The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-08-23
THE STATE pENITENTIA RY.
ITS Present Condition and Prospects
---How the Superintendent, Cap
tain Bridges, Manages the
Institution -Introduction
of Manufa cturing Inter-
ests among tho
ConyiCts.

rccculIy puIu S's't w 'uo S'"'' e"'.
tertiary. and upon his return, prepared
n very interesting article in relation to
that Institution. We coudeuse the
following from the article referred to
Captain Bridges, the Superintendent,
is n gentleman whose illness for the i'm
portaut position held by him is well at.
tested by the excellent condition md
thorough state of discipline IN which
tho institution nowis Hc is uniformly
courteous to persons desiring to inspect
tho buildings and other features Of in
terest connected with them. while his
natural firmuess OF character. and mill.
tary experience give him the requisite
qualifications for the successful! govern.
mcnt Of large number of rough and
desperate cases such as are congrcgatcd
in tho pcultentiary.
A visitor, upon going to tho main en-.
trance and asking to see any ono Of the
principal officers. will be surprised to
SEQ the turnkey ring certain number
Of strokes upon bell near at hind. II
the officer desired b. the Superintendent.
1 tap is sounded il the Captain Of the
Guard, .; if.hc Clerk, 8; iftho Com
missary, 4; il an escort Of guards, s.
There arc IS guards in all. who are
uniformed in gray, with black stripes
down their pants. and armed with side
arms and carbines. They arc divided
into Night Guard and Day Guard,
and serve on their respective watches
from six till six.
The cell room is 10 tho south end Of
the main building. and lis fitted with 2224
cells, ranged in double rows and 4 tiers.
To each tier above the floor, access by
means of substantial projecting plat
forms leading entirely around the cell
block, is provided, Each tier is also
furnished with two long steel bars Ono
upon each side of the cell block. by tho
drawing Of which every cell door in the
range can DO instantly fastened. This
is IN arrangement to add convenience
and safety in tho handling Of the con.
victs. and is considered by Captain
Bridges almost invaluable. At the two
south corners Of tho cell room are two
dungeons, into which specially hard ca.
scs to manage may be put for discipline,
but they have uot been used during tho
incumbcncy Of the present Supcrin.
teudent. The only remedy for viola
ton Of the rules, is combining tho Often
der in cell during hours Of recreation.
or for n longer time, if necessary, upon
diet Of bread and water.
The purity oftho air in the cell room
is striking. and is generally remarked
upon by visitors. It is commonly the
case that the cells in institutions Of this
sort, in all Of the smaller ones, such as
county jails and city lock.ups, dhd fre-
quently in what are known as 6rst.c class
penal establishments. emit an odor that
is both offensive to tho senses and sick
ching to the body; but in the peniten-
,iary cell room our reporter could not
detect any of these unpleasant and pois-
onous fumes. This 6ne sanitary con.
dition is the result of a rigid system Of
cleanliness and renovation, which is re.
ligiously enforced by tho supcrintend.
ent. There is great virtue in soap.
water and whitewash for prison use, aud
Bridges undoubtedly discovered it soon
after he took charge Of the institution.
Under the presen. system of discip.
line, no moro than two convicts are al.
lowed to converse or assemble together
during tho hours Of recreation, or at any
other time. The object Of this is to
prevent quarrels and the formation Of
conspiracies, or concerted revolt. In
all other features Of the daily routine Of
the prison, the strictest rules are OBJ.
served by the officers aud guards. and
so successful has been the discipline es.
,ab!ished by Captain Bridges that dur
ing tho two years he has bad charge,
neither fight, escape. nor serious dis
turbauce Of any sort has occurred, al
though fights and disorders we're fre.
qaent under previous management.
These points are not mentioned either
for the purpose of complimeuting the
present management, or tho disparage-
ment Of previous administrations, but
simply to give fair report of the graf
flying Advancement Of the prison in dis
cipliue and enterprise notable in the
last year aud n half or more.
A time premium Of Eve days for ev-
cry month is given convicts under the
law. for good behavior. This is a
strong incentive to good conduct upon
the part Of convicts, and it is abundantly
improved by them. 1t amounts to 1903
days 10 two year term, which is i'm
portant to them. Tho mistake that tho
reward for good conduct is discount
instead of q premium 10 time, will not
be made by the reader. There is the
same difference ia this as between pre-.
MUM and discount in bank.
The daily routine Of the convicts is
about as follows: At a quarter to six
in the morning. small bell is ruug to
awaken them. They Immediately get
up and prepare for breakfast. At six
the large bell is sounded. tho bars arc
drawn, and tho convicts step out Of
their cells and form into line, two by
two. They then march under guard to