The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1859-03-19

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4 Leaving the +" cell " room we passed
through the shops, which are four il
number. With the aid of maohiner,
driven 10y a steam engine of oDe hundred
horse power, the cpnvic's are busy, NOV
ing silently, and many of them from ap
pearances sorrowfully about their work
A "guard" is seated in each room hav
ing commanding view Of the occupants
Talking or iooking is "against the rules.
and is punished with rcprimaud OF
locking up with bread and water diet
Messrs. Winterbotham & Jones have the
contract for the labor of the prisoners foI
the next five years. They pay the State
/ 80 cents per day for each man employed;
at present, owing to the dull times, they
are not working full force. Those un-
employed go to the shops as usual Some
Of them improve their leisure by reading
and studying Arithmetic, &c. Messrs.
! w. & J, are energetic men and vt present
have three agents out taxing orders. Up.
on unlocking in the morniag, the prison.
ers march to the shops and 20 to work
for one rur. They then trke their
breakfast, which consists of coffee (with-
out milk or sucar,) wheat bread, meat
and potatoes. The dinner at noon is bean
soup, meat, potatoes, rice, and corn bread,
. There is much system observed The
! bell taps Quit work." "WaSh up,
Fall in," March," "Seats" Upon
leaving the table also, order j. observed
Each convict has his place in line, aud
when marching the right hand is placed
upon the shoulder of the man in front.
The eyes look to the left At meals or
worship the crowd face one way, aud the
guard is seated in front For fear of
causing sickness from Indigestion the sup
per is light, and consists of bread and mo
. lasses with water for drink. The pars
are set out, and when they quit work
they march to their cells, and take their
suppers alone. | could not but remark
the celebrity with which they disappeared
in their cells \ guard is locked IN the
hall surrounding the cells Ne singing.
talking or any noise by the prise nors is
allowed, and any offence is immediately
reported and punished. The halls are
lighted, and prisoners can read or mend
after locking up time. The horn il
blown, aud day guards go off duty, aud
the night watch comes on, consisting of
two men.
The " bell y house or Deputy Wardcn's
Office is the point from which all business
or orders connected with the inside of the
prison are issued Here is kept the Reg
ister and measuring stick The prison
cr upon entering is shaved, hair cut, and
treated to a bath. He is then furnished
with Il striped suit--roundabcut, pants
and cap, informed Of the rules aud sent
to tie shop
Friends can soc the prisoners occoston.
ally upon Application at the Office, and oil
conversation or communications must be
known to the officer. A plug of tobacco
is allowed each prisoner, who uses the
weed, weekly. o. the Sabbath they
have sabbath school for one hour, the
teachers being volunteers from the con
gregations Of Fort Madison. The State
furnishes a salary Of $500 annually for
Chaplain, and services are held i'm TIE
dining room, which at present is used as
a Chapel every Sunday. learn that the
prisoners take much interest In the ser
vices, and that the workings of the spir-
it arc not alone amongst the congresa-
tlons outside, but many Of the prisoners
have become happily converted. Many
OF those who came to the prison unable
to read or write, have been taught in
school There is also library of 300
volumes belonging to the prison The
Clerk acts as Librarian, and books are
given out every Sunday
Good conduct is encouraged by dim
mutton Of the terms of Imprisonment 1t
is allowed by law, and is good idea
For the first month Que day; second, two
days; third, three days; fourth, four DAYS;
and each subsequent month four DAYS -
If a prisoner chooses, he can by good be- /
havior shorten his term forty two davs
the first year, and forty eight days each
subsequent one. infractions of the rules
are punished not with showerine" or
other barbarlsms, but by taking from
their diminution credit" or else con
hnetnent on b cad and water. The seat
has only been used three times in the
last two years The State has phvsi- /
elan employed to visit the pri, on daily. /
He is allowed salary of $500 per year.
The hospital at present is but little pat
ronized. The health of the prisoners is
said to be excellent, which is in some
measure owing to the judicious manage
ment of the Warden, DR., S Inskip. The /
physician decides ehen prisoner is sick, /
aud how much time he shall labor. Half .
day men are furnished with badge
IL day,
In the kitchen everything is in good
order. The quantity Of breadstuhs used
is nearly 1000 pounds weekly. TIL. |
dining room, kitchen, hospital and store
rooom, are in a frame building, 9Ox36
feet, aud one story high 1t would cost
but little moro to have built one of stone
or brick. | understand that it is in ! CON
temptation to erect good buildings for the
aforesaid purposes--,ehea they get an
appropriation from the Legislature. The
cells will be completed this season In
consequence of inability to procure stone
(from over the river the work has been
suspended during cold weather. To com.
pete the wall and make the improvements
necessary to keep pace with the growth
of our State, an outlay Of at least $780,
900 will be required. There has been
no escape since the present warden has
had charge. \ few days ago, a prisoner
seereted himself in the well, but was dis.
covered. He was treated to the cat. -.
Ten lashes are the most given at one
time. 'fhe prisoner under punishment