The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1873-05-15
At THE PENITENTIARY.
The Tresant Number Of Prisoners
New buildings 10 lie Erected.

Wishing to snuff the country air once
more, and see how spring was getting along,
weaving her crown OF verdure, We, yesterday,
took a short ride in the country out" and
drew rein at the State Penitentiary. Here
We found business lively, and had it no:
stripped garb that the prisoners Wore, We
might have imagined ourselves in a small
manufacturing town.
The State has under liz protecting care
800 prisoners, 3I9 male and 3 females. OF
this number about 10 will be liberated dur
ing the coming month, "a their sentences ex-
pirH.
In the large yard enclosed by massive
walls. we found large proportion of the
conyic;s working on the south wing of the
Penetentiary front. This wing ia very much
needed, for with the present limited accom-
modations two prisoners have 10 be crowded
into one narrow cell. The south wing, when
completed, will cost about 100000, while
the north wing, built at the commencement
o the var, cost upwards of $500, 600. Such
Is the diff renee between free and convict
labor. There has also been erected east Of
the main structure fine brick building
50xl96, and designed for dining room,
fernsle prison, chapel, school room and hos
pitsl. Ali the material, with the exception
of The iron for the grs;ing1, was manufactured
within tie prison yard. We spent some
time visiting the principal work shops, and
while commenting upon the excellent work
turned ont, by what We supposed inexperi
enced persons, WAS informed by our
guide that the widely circulated statement
in regard 10 convics being without trade,
when taken in, il entirely without founda-
tion. Some Of the best mechanics in the
State are in the Peniientiary, and
no branch of the different trades
wants experienced hands among the
322 prisoners now in confinement.
While passing through the printing de-
par.ment we were introduced TO an old edi-
tor from Greenwood county, who wears the
broad stripe with seeming reluctance, and
instead of pushing the pencil! for the iEstruc-
ton and elevation of his fellow men calmly
accepts the decree OF fate, and gracefully
waves the brush which brings into existence
those gorgeous landscapes, which We see on
the des of the celebrated Kansas wagon.
Most Of the prisoners seem a. contended az
their surroundings will permit, and being
well clothed and fed have no disposition
to grumhe. and strict discipline is so well
enforced That it require but twelve officers and
guards, including foremen of shops, etc, to
keep in suhiection and good humor the
whole body of prisoners. Fred Walker who
hiss served a number Of years on a sentence
morning and goes 1t once to Germany 10
take charge Of a large property recently left
him Tag his father
The Bl,rl OF Directors met on the 9Th
inss, anc be-ije- signing the vouchers and
bills for April, ordered a new roof TO be put
on the eel! bailding.
htA''rSA-fSi, VIC WHY iiSalNts IA ohA
visit, and feel sure that the men are being as
well treated and well fed as prison life
will permit. But as We passed out of the
heavy portal and glanced at the armed sen
Try above us, we thought what a happy
world this would be il there Was no necessity
of these bars and dungeons, this blasting of
character forever. Would that il could be
done away with, and new era of human
nature ushered in.
Major Hopkins, the Warden, was absent
at the time OF our visit, but his deputy, Mr..
c. J. Hanks, was there TO gree. Ia, and TO
him and the other officers Of the prison We
with to return our sincere thanks for their
Courtesy, and the information furnished.