pipes. At the extremity of each block of cells is fix ed a sluice-gate, that stops the water and lets it off as often as may be found necessary, by which means the filth of the pipes are effectually cleansed with rapidity and ease ; and by stopping it, fills the pipe instantaneously with a fresh supply of water, the dirt is carried into a common sewer, and conducted into the culvert of the adjoining street.
The ventilator of the cell, shewn in the drawing, is in the form of a funnel stationed three feet over the seat of the pri vy, with a small pipe, six inches in diameter, connected at its apex, through which the air passes from the cell, through the ceiling, into the open air. The passages are amply lighted and ventilated by a circular window at each end, four feet in diameter, and six conical windows in the ceil ings. The arcbed ceilings of the cells and passages form a solid roof of masonry, possessing many advantages over a roof of wood ; it is warmer in winter and cooler in summer ; is the saving of several thousands of dollars by its substitute for the wooden one that would require a groin ed ceiling in addition to it. Whereas this acts as both, and admits of the window in the ceiling of the cells—the benefits arising from which I have already spoken of : these roofs may be covered with copper, or a cheap and durable cement impervious to water.