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Convict Conditions

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Revision as of 04:21:19, Apr 12, 2018
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Revision as of 04:22:52, Apr 12, 2018
Edited by 101.0.82.66
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BASEMENT ROOMS—PLAN No. 9.
 
BASEMENT ROOMS—PLAN No. 9.
  
Plan No.9 shows the rooms formerly used as the printers' workrooms,store,office, ect. At the present time they are used as lumber-rooms and one as the "Mortuary."
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Plan No.9 shows the rooms formerly used as the printers' workrooms, store, office, etc. At the present time they are used as lumber-rooms and one as the "Mortuary."
These rooms will make good workrooms for the various trades which, I understand, are to be established in the prison.
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HOSPITAL.—PLAN No. 10.
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These rooms will make good workrooms for the various trades which, I understand, are to be established in the Prison.
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HOSPITAL—PLAN No. 10.
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This is very defective, and the best plan would be to erect a new wooden building on the terrace at the rear of the Doctor's residence.
 
This is very defective, and the best plan would be to erect a new wooden building on the terrace at the rear of the Doctor's residence.
 
A Mortuary could then be built at the bottom, a Dispensary on the first terrace, and the main floor on the upper terrace, the whole of the upper floor being enclosed by trellising, and would not need extra guards.
 
A Mortuary could then be built at the bottom, a Dispensary on the first terrace, and the main floor on the upper terrace, the whole of the upper floor being enclosed by trellising, and would not need extra guards.

Revision as of 04:22:52, Apr 12, 2018

To ventilate the "Cellular Division," which practically means one-half of the cells as well, there are floor gratings inserted, which communicate with the air gratings /|\ mentioned above. The measure, 5in. x 3¾in., and the air-passages leading to them are in connection with the spaces under the floors, and, as

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these floors are more or less open and passages choked, the gratings are practically useless. These gratings are and have been used as spittoons ever since they were inserted.

There are openings over the four principal entrance doors of the "Division," each opening having an area of five square feet.

There are three (3) louvre ventilators in the roof, but only two sides of each are available for ventilation, the other two sides being glazed.

Four skylights are fixed in the roof, but owing, as I am informed, to the difficulty of making them water-tight, they are not made to lift; they, therefore, are useless for ventilation.

The southern half of the prison was built last, and additional means of ventilation provided by leaving an opening in the inner walls forming the walls of the cellular division, between the two middle joists of each cell floor; these are in communication with the air-flues in the outer wall. I do not think these openings can greatly assist in the supply of pure air or the removal of foul air from the division.

It must be remembered that there are 16 cells and a portion of the division dependent on one air-grate, and one aperture at the top of the wall on one side of the Prison, to admit the fresh air and eject it on the other, the windows being allowed for as balancing each other.

The vent gratings on the West side are in good order, but those on the East side are either choked or purposely stopped.

It will be observed (Plan 7) that the inner or "division" walls are carried up to the roof, and apparently quite separate the two sides from the centre portion. This is not so; many holes are purposely left for ventilation. The outer walls (see Plan 7) are not carried up to the shingles, and many ragged openings are left, chiefly near the top of the vent shafts.

Of course none of the air passages, flues, or gratings have been cleaned out since they were constructed.

I do not see any difficulty or obstruction in the way of altering the cells as proposed, i.e., throwing two into one. The ventilation might also be arranged for during the alterations.

From "Parks Practical Hygiene" I glean the following particulars:— " The cells in " Pentonville " are nearly 800 cubic feet capacity. " The cells in Military Prison are about the same capacity. "The cells in Aldershot Prison, are 600 cubic feet capacity. "The cells in Chatham Convict Prison, are 200 cubic feet capacity. " A notion prevails that cubic space may take the place of air space, so that if a larger cubic space be given a "certain amount of change of air may be dispensed with, or less fresh air be required. This is "erroneous; even the largest air space can only provide sufficient air for a limited time, after which "the same amount of fresh air must be supplied hourly, whether the space be large or small. . . . "Even in a space of 10,000 cubic feet per head, the limit of admissible impurity would be reached "in a little over three (3) hours, after which the same hourly supply of 3,000 cubic feet per head would "be necessary as in a space of 100 cubic feet."

REFRACTORY CELLS—PLAN No. 8.

The ventilation of the Refractory cells is simply very bad: the whole purpose of the builder appears to have been to include the sound made by the prisoners and exclude the fresh air; as will be seen (by Plan No.8), the only opening for ventilation after tea-time is a small opening over the door into the lobby, and another opening from the lobby into the corridor, and a perforated plate in the lower part of the door.

The corridor is not ventilated, the only means being a perforated iron plate on the floor level at the entrance door.

There is a large square lantern-light over the middle of the corridor, which affords ample light and opportunity for ventilation, but the sashes are all fast and not any opening left for such purpose.

The cells ought to have direct communication with outer air.

BASEMENT ROOMS—PLAN No. 9.

Plan No.9 shows the rooms formerly used as the printers' workrooms, store, office, etc. At the present time they are used as lumber-rooms and one as the "Mortuary."

These rooms will make good workrooms for the various trades which, I understand, are to be established in the Prison.

HOSPITAL—PLAN No. 10.

This is very defective, and the best plan would be to erect a new wooden building on the terrace at the rear of the Doctor's residence. A Mortuary could then be built at the bottom, a Dispensary on the first terrace, and the main floor on the upper terrace, the whole of the upper floor being enclosed by trellising, and would not need extra guards. The present building is certainly unhealthy and defective. KITCHEN OR COOK-HOUSE-PLAN NO. 11. This requires reconstruction and additions, more particularly in the direction for facilities for cooking potatoes, meat, and tea. The cook-house yard certainly ought to be covered in and fitted with the latest appurtenances for cleanliness and cooking, washing towels, ect., at present entirely lacking. SHEDS,ETC. I would like to draw your attention to the Shelter-sheds, not only for the old men and invalids on the stone heap but for the several yards. They are certainly inadequate for cold, inclement weather, and ought to be improved. FEMALE PRISON. The prison is most certainly in need and deserving of great improvement, more particularly in the ventilation. Formerly there were ventilators in the roof of the corridor at the angle formed by the cross intersection; but, owing to the difficulty experienced in keeping them water-tight, the ventilator was removed and a skylight was built in, which was of course made a permanent fixture and not available as a ventilator. This is wrong: all skylights can and ought to be available as means of ventilation of the most efficient kind. The laundry, considering the amount of work it has to do, ought to be fitted out in the most complete manner. As it now is, although improved of late, it is quite inadequate. A laundry plant something of the same style as that recently installed at the Perth Public Hospital might be provided here, much to the advantage of the prison and prisoners. 8th May, 1899 J. P. BEDFORTH.

                                                            By Authority: RICHARD PETHER. GOVERNMENT PRINTER, PERTH.