The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1875-04-15
BOLTS AND BARS.
4 Look at the Interior of the
Kansas State Penitentiary,
And What the Visitor Can See
There.

The Kansas State Penitentiary is one Of
the institutions OF which Kansas may just
ly he proud. The economical and efficient
manner in which the affairs OF the prison
are conducted, make it but a small burden
to the State, and every year sees it nearer
TO Icing self-suPporting. visit 10 this
drear abode Of repentant and sorry sinners
will repay the time spent.
Upon the first entrance OF the visitor, he
is ushered into the Warden's Office where
permission is received to inspect the build
ings. From there the way leads to the
cell room. This apartment Is two hundred
and forty feet long by sixty-six feet wide,
contains three hundred and forty-tour cells
four tiers high. The cells are cleaned out
every morning, and the bedding is kept in
perfect order.
At the ringing of the bell in the morning.
| every prisoner must get up, except those
who are sick, make up the bed neatly and
compactly, then hook it up, wash, sweep out
the cell and put everything in order and be
ready for unlocking for breakfast. ANY
J prisoner not up and ready for breakfast will
| have to fast. The prisoners are not allow
ed to lounge on the beds, except on Sunday,
unless they are sick. The prisoners are not
allowed to converse with each other, either
in their cells or outside, nor or they allowed
| to go into anv other cell but their own, I'M
less ordered TO do 50 by an officer neither
are they allowed TO read aloud. They are
not allowed to speak to visitors without per-
mission. While at meals if anything may
be needed it must be made known by hold
ing up the hand or cup, and any want at the
table must be made known TO the officer,
and under no circumstances speak 10 the
walters. Nothing must be touched on the
table until the signal is given for all 10 sit
down and commence eating, neither must
they gaze around, or pass anything TO 9TH
ers, while in line or column.
| For each month any prisoner shall serve
and obey the rules Of the Penitentiary for
the first year, he will be entitled to de-
duction from his sentence of 3 days per
month for each month he shall serve and
obey the rules during the second year he
shall be entitled TO a deduction OF q days
per month, and for each month after the
expiration Of the second year he shall serve
and obey the rules, he will be entitled 10 a
deduction OF eight days per month. The
Communication OF sentence for good conduct
| for a sentence of six months, is Il
days; ! year, 33 days; j. years, 90
days; years, 30 days; - year.
l2I days; 5 years, l62 days; 4 years, 2S577
days; years, 81 days; 6 years, 3SS days;
years, 464 DAYS; years, $40 DAYS; .
years, els days; 10 wears, 692 days; IL
wears, go days; II years, SD days; Is
years, $40 days; II years, s95 days; 10
years, 100 DAYS; l6 years, /, l47 days; L.
years ODD days. Good conduct will enti
| tie prisoners TO receive books from the Ii
| brary write letters on the first Sunday Of
each month receive their letters once
each week; 10 receive about So each year
out of their earnings for their own Use, 10
purchase papers, books, or other articles al
| lowed in the cells, or 10 send 10 their fami-
ly or friends. Earnings cannot be used
| until the end OF each successive year Of ser
vice. 1t will also entitle them to receive
visits from relatives and friends on visiting
/ DAYS lone in three months, and any other
privilege that may be allowed consistent
with decipline.
The prison has a library of about 1000
olumes, composed OF miscellaneous works.
Each man can have the benefit Of it il he
feels so inclined, and many a weary hour
is whiled away by such companship.
The chapel is a fine room, and the fresco-
ing done by a convict cannot be surpassed
in the West The school room, hospital
and dispensary are also frescced in equally
As fine and good style. We learn that the
| whole cost of frescoing the four rooms, did
not amount TO over $50.
The wagon mandatory and all the 9TH
er branches OF industry, are being crowded
with work, orders from all parts of the
West flowing in all the time, and in such
numbers as to prevent their all being filled
at short notice.
Much praise is due TO Major Hopkins,
the Warden, and c. J. Hanks, his assistant.
Better men could not be found for the posi-
ton in which these gentlemen have been
placed