Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-12-01
No. sc.
Iowa State renieen Harry.

The Fort MadisoB Neia Dealer states
that there are nincty-onc convicts now
In the state Penitcntiary, two of them
being woman, and adds.
The officers at present nrr, +. A. Lay
ton, Warden; j. Ii. Reynolds, Deputy
Warden Rev. j. p. Sanford, Chaplain;
DIR. Edward Winery, Surgeon; C.. r.
Wood, Clerk. Theemployeosare guards,
eleven; turnkey, one; hospital steward,
one.
There are 14s cells finished, aud tho
rock is cut to finish IA more in tho third
range of cells. o.
Every thing about the prison is kept
In the most complete order, and in as per-
feet n state of cleanliness as possible,
aud the cells are whitewashed every ten
days. This explains fact---for which
otherwise we should hardly obtain ere
dence-viz: that there is not ut present
a solitary case Of sickness In the prison,
and that there has been hut one death
among the prisoners during the last
five years. Ii should bs stated, however,
that nine Of the convicts arc supcranu-
atcd, {. c., aged, crippled, and one a
mere lad 40 that they are scarcely to
be counted in the working force OF the
prison. .r. .'as snaass
| To the officers, three OF whom haye
been for long time connected with the
Institution, Messrs. Layton, Reynolds,
and Whinery, the public are indebted
for the hygenic and disciplinary condi-
ton, of which these statements are pre-
dicted.
THE LIBRARY
has recently been increased by the ad-
ditiou of abopt one hundred volumes,
of valuable books, making the. whole
numberpcrhaps scven.o eight hundred,
to which the prisoners have access, un-
der proper restrictions. .-
! CHAPEL SERVICE.
Is held every sunday morning and
while all the prisoners give semblance
of attention, land as they are under
guard, they cannot do otherwise some
of them afford good evidence Of the
deepest interest in the study of tho
| Scriptures. Tho waits and stragglcrs OF
society, are not beyond the pale of the
Divine mercy; and we hold that q
prominent object of prison discipline
should be moral culture, and the perma-
nent spiritual welfare of the convicts.'
The contractors arc working Us men
at the present time. The average num-
Der since the 18th of February has been
81. During this time they have made
and sold, chiefly OF agricultural imple-
ments, $50, 900 worth Of work, and have
perhaps $4,000 worth on hand. They
have also built the hospital and chapel,
now nearly completed, at cost of Sl3,-
600; and have added largely to the ma
chinery necessary to the prosecution OF
their work. d. ...r.....-...-.
The Warden's house ID nearly finish
ed large, substantial and convenient,
at cost of about $4,000. The hospital,
! dining-room, kitchen, aud chapel; with
four additional cells forhosptal patients
all under one roof, is approaching COM
! pletion, at cost as already stated, OF
about $l300n The dining room will
seat three or four hundred persons. The
hospital and kitchen are apparently
well arranged, and admirably adapted
to the present and prospective wants or
the institution.
The chapel, which il over the dining
room, Is large enough, we judge, to seat,
comfortably, four or five hundred per-
sons. The entire cost of this immense
structure, which Is within the appro-
priation by the Legislature, (Sl4 900 IN
n marvel of economy and energy cs-
perially when we consider the high and
advanced prices for materials since tho
appropriation was made; and IN fact
since the work commenced.