The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-03-26
IOWA PENITENIIARY.

y correspondent OK the Davenport Ga
octte, furnishes the following Interesting
facts in relation to the above institution:
Entering the grated door which has
closed upon SO many unhappy wretches,
some of whom in all probability will never
again issue from its grim portals this side
of the grave, you pass to the right into the
/" cell y room, which is $50 feet long by 40
feet in width. The ranges of the cells are
constructed in the center, giving II wide
passage around them. The cells are ,
feet in length, Il feet in width aud 7
feet in height. The door ways are 20 inches
in width, and feet inches high, rather
limited accommodations. As the humber
of prisoners outnumber the cells finished, it
is necessary to place two prisoners in some
of them. In the lower "range' there are
54 cells. The second range has only 2G
cells completed, there will be lG2 cells.
Should the number of State boardcrs in
crease the next year or two as rapidly as of
late, it will require another story. The
cell doors are grated, giving light and ven
tilation, there is from the roof of each cell
a small fue for ventilation. Each cell is
numbered and upon the door is the name of
the occupant.
The furniture of the cell consists of n
bunk, or small bedstead, a cup for drinking
water which is filled before closing up, by
the "cell room keeper" (who is prisoner,
a small bench and Il shelf for books. The
bed clothing is changed ever Saturday, and
tho prisoners are compelled to keep their
cells cleanly; also the barber passes around
accompanied by guard) and shaves tho
crowd. Whiskers and mustaches stand no
chance. Saturdays the prisoners "scrub
up" and change, not the stri pes but their
undercloshing. Passing the cells, l noticed
that most of them had books on the little
shelf. Curiosity prompting, took a look
inside and noticed some religious works
and in nearly all copy of the Bible or Tes-
lament, Catholic and Protestant.) Upon
the front leaf Of one, observed: 81, from
bis mother" in a most beautiful stvie of
penmanship. Little did that mother think
her son would ever peruse this Bible gift in
the felons gloomy cell. In cell No. Is, a
pretty little altar and shrine was erected,
doubtless by some one who whilst mingling
with the world neglected his early training
but now finds consolation in his holy reiig-
ion. In cell Is, sleek tabby held posses
sion, and was told that the prisoner was
much attached to it; we tried to coax it to
leave the cell, but it refused all attentions
from "outsiders."
Leaving the "cell'' room we passed
thrcagh the shops, which are four in num-
Der. With the aid of machinery driven by
steam engine of one hundred horse power,
the convicts are busy, moving silently, and
many of them from appearances sorrowfuliy
about their work. A "guard is seated in
each room, having commanding view of
the occupants. Talking or looking is
"against the rules" and is punished with "A
reprlmand or locking up with bread and
water diet. Messrs. Winterbotham and
Jones have the contract for the labor of the
prisoners for the next five years. They pay
the State 50 cents per day for each man eu, :
ployed; at present, owing to the dull times,
they are not working full fores. Those un-
employed go to the shops as usual. Some
of them improve their leisure by reading
and studying Arithmetic, etc. The articles
manu- ufactured are scythe snaths, grain era
dies, forks, hoes, OK yokes, horse rakes, mop
handles, tubs and pals, rat traps, bird
cages, etc. Messrs. W. & j. are energetic
men and at present have three agents out
taking orders. Upon unlocking in the
morning, the prisoners mareh to the shops
and 60 to work for one hour. They then
take their breakfast, which consists of coffee
(without milk Or sugar,) 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," "Fal