St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-10-12
The Vermont State Prison.

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By invitation of the directors of the
state prisOn-Messrs. c. M. Spaulding
of Jericho, E. G.. Pettiegrew of Ludlow,
and Cyrus Jennings of HortOnville-
quite a number of gentlemen from diff
ferent parts of the state met at Wind
sor on Tuesday of this week, to inspect
the prison and look over its present
working. Among those who responded
to the invitation were Gov. Fairbanks,
state treasurer John A. Page, auditor
Jedd P. Ladd, Ex-GOv. Peck, Messrs.
Benedict, Kinsley and Huntington of
Burlington, Poland of Montpelier, and
other.
The prison now contains l57 inmates,
all but one being males. AS there are
but l55 cells, some of the cells have to
be occupied by two persons. The cells
are in four tiers, one above another,
with balcony running around on each
floor. These cells are in the center of
the room, with IA ten or twelve feet
hall between them and the walls of the
prison, so if prisoner escapes from his
cell he is still within the prison. The
cells are five feet wide and eight feet
long, and each one is provided with a
clean bed, table, chair, lamp, etc.
Besides this furnature, many of the
men have made for themselves orna-
ments, or had pictures given to them,
with which they have adorned their cell
walls.
The work of the men is making shoes,
and all but Phair, and Il few old and
disabled ones, work at this daily.
Their labor is contracted for by Ma
Whitney & Co. of Boston, the same firm
who he'd the contract last year. They
pay 40 cents a day for each man, which
is an advance of five cents over what
they paid last year, making difference
of some $4,000.
The contractors furnish all the ma
chinery, tools, the engine which drives
the machinery, Overseers, etc. The
State furnishes the men, and two or
three keepers to see that the States
wards have even justice at the hands of
the contractors.
The visitors saw the men at their
work, which, with the improved ma
chinery and modern tools, was very
interesting process. But what interest
them more was the neatness of every
part of the prison the kindly feeling
between the prisoners and the superin-
tendent and keepers the earnest desire
of the directors and superintendent for
the best welfare of the unfortunate
men who were put in their charge.
By the present system each man
earns a dollar a month and five days
time by good behavior. This makes a
years sentence only ten months, and
we are assured it is great incentive for
the men to do well. Bad conduct is
punished by deducting both the money
and the time earned by good behavior,
and also by solitary confinement. This
solitary confinement means something.
There are three or four cells with moth
ing but bare walls-with actually no
furniture whatever-not bed to lie on
or a chair to sit on. The doors are solid
iron, admitting no light. Into these
these man is placed, and the door is
shut Men have been kept in one OF
dungeons as long as two weeks, but "a
Oh hs. n.shn nj
a short time is the rule. Their rations
in the dungeon are four ounces of bread
and pint of water daily. Men are
punished in this way for talking to
each other, insolence to keepers, and
other offences against prison disci-
pline.
The cleanliness of the prison and
wholesome food, are already telling
upon the health of the inmates. Of the
156 men, but three are now in hospital
and the greatest number at any one
time this year was five.
They begin at the prison the present
month an evening school in the chapel
taught by the guard and some of the
prisoners. Reading, spelling, writing
and arithmetic are taught, and many OF
the men apply themselves with grea,
earnestness, and make rapid advance
ment.
1t has been the endeavor of the di-
rectors, and the new superintendent
H. P. Spencer, seconded most heartily
by the Goyernor,-as those who re-
member his annual message might ex-
pect-tO inaugurate in the prison dis
cipline which, while it is strict, shall