Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-02-16
THE EVENING NEWS.
"Wednesday Rve.iss---....Fes. 1s. 1870
Ahauf The S,nfo Pri.on.

Absut the state Prison.
On Sunday we paid q visit to the
State Prison, nearly two miles east Of
Carson, near the Warm Springs. where
we found lots of old acquaintance,
both outside and inside the iron CRATES.
We were shown throughth institution
by the polite Captain of the Guard,
who cheerfully showed us all the points
of interest, yet we couldn't help halt
suspecting that he would exhibit the
same methodical alaerity in passing us
through the various ironclad doors and
CRATES in case we were a real convict.
After all. though, If we do have to be
shut ND in II State Prison, we would
choose this one by all means, for it is
not such a very uncomfortable and
unpleasant place to be shut up in after
all, vet perhaps II makes q difference
to a mans views Of the thing, whether
he goes there by or against his own
free will and choice. The prison was
destroyed by fire about three years
ago. hut has since been rebuilt in I'M
proved style. 1t is we'll lighted, clean,
and most thoroughly ventilated, and
like all other first class prisons, its
principal feature is substantialness,
being built principally of stone taken
from the extensive. quarry close at
hand. 1t Is two stories in hight, the
lower portion being used for the pris-
oners. offices, ETC., and up stairs Lieu
tenant Governor j. 5. Slingerland, by
virtue of his position, Warden of the
Prison, resides with his family, also
Deputy Warden VIM. Mason and FAM
ily. \ high board fence incloses the
prison and stone quarry, and also quite
i neat front yard and vegetable gar
den. The grounds are not of course
very extensive or filled with any dense
growth of shrubbery, but the climate
is mild and pleasant.
The prisoners were all in the COM
mon large room or hall, amusing them
selves as best they might, or after their
usual style of spending the Sabbath,
and seemed to be in good health and
spirits. Just to hear the chatting and
laughing, one would not have thought
of their being prisoners ut all. The
library Of the prison-what there was
of twas destroyed by the fire, and
they have nothing in that line now;
therefore a good, judiciously selected
stock of reading matter would be the
very thing. What n chance for would
De reformers. r~evivalists or missiona-
ries! True charity and true Christian
ity begins at home. Don't let's hear
anything more about money being
collected in any of III churches for
the benefit OF Feeiee Islanders or any
other distant savage cannibal outsiders
when there is such q good field close
ut home. Why should salaried minis
tiers or travelling preachers fool away
their time trying to stir up little
church reYivals, and temporarily con-
vert n few loose, unimportant sinners,
when so many stray lambs are safely
corraled where they u be conve-
niently got ut and plucked like brands
from the burning? 1t Ia not well peo-
pie that need the physician, but the
sick ones. a good library of good,
w~ell-selected books would be- blessing
there. and even a good lot of tolerably
fair reading matter would be joyfully
appreciated and have 4 good effect.
Even to sit and play cards all their
spare time would keep them from
studying worse deviltry. But We are
depressing, perhaps.
Throughout the prison cleanliness is
everywhere especially observable, no
foul smells Indicating filth in any
quarter. The laundry department Is
lust what it should be. and so IS the
culinary department with the excep-
ton OLA p~erceptible lack Of cooking
apparatus, in view of the increased
number of prisoners, but this defect is
shortly to be remedicd by the substi-
tuition ola commodious cooking range,
10 take the place of the large stove
now In Use. With the balance of the
prison arrangements We have no fault
TO find. Four guards are Oh duty dur
ing the day, while the prisoners areat
work outside. and two during the
night while all are safe within the
prison walls. The police arrangements
are reduced to the most complete Sys-
TEN. There are mechanics OF various
kinds among the prisoners, but the
principal heavy work Is that i'll the
Stone quarry. nine hours being the
present days work, and in summer
len or twelve. Strict order, regularity
and rigid system characterizeS the
management throughout, in every de-
partment Of the prison.
GOOD DEVICE.
We understand that some Of the cell
doors closed with a peculiar self-actins
catch or fastening different from the
usual devices adopted, and more ettec-
tual. This is the invention OF Mr..
Slingerland. An unruly, resisting
prisoner pushed into II OF these cells
would thus be c~ffectually secured the
moment the door closed far enough Tor
the catch to operate.
INSCRIPTION.
The keystone of the arch over the
main entrance, bears the following in
scription: Nevada State Prison.
Burned May lst. Rebuilt September
LIST. BY Lieutenant Governor j.. 5.
~Slinoerland, A. d. 1857" We hardly
think S~lingerland intended this to
charge him with burning the prison.
SPECIMENS or INGENUITY.
We saw several very handsome anu
ingenious pieces of stone carving III
the shape of fancy match safes, bear
ING the emblems of Free Masonry, anu
various other devices. These are made
by some of the more ingenious prison.
ers during their spare time, and these
they are permitted to sell, in order to
procure for themselves tobacco, pipes,
and other extras. A crib-board. very
beautifully carved and ornamented by
..RattleSnake Dick" was worthy OF
mention, but the finest and best of all,
was an elegant little cabinet about q
foot square, with six little drawers in
1.-THE whole being carved out Of solid
stone. This was the handiwork of
Squares, L prisoner committed for
nine years, and who has already served
out half of his sentence. We also saw
several neatly carved tombstones In
the yard, made by some of the pris-
oners.
CONDUCT ROLL.
As an mducement for the prisoners
to behave just as good as possible, a
complete record of each ones conduct
j. kept. Ifa prisoner behaves good all
through the month, he Is credited with
five d1ys communication, or sixty DAYS