The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-24

cure "ticket" TO the workhOusc con-
slider themselves palatially provided for
compared with the numbers who are
compelled ito resort TO the police court
room. At the latter place they, Of course,
get no food OF any sort-in fact nothing
beyond the bare privilege OF lying upon
the floor. There they lie huddled with
the floor for n mattress, the wall for n
pillow, and. frequently drunken and dis.
orderly prisoners for mates. Attic grey
Of dawn they 60 uponthe streets again TO
look for work or bread. Failing in find.
ing the former, thcystrike into the country
districts in search Of assistance from the
farmers, or try TO steal passage on freight
trains to the nearest town. But at the
workhouse the tramp has q clean bunk
and plenty TO eat, although OF course lie
is expected TO pay for his lodging upon
the stone pile. There were 80 many ap'
plications for admission TO the workhouse
that Council recently authorized the
Committee on Workhouse, the Mayor
Judge Of the Municipal Court and City
Sergeant to issue orders for the admit
lance ofdestitute men who are willing tG
work.
In company with Mr.. A. C. Egerter
chairman Of the Council Committee OIL
Workhousc, an 1NTELLIGEScEE reporter
on Saturday afternoon visited the work
house. Mr.. Caleb Sylvis, the accommo'
dating Superintendent, cordially vel.
coined our representative at the door oil
his private office, q l2xG compartment il
the south end of the building. The pris'
onGrs, thirty-one in number, occupy the
main hall, which ia sixty feet long and
twenty feet wide. On each side OF the
hall are two rows Of hunks, one above
the other. Each Of these hunks is mum.
bered, and when n prisoner arrives he is
assigned to certain bunk, which he is
required to keep clean and in good order
A long table, with wooden bench on
either side, occupies the centre OF the
room, and here the prisoners eat. The
room contains two large stoves, and il
well ventilated. The cook house is in
the south end OF the building, and is l0x
IL feet; the pantry adjoining exc feet.
ADAY's DoINGs.
To give our readers some idea Of how
time passes at the workhouse, We will
give the usual programme OF day. Al
Q o'clock in the morning the ringing Of a
belI awakes the prisoners, who are re.
quircd to Immediately arise, wash and
make up their hunks. The bell again
ring4, when the prisoners march in single
file to the cook house and receive their
breakfast through q "cubby-hole," which
they carry into the main room and cat
Breakfast over, at o'clock the prisoners
are marched out to work. 1.-THE weather
is cold or stormy they work in shed
near by. About half Of the men work al
the stone quarry in charge Of Officer Pad
dy MahOney, while the remainder, under
the eye Of the Superintendent, break the
stone for road purposes. At II O'Clock
they are marched buck TO the worEhousC
for dinner, and return TO work at ?. NJ. In
the evening work is suspended at 5
o'clock, and supper eaten ut .! o'clock
The bell rings at s o'clock in the evening
when the prisoners retire and remain III
their hunks until summoned to rise in the
morning. The door is never locked dur.
ing the day time, and the prisoners evi.
IDENTIFY have no desire 10 take "French
leave" At night the door is fastened and
a Waterman, Geo. st. Myers, is left in
charge of the building and the inmates.
The rules governing the workhouse are
strictly enforced. No loud or profanC
language, and no games Of any kind are
allowed. The prisoners arerequired to
keep their hunks and Clothing clean and
in good order, and their beds smoothly
made up. They are not allowed to spit
upon the floor or walls Of the building or
make any unnecessary noise. Neither
can prisoner converse with friend or
visitoreither while at work or in the house
without the permission Of the officer in
charge Of him. These rules are printed
and posted about the building, and any
prisoner violating them is punished. The
men are worked without balls, and the
Superintendent informs US that he has
never had but Two cases Of insubOrdina.
ton. One OF these he put on bread and
water for two days, and quoted the other
by threatening to put ball and chain on
his leg.