Washtenaw's New Jail

Last Tiiesday, tbe committee appointrl by the board of superwsors at tg iprlog session to ovcrsoo tbc building of a new jail for this county, fainiliarly termed "the jail committee," and consisting of Supervisors H. D. Beunett, of Ann Arbor, Jas. L. Gllbert, of Chelsca, and M. F. Cuse of Pittsfleld, held tlieir laat meeting at the county clerk's office, and sottlcd up the business. Considerable time was expended by thein in eccuring ¦ location, the old one being out oi the wuy and unsultablc. Finally the old jiil property was sold to Hon. John J. ltobison for f 1.500 and a new site purchased of Wm. M. White, located at the corner of W. Ann und N. Second stieet, for which $1,500 was paid. This left the conimittec the entire appropriation, 12,00() to expend upon a new building. The committee aoon learned thKt the suia was entiroly inadequate with whlch to build such a jait as the county of Washtcuuw ought to have, but they resolved to do the best possible with whiit they had to do with, and the new structure attest their wisdom and jood judgment, for the building, as far as t goes, is a first-class one. Of a necessity it is small. The living ipartmeuts are very amall, and the cells few iu number, but probably eiough as [ong as the present policy of not prose:uting crimináis is pursued. Tte building fronte the north on Ann sttcet, with tide front on N. Second Street. It conBists of an upricfht and wing, the ground plan being as follows: j b j , Dlnlnt: Room HxU. Parlor, 14x15. Kitchen, 14x14 IEL _ 28 ft. v I I Í 1 I ff .i s ! S - 8 o u 4:6'' The cells are made of chrome steel, pat in by the flrm of P. J. Pauly & Bvo., of St. Louis, Mo., and are said to be of the best material known at present, as no saw or other instrument has as jet been made thaj; will cut it. The cells are supplied wlth water closets and lavatory facllities, and a big nice batu-tub- which is a terror to a large majority of the inmates. The buuks are made of canvass, strapped to the strips of iron that compose the grates of the cell, aiid are comparatively lnexpensive, so that they can be replaced wlth new ones should they become fllthy or inhabited wlth vennin. The plan, ventilatlon, construction, heatIng and all that pertains to the cells and jail proper is flrst-class, In full keeping wlth the times, and supplied with all necessary conveniences. The 8econd story of the jail proper, reached by a landing about two-thiri's of the distance up the stairs in the mnin corridor, is also perfect ín its appointmenta. ín the south-east corner are a couple of cells surrounded by dead walls, in which insane crimináis may be confined and their noise shut off from the balance of the jail. These cells are supplied with small wickets through which food may be passed without any one goinj? into the cell. The balance is flnished off similar to the .floor below, except that in the south-west corner is a hospital supplied with buaks, and all the necessary conveniences. These cells are intended for the confluement of women or boys, should any be so unfortunate as to be sent there. The floor to the lower cells ts composed of concrete some two feet or more in depth, the ceiling is of corrugated iron arched between the iron joUts. The upper floor is also made of concrete, and the ceiling as below, of corrugated iron. The rooms are nicely heated, thoroughly ventilated, and conifortable in every way - perhaps a litlle too cnmtorlable. If locks will keepipriioners secure they certainly should be so here, for there is a lock upon the cell door tself, then upon the door that opens into the inner corridor, then another upon the door that opens into the outside corridor. The windows are also grated, making it very secure, with no weak points visible. THE RESIDENCE or Bheriff's living apartments are in the upright. As the ground plan indícate?, there is upon the flret floor a parlor, dining room, and kitchen, the dinlng room being the pleasantest room In the house. The rooms are all very small, and if a sheriff should be elected sonietime who has a large faniily, some of them niisrht. have to board out or take apartments with the prisoners. The aecond floor is flnished oft" into three sleeping apartments, each with a closet, and each a pleasant room. The attic is also ünislied off into two sleopiti jr room, and very pleaant ones they are tno, thoush eomewhat eWnted, and the ceilings none too high. All of the roomg are nicely flnished with a hard or putty coat of piaster. A gilt moukling also encircles the rooms about a foot or so frora Hip ceiling, giving them a good appearance. The building is lighted with gas. IN THE BASEMENT is to be found the boller or steam heating appantus, located just under the kitchen. It is a very quiet sort of a boiler, hut doe 8 it work well, for in our peregrlnations over the building - and it was a cold day- every room, nook and corner was abnndantly warm. The heating is by steam registers or coils, each room, even to the attlc, being supplied with one. Another portion of the basement is used for the storage of fuel, and still another portion, entirely separated from the balance by a stone wall, is used by the family in which to store fruits, etc. The entlre basement is yet without a hard or cement bottom, a thing that will be found a necessity, for the gravel bottom is not onlv dirty and unplensant to walk upon, but rat and mice will soon flnil tlieir way there unless a concrete bottom stops them. THE KIGURES, ETC. The contractors who have erected this Rtructure, have done a creditable job. The carpentery was done by the firm of Gates & Gates, who are noted for their excellent workmanship. The stone and brick masonry was done by Messrs. Dow & Walker, and it is safe to say no better stands in the city. The jail portion, consisling of the cells and all of the steel and iron work entering into that part of the building was furnlshed by P. J. Pauly & Bro., at a cot of #9,000. Th building proper coat $5,000, and is every cent paid tor. The building coimnittee have paid $G 000 of this amount from the contingent fund, and tor the $6,000 balance bonds wcre iesued and deposited witli the county treasurer, and then the "unknown heir fund," which was lying idle in the hands of the county treasurer was used, thus savingseveral hundred dollars interest to the county. The ten steel clud cells in the lower wards took 3(5,560 lbs. of material, and the ten cells in the upper wards 28,970 pounds. For the iron beams, doublé iron doors, window guards and corrugated ron ceilings 7,000 pounds of steel and iron was used, making a total of 72,930 pounds of steel and iron used in the construction of the jn.il part. If It is small it is heavy, it will be seen. The coramittee feel very proud of their record. Tlie building is completed and paid for, and all lnside the appropriation. Sheriff Walïh and fainily are now 8ettled in the new quurters, and feel quite comfortable and cosy therein. Every thing about the premises is so neat and comfortable, that it is difflcult to realize thai it is a jail at all. Last Thursday while Air. Hayley, of this city, was walking upon the streets of Hastings, a man drove in from the country and stopped near where he was standing. Tlie man's moustache was covered with icieles and his nose had a peculiar frosty appearance, which at once at tracted attention, and Mr. Hayley noticing ir, stepped up to hlm and aaid: "My friend, your nose is botan, (lid you know it? " "Ño! " says the man, "is that so? " and putting his hand np to hls nose, to Mr. H's utter astonishment and horror, tlie man pulled the wholi'thlnjf off. Upon inve8tigatiou, it proved to be a false nose to take the place of one eaten off by a cáncer, which he had fonnd a reniedy to cure. Mr. Hayley say h never shall forget that experience with a frozi-n nose .