Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1867-02-15
THINGS AT THE CAPITAL.
STATE PRISON.

SNNhh AASS4t saN w AAOoSCSy poA0
official visit to the State Penitentiary,
making due examination of the condi-
ton of the building and the regularly
installed inmates. The Warden Of the
Prison, Lieut.-Governor Slingerland,
acted, of course, as cicerone; and he
first conducted the Legislators to an up
per chamber, from which those who en-
tered are said to have come out refresh
ed. The upper story of the main build
ing is occupied as the residence Of the
Warden. The old Representative Hall
is still unpartitioned; and yet offers
quite as good facilities for deliberative
sessions as either Of the present Legisla-
tive Halls. It is now used for drying
soiled linen; very different, if not quite
exactly opposite. use from that to which
it was formerly dedicated.
Returning to the first level, the Com
mittees were shown the Library of the
Prison-purchased last year-composed
of ''Harper's School Library" and en-
bracing over three hundred volumes. 1t
is an admirably selected series, as all
our school folks can testify. Upon e1-
animation of the drawing book" 20
volumes were found to have been issued
during the week. Every prisoner can
read and write English, except the Chi
manner, and they can make OUT news
paper items, and are fast becoming good
English spoilers and penmen.
The Committees were then taken into
the yard. The Prison enclosure is
familiar, as to dimensions, to nearly all
our citizens; whose business, more or
less, takes them past the Warm Springs.
The yard was in exceedingly neat con-
dition; yet not more so, as the commit
tees had good evidence for concluding,
than il ever is. Two excessively mourn
full looking monuments-the work o.
prisoners-stood in front Of the War
den's door. These homely and suggeS-
tive emblems Of mortality are to be re-
moved, shortly, TO their long home.-a
removal likely to lessen the chances Of
a bilious attack against the convict who
has to wheel rock past them during the
day. Also: beside, or between the
monuments aforesaid, stood the most
recent handiwork, in sculpture. from
the Prison quarry and the Peuitentiary
geniuses. It was in the form, $50 it
was said,) of a "Fountain.' 1t is to
be placed in position in " few days, and
q gay and festive squirt is to be exhibit
ed through its aspiring nozzle. 1t much
resembles q double toad-stool-if there
is such II thing in nature-and when 1t
is in ''play" it ought to be and proba-
bly, will be very amusing. Whether the
"model" is Egyptian or Spanish, our
informant can't say; but thinks its
mixed. At what particular point in the
yard this magnificent spray-spouter is
to be placed, we have not learned,
though we presume it will cast up its
genial jets Immediately in front Of the
Office. A point to the northeast Of the
piggery is said to be eligible for this
mushroom emeteciser; salubrious, etc.
In ease it should there be placed, a lit
tie cologne water thrown into the els
tern whence the pressure comes, would
be as beneficial, perhaps, as chloride OF
lime in parts adjacent.
As before remarked, the grounds were
very neat. There are three fence-mount-
ed guards; all duly armed and equipped
for the laws continuing force. Wheeling
round the main building, the commit
tees reached the "rear Of the yard"
as it is designated, and entered a newly
constructed wing, where three or four
prisoners were engaged in making foun-
dation for a wood floor for the commo-
dious kitchen that is soon to be ready
for use. Ali the convicts seen thus far
were supplied with a conveniently but
securely fastened ankle chain, rendering
their locomotion difficult on any at
tempted foot-race. Their uniform is
modelled after that worn at San Quentin
-woolen pants and shirts, with alter
nate grey and black stripes, running up
and down-stripes about two inches
broad. The stutfis made at the San
Francisco wooden mills. Immediately
above the new kitchen is the prison
c~istern, which when the new range is
set will be as ''hsndy" as possible for
the cooking purposes. Within the new
wing-which is n story-is a tempo
rarily partitioned room where the prison
tailor and shoemaker carry on their re-
spective trades. These hombres are LETT
free to locomote-uot being chained as
are the men who travel in the yard.
The Committees examined the %tailor's
work; and it was thought that the cut
ting and stitching would do credit even
to that humble individual, Andy John
SON. The prison shoe Is a very stout
made article-low heels and sides. The
carpenter shop vas next visited. This
shop is,-or originally was,-oue of the
passenger cars on Abraham Curry's
great North American Railway. Unlike
most ancient vehicles, it appeared to be
now seeing its best days; and it would
no. be suspected that the boss carpenter
who CHANGED to slumber on the bench
inside at midday, would have any queer
dreams of the times when this old car
bore the Territorial Legislators from the
city Of Carson to their respective Council
Chambers. The blacksmith shop look
ed like any other blacksmith shop ex'
cept there was evidence of the fact that
a large share of the business consisted
in the making of cuffs and clamps AND
other human corraling and crampinS