The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-02-03

IyrHr PxstrrsrrAHY.-Not "for good and
ALI, n the yopng folks ssy., There are no edi-
tors in this State institution under public
care, albeit far be il from NJ TO say there are
none that should be. Net in Keokuk upon
Thursday our friend, Hon. NJ. NJ. Walden of
the House Committee to inspect the Peniten-
tiary, who was en- route for Fort Madison, and
we joined company. Our friends, Ogden and
Seaton, of the upper road, remembered us
kindly, as usual. Were met at the Fort Mad
ison depot by the excellent Warden, Mr.. Ed.
A. Layton, who, were it not seemingly I'M
kind to appropriate any person to peniten-
tiary we should say is the right man IN the
right place. This, however, we will, that Mr..
l.. is most capital officer, thorough sue
cess as Superintendent of the institution, and
We Honorable General Assembly of the State
of Iowa will be best conserving the interests
of their sovereign constituency by reappoint-
ing him.
Through the State prison went we, from the
narrow cells 10 the extensive workshops, ex-
aiming halls and cells, the handsome and
commodious new Warden's house, chapel, Ii
brary, dining room, kitchens, things new and
old, and we found everything in perfect order,
kept with the most scrupulous care and neat
ness, well deserving the enconiums which. we
believe, Miss Dix, the philanthropist, has pass
ed upon this penitentiary under Mr.. Layton's
administration, that it is the best and most
humanely conducted of any in the United
States.
There are one hundred and three convicts
now within the walls, two of whom are fe-
males One of the latter sentenced for the
crime of larceny; the other for the pleasant
pastime of killing her husband. We mingled
among the men at their labor, and watched
them at their homely but substantial and
ample dinner, and they are as healthy and
cheerful set as can be found inside of prison
walls in the country. The strictest discipline
is maintained, but there is no harshness, and
the greatest attention is paid to the welfare
of the prisoners consistent with prison regu-
lations. The sanitary condition Of the insti-
tuition is excellent, the hospital being without
occupants.
/ We do not propose, however, to enter into
any detailed account of the present condition
or past history of the prison. We transferred
to our columns few weeks ago the result of
the labors of our friend Wilson, of the Plain
| Dealer in this line, and will not repeat state
mens then made.
Found our excellent friends Hale, Davis h
Co., experimenting the convict labor Amid
the glowing of furnaces and the ringing OF
anvils and whrl Of machinery, variety OF
farming implements and mechanical instru-
ments of great excellence are being made,
and otherwise lost labor thus turned to public
good
The Legislative Committee, Senator Stiles,
and Representatives Brown and Walden, are
are there at their labors. We apprehend the
stricter their investigation the more satisfac-
tory will Mr.. layton administration appears.
Additional appropriations from the State
are needed. At present there are no sufi-
cient precautionary provisions against fire.
This matter should be provided for at once.
The windows in the outer wall of the cell
house should be extended, and more grounds
added to the property.
We are greatly indebted to Warden Layton
Deputy j. H. Reynolds, Mr.. Wood, the ex.
celent Clerk, and our &c cd friends Capt. Da
Wis and Mr.. Hale, for kind attentions during
our stay.
We are sorry our friend, Col. Sanford, has
rendered his resignation as Chaplain of the
institution. He has filled the place admira
bly,.
Saw our friends Van Valkenburg, and Mr.
Wilson, of the Plaindealer. Glad to fnt
them prospecting.