Economy in first cost was the guiding consideration in the construction
of the cell houses, although a monolithic concrete structure with
brick veneered exterior walls is by no means a cheap construction. But
it is a permanent and safe construction. Economy in the construction of
the cell house was secured through its compactness.
The outside type of cell house can be made practically secure for all
classes of prisoners when surrounded by an outside wall of adequate
height, with its top guarded by high tension charged wires, provided
the windows to the cell houses are barred with steel-proof window
guards and the prisoners are reasonably well guarded.
The relative hygienic and physiologic advantages of the outside and
inside cell construction I will not discuss here except to say that we
considered the outside cell construction manifestly superior in both
of these respects. While we consider these features very important in
a permanent prison, the question of economy in initial cost was also
important in that the outside cell type of prison is a considerably
narrower prison for the same cell capacity, and, furthermore, since
continuous mechanical ventilation is not essential with the outside
cell type, it can be more densely occupied, which further promotes
economy in construction.
In designing the outside cell type of prison the problem is one of
providing a certain definite external wall area for the sides of the
prison, since for given dimensions of cells and a specified number of
these cells a definite external wall area is required. The problem of
maximum economy in construction then resolves itself into a question
of providing the maximum of wall area with the minimum of floor area.
Two general forms of outside cell buildings have been proposed: one,
the narrow rectangular type adopted at the Kilby prison, and the other
the cylindric type. It is demonstrated in geometry that of all figures
a circle has a maximum of area for a given length of periphery, while
a very narrow rectangle or quadrilateral has a minimum of area for a
given periphery. It is, therefore, obvious that for a given external
wall area, or a given cell capacity, the narrow rectangular type is
more economical in first cost, since it reduces the ceiling and floor
area to a minimum.
Economy in construction was also promoted by constructing our cell
house five tiers high instead of four tiers, as is more usual.
Finally, additional economy was secured by the use of the multiple
man cell. Our multiple man cells accommodate six prisoners, while
three single man cells of the same cubic contents containing two
partitions, two extra prison doors and locks, two extra lavatories, two
extra water-closets, two extra radiators, with all of the necessary
connections to these utilities, will only accommodate half as many
prisoners. It will, therefore, cost more than twice as much in
cell-house construction to incarcerate a given number of prisoners in
the single man cells than in the six man cells.
It will, therefore, be noted that we have secured economy in cell-house
construction (which is the most expensive item of prison construction)
by increasing the density of occupancy in the cell houses. But this
density of occupancy carries with it responsibilities in the matter
of providing adequate ventilation for the inmates. Recognizing this
responsibility, we have designed our cell house to secure the very
maximum of natural ventilation. This is secured, first of all, by a
very large proportion of window area to wall area; by ventilating
the windows top and bottom; by constructing the cell house with a
cross-section shaped like a chimney, with a large number of large
ventilators on top of an open pitched roof, so as to secure the very
maximum of chimney effect and also the very maximum effect from breezes.
Finally, to insure an adequate supply of ventilation in the summer,
when there may be neither wind nor temperature difference, we have
mounted disc fans in each ventilator, driven by ball-bearing shafting
from a push-button-controlled motor. By this means the cell attendants,
by pushing a button, will be enabled to flood the cell house with fresh
air at any time the air becomes foul, and since the attendants will be
on the inside of the prison, where the air will be most foul, they will
probably make use of their opportunities.
Apart from humanitarian considerations, which in a large measure should
dominate the designer of a prison, there is also the economic question
of securing the maximum mental and physical output from the prisoner
while at work. In an industrial prison a man can do more and better
work if he sleeps and rests sufficiently. If the cotton mills are to be
operated double shift during summer months with a large portion of the
population sleeping during hot summer days, it is doubly important that
the prisoners be confined in well-ventilated and sanitary quarters.
This fact we have borne in mind in the design of the cell houses at
Kilby Prison.