Ascending to the third story, in front is the great hall, sixty-one by eighty-four feet, and twenty-nine in the ceiling, set apart for the School Lyceum. Immediately in front of this, is a central platform, advancing between two side rooms, over which are two others, similar, all four of which are intended for the accommodation of the apparatus, necessary for this new institution.
The main room is furnished with galleries on three sides, arranged in the best manner for the convenience of scholars and spectators. The rooms in the rear, like those in the story below, are devoted to public offices.
The walls of this building are to be based upon granite, and the residue of white marble, after the Grecian Ionic order. The whole will cost about $120,000.
THE CITY PRISONS
These edifices are built of brick, and plastered to imitate granite, they are three stories in height, occupying one hundred and twenty three feet on Orleans and St. Ann streets, by one hundred and thirty-eight feet nine inches between them. They are two in number, and divided by a passage way that is closed to the public. The principal building has its main entrance from Orleans street, through a circular vestibule, closed by strong iron doors. The lower story contains the offices and apartments of the jailor. The second story is divided into large halls for such prisoners as require to be less strictly guarded. The plan of the third story is similar. The whole is surmounted by a belvidere, with an alarm bell. The cost is estimated at $200,000.
SECOND MUNICIPALITY WORK-HOUSE
This institution was formed in obedience to legislative enactment, under date of the 5th of March, 1841. The buildings were completed and occupied the same year. The site is a portion detached from the northern extremity of the Protestant Episcopal Burying Ground, and the centre of the front is directly facing St. Mary street. The plot is two hundred and ninety feet, front and rear, and two hundred and fifty-five deep—the whole being enclosed by a wall twenty-one feet high, twenty-six inches thick at the base, and eighteen at the top, externally supported throughout by abutments at a distance of every fourteen feet.
The entrance is by a strong and well secured gate, into a public passage flanked by offices, over which are rooms assigned to the use of the keepers, for the accommodation of the guard, and such materiel as good order, and the safety of the establishment require. This structure is partially separated from the prison by well constructed gates and partition walls. Within, on each side, engrossing the residue of the immediate front of the grounds, are two buildings. The one on the right is for white females, and that on the left for blacks of both sexes. These tenements are divided from the other parts of the prison by high fences of frame work. Going thence into the principal yard, the building for the male whites is seen on the extreme right. This is of one story, measuring eighty by thirty feet, and is the largest one on the premises. Arranged along near the rear wall, extending to the left, are the work shops.
The average number of white prisoners is eighty, not one-seventh of whom are females; and one hundred blacks, a third of these also being females. The prison discipline seems to be of a first rate order; and it is seldom necessary to punish for offences against the rules. Religious service is performed on Sundays, and a physician is in attendance every day. It is a singular fact, that only five persons have died there since it was opened, notwithstanding their former irregular habits. The prisoners are kept at constant labor; and their food, though not luxurious, is of a wholesome nature, which may, when their abstinence from intemperate habits is taken into consideration, account for the excellent state of their health. It would not be hazarding much to say that many here were never before accustomed to so many of the comforts of life—"in all, save these bonds;" for they lodge upon clean and comfortable bedding, surrounded by moscheto bars; and, once a week, at least, can enjoy the luxury of a bath.
This is the receptacle of that class of society, both white and black, who are denominated vagrants. They embrace two sorts of individuals—those who have no visible means of obtaining a livelihood, and those who live by committing unlawful depredations upon others. Besides these, colored seamen, while in port, not being suffered by the laws to go at large, are accommodated, for the time being, with an apartment in the Work-house. Slaves are placed here by their masters, for punishment, for safe keeping, and for refusing to perform labor, as well as for the commission of crimes. These last are sent out in gangs, under keepers, to clean the streets, and to perform certain other menial services within the control of the municipal authorities.