Revision Difference

Convict Conditions

Image 76

Revision as of 03:12:38, Apr 12, 2018
Edited by 101.0.82.66
Revision as of 03:17:16, Apr 12, 2018
Edited by 101.0.82.66
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None of the drains were trapped, except that which connects the sink at the door of division opening into the Probation yard.
 
None of the drains were trapped, except that which connects the sink at the door of division opening into the Probation yard.
The only ventilation of the old drains was that afforded by the two drains opening into the well outside the bath-house, and, as since discovered, the two air-shapes built in the main wall of the Prison, and supposed to ventilate the closets (4) at the North-West and the closets (4) at the South-West corner of the Division. These openings I have seen, and believe to be the cause of the bad smells so often complained of in the Hospital and at the cook-house end of the Division.
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The only ventilation of the old drains was that afforded by the two drains opening into the well outside the bath-house, and, as since discovered, the two air-shafts built in the main wall of the Prison, and supposed to ventilate the closets (4) at the North-West and the closets (4) at the South-West corner of the Division. These openings I have seen, and believe to be the cause of the bad smells so often complained of in the Hospital and at the cook-house end of the Division.
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It will be observed that the main drains both pass under the main building. This is radically wrong, and should be discontinued.
 
It will be observed that the main drains both pass under the main building. This is radically wrong, and should be discontinued.
The whole of the old drain pipes ( which may be utilised in future) ought to be taken up and relaid, properly trapped and ventilated.
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The whole of the old drain pipes (which may be utilised in future) ought to be taken up and relaid, properly trapped and ventilated.
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The urinals in all the several yards are badly constructed, entirely lacking in privacy, and ought to be connected with the drains in all cases.
 
The urinals in all the several yards are badly constructed, entirely lacking in privacy, and ought to be connected with the drains in all cases.
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The closets are much improved of late, but the sawdust, when it is provided, or the sand, at other times, is open to the weather, and if it is wet is of little use as a fixative of ammonia or deodorant; whilst, if the excreta is to be incinerated, the use of sand simply means that the furnace will fail.
 
The closets are much improved of late, but the sawdust, when it is provided, or the sand, at other times, is open to the weather, and if it is wet is of little use as a fixative of ammonia or deodorant; whilst, if the excreta is to be incinerated, the use of sand simply means that the furnace will fail.
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NEW SYSTEM—PLAN No. 2.
 
NEW SYSTEM—PLAN No. 2.
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GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT'S SCHEME.—To remedy the faulty drainage of the Prison, the Government Architect's Department devised a scheme of drainage, which is shown on Drawing No. 2; with regard to this scheme I have the following comments to offer :—
 
GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT'S SCHEME.—To remedy the faulty drainage of the Prison, the Government Architect's Department devised a scheme of drainage, which is shown on Drawing No. 2; with regard to this scheme I have the following comments to offer :—
 
Surface Drains.—The surface drains (Northern) commence in the Refractory yard, pass through the Probation yard, through the Hospital yard, down the passage at end of the Hospital, thence diagonally through the Parade to the present gully, and then forward to the Parade gates at the Guard-room, where it is connected with the rain-water pipe-drains, and so passes out to the gardens on the outside flats.
 
Surface Drains.—The surface drains (Northern) commence in the Refractory yard, pass through the Probation yard, through the Hospital yard, down the passage at end of the Hospital, thence diagonally through the Parade to the present gully, and then forward to the Parade gates at the Guard-room, where it is connected with the rain-water pipe-drains, and so passes out to the gardens on the outside flats.

Revision as of 03:17:16, Apr 12, 2018

Appendix A.

Structural Arrangements of Fremantle Gaol.

Drainage of the Prison within the Main Walls.

OLD SYSTEM—PLAN No. 1.

THE whole area was drained by two main drainage tunnels, North and South, which discharge the sewage into the Recreation Reserve and the large cesspits on the flat or gardens outside the walls.

SOUTH TUNNEL.—This drain received the drainage from Dr. Hope's house and stables, scour, and overflow pipe from Old Reservoir. Cookhouse and Yard. Pump Yard. Trial Yard—With urine of prisoners in the morning (part only). Surface Drainage of about one-half the whole area.

NORTH TUNNEL.—This drain received the surface and foul water as follows:— Bath Water and water from washing towels, clothing, etc., bath-house. Trial Yard.—Urine and soapy water of prisoners' pots and buckets (part only). Refractory Yard.—Waste from three bath, washing prisoners' private clothing and clothing of such of the prisoners as have contagious diseases. Probation Yard.—The drainage of urinal, the urine mixed with faeces of six closet pans, the urine and soapy water from pots and buckets. Hospital Yard.—Waste from bath, foul water from washing clothes, lavatory, pots, and night-stools. (The drains require lifting, relaying, and trapping.) Imperial Prisoners' Depôt.—The drainage from baths, kitchen, pots, and lavatories of prisoners, the drainage from the warder's private residence, and the surface drainage. Scour and Overflow pipes from the New Reservoir are connected with the drain from Depôt, and thence forward to the main drain. Female Prisoners.—The surface drainage, urine, bath water, foul water from bath-house and laundry, kitchen, etc., and the drainage from female warders' quarters. Chaplain's House.—The whole of the slop-water, bath, kitchen, wash-house, and surface waters are conveyed into the drain coming from the Female Prison.

SUBSIDIARY DRAINS— Superintendent's Residence Gatekeeper's Residence Chief Warder's Residence The Guard-room Yard These are connected with a drain discharging into the gardens on the flat below the Prison, where there is generally a pool of foul water.

Magistrate's Residence is drained by a separate cast-iron drain-pipe into the corner of the Reserve, and has to discharged slop, kitchen, and surface water.

None of the drains were trapped, except that which connects the sink at the door of division opening into the Probation yard.

The only ventilation of the old drains was that afforded by the two drains opening into the well outside the bath-house, and, as since discovered, the two air-shafts built in the main wall of the Prison, and supposed to ventilate the closets (4) at the North-West and the closets (4) at the South-West corner of the Division. These openings I have seen, and believe to be the cause of the bad smells so often complained of in the Hospital and at the cook-house end of the Division.

It will be observed that the main drains both pass under the main building. This is radically wrong, and should be discontinued.

The whole of the old drain pipes (which may be utilised in future) ought to be taken up and relaid, properly trapped and ventilated.

The urinals in all the several yards are badly constructed, entirely lacking in privacy, and ought to be connected with the drains in all cases.

The closets are much improved of late, but the sawdust, when it is provided, or the sand, at other times, is open to the weather, and if it is wet is of little use as a fixative of ammonia or deodorant; whilst, if the excreta is to be incinerated, the use of sand simply means that the furnace will fail.


NEW SYSTEM—PLAN No. 2.

GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT'S SCHEME.—To remedy the faulty drainage of the Prison, the Government Architect's Department devised a scheme of drainage, which is shown on Drawing No. 2; with regard to this scheme I have the following comments to offer :— Surface Drains.—The surface drains (Northern) commence in the Refractory yard, pass through the Probation yard, through the Hospital yard, down the passage at end of the Hospital, thence diagonally through the Parade to the present gully, and then forward to the Parade gates at the Guard-room, where it is connected with the rain-water pipe-drains, and so passes out to the gardens on the outside flats. The ground from the Parade gates to the angle at the gully falls against the flow, as shown by the drawing, 2.16 feet. Surely it must be an oversight, otherwise the channel must be a deep drainage channel by the time it reaches the gates. A surface channel is shown in the First Offenders' yard, and is continued through the Probation and Hospital yards, and close to the wall of the main building—presumably, to catch the rain water from the roof. The surface drains (Southern) commence in the Refractory yard and continue through the Trial and Pump yards, and thence by the earthenware pipe drain under the Division to the I.C. in the Parade at the Gates. The surface drains will probably be a continual source of trouble, through stoppage; or the prisoners will empty their pots and pails, or the scavengers may empty the superfluous liquid from their excreta cans, or foul water from the Hospital may be sent down these channels, and thus befoul them throughout their entire length. I do not think that surface drains are required to the extent indicated on Plan No. 2; certainly not to catch and convey eaves-water. Only in places where a heavy rainfall will cause a stream of considerable volume to flow, such as is already provided for around the shed in Probation yard, are required to be channelled. I would suggest that, dealing with the Southern portion of the area, the channel shall commence (as is shown on Drawing No.2) in the Refractory yard, pass through the wall to the water-tap in Trial yard, and join the present channel; thence through the wall into the Pump yard, and there enter a trapped gully; which gully would receive the drainage channel of the Pump yard, and be drained by a 4-inch earthenware pipe drain through the Cook-house yard, where it would receive the surface water, and continue forward to the I.C., at the South-West corner of the cook-house, where it would combine with the surface drainage from the engine-house, and continue forward to the I.C., at the Parade gates, collecting on its way the drainage of the Parade (South portion). Northern portion of Area.—The channels in Refractory and Probation yards to remain as they are, but t5he pipe drains between those yards, and from the South end of the shed in the latter yard, to be re-laid (and the gullies replaced with proper E.P. gullies), and continue through the Hospital yard, pick up the surface drainage from channel there, and continue round to the Parade, intercepting the drainage from the Female Prison, on the way to the I.C., at the Parade gates. This will avoid the objectionable surface channels across the yards and Parade. The scour and over-flow pipes from the old and new reservoirs ought not to be connected with the drains, either for foul water or surface water. RAIN WATER CONSERVATION.—While considering the subject of getting rid of the surface water, it would appear appropriate to suggest the conservation of all the roof water possible. At present the rain water from the South-West portion of the main roof is delivered into the Old Reservoir; the whole of the other three-fourths and that from the smaller buildings is wasted. In the Female Prison a small portion only is conserved. A comprehensive scheme to collect the rain water is needed : 1st. For Hospital. 2nd. Cook-house. 3rd. Laundry. This would be beneficial in the following important items :— 1. Cooking purposes in Hospital, washing, etc. 2. Cooking meat and making tea in cook-house; a very essential matter for the health of the prisoners. 3. By using rain water the clothes washed in the Prison would have a chance of being clean, where now they are little better on being returned from the laundry. I feel sure you will agree with me thatall the rain water ought to be collected, including that at present going into the Old Reservoir, and used instead of being wasted. FOUL WATER DRAINAGE.—The Government scheme for draining the sinks, gullies, etc., in the Trial, Refractory, and Probation yards will suffice; but to carry the drain under the building, as at present, is wrong. This drainage, together with that from the bath-house, ought to be taken through the Hospital yard to the passage outside, and there join at an I. Chamber with the Hospital and Depôt drainage, and be thence conducted around the Hospital and the basement area to the main drainage tunnel in the Parade. Those portions of the old drains which are under the building ought to be removed. The present sink in the corner of the Probation yard ought to be taken up, and a new sink, not less than 30ft. long by 2ft. wide, with raised margin, constructed adjoining the present fresh water taps and sinks, and connect with the same drain. This would remove a nuisance from the door of the Division and abolish the drain-pipe shown on the drawing. The scheme for draining the South part of the area adopts the present old iron drain, which extends from the connection with the bath in the Division (No. 31, Cell B.), joins the old drain from the bath-house and the drain from the cook-house, and pass under the Division to the I. Chamber in the Parade. This ought to be removed, and the drain carried from the Debtors' yard through the cook-house yard and around the building to the chamber in the Parade. All other portions of the work are correct; but greater care ought to be observed, in order to have the line and greade correct and the sockets facing the right way, i.e., against the stream. The grease-traps are not grease-traps in any sense of the word. Proper traps should be built, lest the drains are choked.

VENTILATION—See PLANS 3,4,5,6, and 7. When the Prison was built the architects were, apparently, uncertain how to ventilate it, the first half being ventilated by means of ventilating shafts or flues built in the body of the wall, one to each pair of cells (see Plan No. 7), and communicating with those cells by a 10in. x 9in. perforated plates built in near the floor in one corner, and a ventilator 12in. x 6in. fixed in the corner of the ceiling over the lower ventilator. This, with window closed, was the sole means of ventilation on landings AB, CD,EF, except the open spaces under the doors and the very open character of many of the floors. The flues in the walls were carried up from the level of the ground floor to the top of the walls, and discharged into the open roof space over the ceilings of the top row of cells. At the bottom they communicate with the outer air by means of air-gratings 10in. x 12in. (see /|\ on Plan 3). The top row of cells (see Plan No. 6 and 7) have no ceiling vents. Probably they were deemed unnecessary, because of the open nature of the ceiling, the ceiling boards of which are a quarter of an inch, or more, apart. Formerly there was an opening at the bottom of each cell door, the full width of the door, by about 4 inches high, for ventilation; but, one prisoner having got out of his cell by picking his lock through this bottom aperture, a 3-inch piece of wood, with cross apertures, was nailed to each threshold, thus curtailing the space for ventilation.