1808.J Descriptions. 363 apartments, together with dressing- room, and water-closet, and be lighted in the rear by three windows. The building is to be heated by hot- air generated from a furnace in the cellar, and carried to the flues by tin pipe ; and the gas through terra-cotta pipe. The heating flues will rise in the second stoiy the height of a table, and '"• covered with marble slabs. The roof will be covered with tin and painted. This Bank Building will, when fin- ished, go to prove how much may be done in a small space, without at all crowding the front with apparently ex- traneous embellishment ; and will, we hope, lead others to adopt the liberal plan of improving, even in a small way, our commercial highways. LUZERNE COUNTY PRISON, WILKESBARRE, PA. THERE is no description of build- ings which is more deserving of the serious consideration and study of, not only our architects, but also of all who have the interests and well-being of society at heart, than that of the sub- ject of our present description, viz , our Prisons ; and none to which there has been, of late years, greater attention paid and improvements effected, with a view of combining proper punishment and discipline, with amelioration of the condition, and conducement towards the moral improvement of their inmates. Up to the close of the last century, until the distinguished philanthropist, How- ard, brought the subject prominently before the notice and attention of the whole civilized world, it had been looked upon as a matter undeserving of any particular attention , the sole point aimed at, in every country, being the secure incarceration of their criminals, without any consideration, either as to their comfort, or to sanitary principles. The result of Howard's visits of inspec- tion to the Prisons of his own and other countries, brought to light an almost in- credible and fearful condition of affairs, in their accommodations and internal arrangements. "He found everywhere crowded and dirty rooms, foul and dis- eased air, no attention whatever paid to ventilation ; all classes of offenders hud- dled together, foul and hardened ; the grossly wicked with the comparatively innocent, and witnesses; persons of dif- ferent sexes promiscuously confined to- gether , insufficient and unwholesome food, and abuse and oppression from the jailers and assistants." From that time, the public attention has been fixed upon the subject ; and although the change that has since taken place has been very gradual, still it has been a most marked and striking one, and one which reflects alike creditably upon the Increasing civilization of the times, and the more universal feeling of charity and good will, leading to the furtherance of all benevolent measures, which the well- being of society demands. We do not intend here, however, entering upon any lengthened dissertation upon this topic. We will confine our brief remarks more especially to it, as it relates to our own country. So far back as the }'ear 1176, we find that the subject of our prison discipline, and the amelioration of pris- oners, had attracted the attention of that portion of our citizens called Quakers ; and societies were formed for the purpose of assisting those who were distressed. From time to time, these societies flourished with more or less of success, and have contributed greatly towards the alleviation of the miseries of public prisons, not only by their prac- tical measures, but also by the publica- tion of pamphlets and other documents, whereby they have succeeded in diffusing and exciting a more healthy sentiment
