Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-02-20
Editorial Correspond euee.

ONCOAX 0OnNXNoD e 0Os w. ACSSs
Editorial Correspond cuee.
Sr. PAUL, Mimi,
Feb. II, 1873.
There has been 10 session Of either
House Of the Legislature to-day.
Two-tl,irGs Of both branches visited
IKE State Prison at Saltwater, leaving
acre by special train at lol o'clock aud
returning Al 6 =. NJ. This Institution
- one Of tho most important Of any for
which the State has to provide, aud it
!, the only one which yields any revo-
"uc. The Prison is, in all respects, so
:..r as brief inspection enables one to
FIRM an opinion, in good condition.
It is under the immediate charge Of
Il. A. Jackman, ESQ.,, an intelligent
aud humane man, aud all the prisoners
xi.h whom I conversational they were
many-spc.k vf him in the highest
terms. The discipline is enforced by q
civil and gsntlemanly corps Of guards,
Sainst but one Of whom did 1 hear
he slightest complaint, and it is but
US. to remark that in both the cases
mentioned, the fault is found BY those
Tho are among the most notorious out.
jaws in tho country. One Of them
having brut.lly murdered an innocent
:."d helpless old man, and the other
Tho: one man dead, and deliberately
;srncd around in his tracks aud dis
charged bis gun at another, shooting
way bis chin. Complaints come with
tat little force from such dcsperadocs.
here is a respectable library in the
cell for the use Of prisoners, and many
f them make extensive use Of it. 1t
.aould receive many additional volumes.
.\ltlough the great majority Of the in-
'lates are evidently very illiterate, they
..evertheless find both pleasure and
::roGt in the perusal Of books, and they
<:'ou'd have all reasonable opportunities
t + sclI-culture. The State feeds,
;othes, disciplines the criminal force
f"pt in restraint, and with the perform.
lice Of these duties its active intcrfer.
&C ceases.
The labor is performed under con.
:.act. Mcssrs. Seymour, Sabine l. Co..
y to the State certain per diem 70,
- work Of each class Of prisoners
':sregatins about forty cents per CAPT
=. The location being in the centre
{, IN immense lumber market, the pri
=, manufactures are chiefly of thu
ads in which wood is Employed
= icy make pals, tubs, barrels, well
) ckets. all kinds Of common furniture
IA great variety Of n:ouldings.-
=. r this work they have machinery III
80 highest degree Of perfection, and
propelled by an engine Of l25 horse
i: ser. What buildings there are seem
be convenient and in good stete Of
pair, although the grounds are not
:. 'urely enclosed. A good strong
. ne wall is it dispensable. The :pre-
-as capacity Of the prison is equal to
A.c care Of 10 persons. There are
2 but SIS in durance vile, and only
{: : al those a woman. - ''r.
I saw and conversed with young
:: :. Alpine who was sent up from Aus
A.. }ast summer for the larceny Of Man.
:. ville's horse. The guard tells me
p It he is obedient and we'll behaved.
ties, who set fire to the bridge on the
: ~athern Minnesota Il. r., feels his
: aation very keeuly indeed. lie is
4 -nmended by all the officers for his
s: I'D conduct and kindly disposition
10 seem thoroughly Inundated, and I
), anot avoid the impression that were
IT, to be suffered now to 70 at large, his
experience would be q sufficient guar.
zee for his future good behavior
10 manifested considerable fortitude
wen abiding to the length Of his term
Ia the rigor Of his fare and employ.
mt, but chen he alluded to his aged
-,thcr and to the probability that he
=: ald never see her again, he quito
f'.akc down aad remorsefu]ly exclaim-
I, MY disgrace will eoon kill her
sv2n though sue might otherwise long
>r?port the intirmities which . life Of
''l and privation have produced. l
: it him 10 tears, and confess that a
!''ssy withdrawal alone saved me from
copious exhibition Of sympathetic
'.:iing.
The saddest object in all that unfor-
''.'ate number was Ole Olson Bang,
<.' old nsa whom wkiskey made to
:""rdcr his own sou. His imprison-
'."nt seems to be but a slight punish.
=" ut compared to the terrible or.
81! through which he is constantly
- sing. It is said that he not unfre.
':"nt'y breaks out into violent demon.
,'ations OF grief, which are at times
, oily uncomfortable, and he has an
most constant habit Of placing one
md over the region 0: his heart, turn
his eyes Upward and calculating
."cthing which no one understands.
~ such moments he is a picture o.
:.'ect dizrair, but l must not indulge
! further innate description. Soms
.,"ngc peculiarly mi ht be noted o.
h individual there. l. give on.
re instance: Hicks, the notoriou!