September 24, 1964 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
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September 24, 1964 |
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WAZIIINGTON CORRECTIONZ CENTER ZUPPLEMENT TO
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, HELTON--MASON COUNTY JOURNAE
Thllrsday, he
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Inmates who may be dehlded by
the "college atmosphere" and ab-
sence of grim prison surroundings
into the belief that the Correc-
tions Center' is a "soft touch" for
would-be escapees are in for a
shock. A maximum security fence
system consisting of three individ-
ual barriers provides a formidable
obstacle to optimistic freedom-
seekers, Although the fences en-
close only 90 acres of the 400-acre
site, they surround all buildings
and areas where inmates are al-
lowed. ' '
The first and third fences, both
:12-foot-high chain link barriers,
m'e 24 feet apart with a seven-
foot-high electronic, proximity
fence sandwiched between. The in-
side or first chain-link fence, cal-
led a safeguard, is made of hea~y
metal, each 50-foot roll weighing
approximately 760 pounds. The in-
side fence is about 8,590 feet in
total length. The outside fence,
called an "invincible" is of simi-
lar construction, with the addi-
tion of six strands of barbed wire
and rolled barbed wire "cpncerti-
nas" on V-shaped metal arms at
the top.
IT 1~ TIlE invisible electro-
magnetic "curtain" that provides
the best security against attempt-
ed escapees, however. Detector
wires are installed in the area be-
tween the two outer fences, with
similar wires mounted atop the in-
side link fence: When an object
approaches the magnetic field pro-
duced by the detector" wires, buz-
zers and lights in the nearest
guard towers and on the Central
Control Panel in the main control
room indicate within 200 feet
where the intruder has approached
the barrier.
Installation of the $96,000 bar-
rier made it possible to reduce the
number of guard towers on the
perimeter of the institution from
the proposed 11 to seven, thus sav-
ing an estimated $36,000 in origi-
nal construction costs, plus the
continued saving of the yearly sal-
aries of 20 guards who would have
been required to man the addition-
al towers. At presenL salary lev-
els this would approximate $100,-
000 per year.
With heavy reliance on electron-
ic detection, the question has been
frequently asked, "What happens
in the event oC a I)ower failure,
such as the one caused by the Co-
lumbus Day storm of 19627 Pro-
visions have been made for such
emergencies. The institution is
equipped with nine emergency die-
sel-powered generators, four un-
derground anti five enclosed in
tamper-proof chain link fe]~ces
above ground. If at any time the
normal power supply drops to 94
per cent, a transfer switch slarts
the emergency power generators,
automatically, in less than a rain-
tit,
/
SECURITY MEASURE --- Correctiona~l Lieuten- Corrections Center is divided into. When an ,ob-
ant John Banister is shown at the control panel ject nears the fence, flashing lights and buzzers
for the Radomatic Electronic Fence. The 46 in-are activated on both the control panel and in
dividual zone panels monitor the 4"6 sections which the guard towers on either side of the disturb-
the fence surrounding the security section of the ance.
By DENNY HINTON
If there is one thing the new
institution has plenty of, it is
emergency n]easLires to insure
maximum security at all times.
A first rate example of this is
the electrical system, most of
which was done by Electric Con-
struction Company of Tacoma.
T~mre are nine central power
centers at the institution, four un-
derground and five above. The five
top-side centers will be inclosed
in chain link fences while the un-
derground centers are "tamper-
proof".
Rein,ember the power failure
problems during the big wind
storm in October of '62 ? An emer-
gency power' diesel generator on
each of the central power centers
will take care ¢,f such emergencies
as well as many other power fail-
u}e or shortage difficulties.
When and if voltage dips to 94
per cent in case of an emergency
a transfer switch will discontinue
tire normal source of power, start
the engine and contact the emer-
gency ge!aerator. The instant the
engine is up to speed it will pro-
vide the needed power,
In all cases there will be enough
power to control essential equip-
ment and provide sufficient light-
ing to m'aintain security. Upon
restoration of nornml power, the
emergency engine will automati-
cally shut off and transfer back
to the normal power source. The
emergency engines could run as
long as fuel can be provided for
them. Everything could continue
to operate normally with some
curtaihnents, except the kitchen
facilities, under emergency power.
While on the subject of utili-
ties, three wells, all outside the
seem'ity fences should produce 600
gallons per minute water output
to supply all of the water needed
for the Corrections Center.
INMATES CAN GET HIGH