The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-03-31
LBTrER PROM THE PENITENTIARY

LETTER FROM THE PENITENTIARY,
To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST:
There is perhaps but little of interest
to the outside world transpiring here.
The work on the new tannery is being
pushed rapidly forward. OF the As vats
which it is to contain, more than half
are already in their places, and the most
of the others are framed and ready to be
put together. The joists are to be put
in, the floors to be laid, and the weather.
boarding to be put on, when it will be
completed; all of which will probably
be done by the first of June. The shoe
factory is in active operation, and Is
turning out some very excellent work.
The "boys" will soon begin to ''sling
mud' on the brick yard for little George
Collins, so you see there is no danger of
our resting for want of something to do.
Mr.. Myers, our warden, has left us, and
Mr.. Robert Thompson is now acting as
warden, and am happy to say he
makes very good one.
: We were all sadly disappointed at not
being permitted to hear you speak when
you were last here. Come next time
when the Superintendent is at home.
The warden was afraid to admit US into
the chapel during his absence, just as if
we were so wanting in good breeding as
to run away while lady was speaking
to US, but he was not to blame for using
every precaution to prevent escapes.
We have received a few recruits from
the various recruiting offices, some of .
whom are ''old birds come home to
roost." The Portland "gin mills"
proved too many for them. Are these
''dead-falls'' never to be closed ? Where
are the crusaders Let them make but
half so determined crusade against the
next Legislature as they did against the
saloon keepers, and they will have the
ballot put into their hands, which is the
only weapon with which they can ever
hope to drive the monster intemperance
| from our border How would love to
see the women enfranchised this Cen
tennial year. King Alcohol would then
receive his death-blow, and thousands
of men, women, and children be saved
from lives of crime, shame, and misery.
Why are. women so Indifferent to this
subject? Is it not barely possible that
hundreds of fair ladies in this State, who
are to-day happy wives and mothers,
may in few years be sorrowing over
husbands or sons who have fallen by
the wine-cup2 Why do they not guard
against the possibility of such thing
by claiming their right to the ballot,
and voice in the making of laws that
will forever close the haunts of vice
They need never expect men to enact
laws that will deprive themselves of so
great luxury as many of them esteem
gin. Nor will young men cease to visit
the saloon so long as ladies receive them
in their homes on equal footing with
those who are temperate. Give the
, gentlemen to understand that they must
give up the saloon or your company,
aud you will soon cease to have your OIL
factories offended by the fumes of gin
on their breath. Woman is the greatest
sufferer from this great evil, and her
hand can alone apply the remedy.
Have just returned from the chapel,
where had the pleasure of listening to
very interesting and instructive SER
mon delivered by DR.. Hall. He was ac-
companied by quite number of Salem's
fairest daughters, among whom were
Miss Hall, who presided at the organ,
the Misses Moores, Miss Ray, and Miss
Chamberlain, Mrs. Nettie Carter, and
many others whose names have not
the honor to know. 1t is needless to
say that the singing was superb, or that
your correspondent feels truly grateful
to all who participated in the exercises,
for the pleasure their visit gave him.
had the pleasure of shaking several of
the gentlemen by the hand after meet
ing. Who can estimate the worth of a
kind word or the friendly pressure of
the hand to one in misfortune?
DICK ALEXANDER.
State Penitentiary, March 10, 1876.