Daily globe., 1879-01-25
THE ANNUAL FARCE.
The Advertised Visit of the Legislative
Committee to misunderstanding in
Shape for Inspection, as Matter of


| OOHn1tt0o I'd 1u
Shape for Inspection, as a Matter of
Course.
| Pursuant to an announcement made at the
close of the morning session of the legislature
on Thursday, the standing committees of both
houses proceeded by the o'clock train on the
st. Paul & Duluth railroad to Saltwater to visit
the State prison, accompanied by about twenty
five other members of the two houses who had
desire to inspect the States penal institu-
| tion, an | as matter of course a GLOBE envoy.
| Upon the arrival of the train at the mill yard
OF Seymour, Sabin & Co. the visiting party
| disembarked and We're received by Mr. Sabin,
ono of the contractors and Inspector E. G.
Butts, who escorted them to the warden s
I office, where the com pliments Of the day were
exchanged and the committees proceeded at
once on their round of inspection, and of OBJ
servation of the several Improvements which
the prison officials desire to make, and for
which they ask an appropriation of some
| $45, ,000
The first improvement to which the atten-
ton of the committees called was ex-
tension of the main building, for which
| $l2, 600 is asked. This extension is intended
as residence for the deputy warden and his
family. and as enlargement of the hospital
and chapel, and additional cells for the female
convicts, who are under the charge of the
matron, Mrs. Deputy Warden Hall.
The next point visited was the foundry,
| where an iron floor considered imperatively
necessary in the second story to protect that
building from fire, which has several times oc-
of gas in the blast furnace.
This work is now in progress, and the State is
asked for an appropriation of 1884 to defray
the COST
The committees then visited the cooper
shop, where an appropriation of $500 is asked
for the extension Of water pipes as protection
against ire. This shop is a wooden building.
| The dignifed legislative gentlemen then
| mounted flight of stairs to guard house and
| took view of twelve hundred feet Of board
| fence, which the inspectors desire to have re-
placed by a atone wall twenty feet high and
| five feet thick, with foundation five feet be-
| low the surface of the ground. The inspectors
urged the necessity Of this improvement by
| pointing out to the committee how perfectly
| feasible rescue of the prisoners would be by
merely punching off few of the boards and
making general stampede. It is estimated
that his improvement willscost $50, 900.
Having made the tour OF the prison yard and
listened to the suggestions of the warden, con-
| tractor and trustees, the committees entered
the shops, and found those hives of industry
in tull operation manufacturing the Mime
| sofa Chief threshing machine, which is the
princi pal employment of the convicts, and was
| observed in all stages with much interest by
the visitors. Some OF the members of the leg
islature. however, improved the opportunity to
hold conversations with the convicts relative to
their treatment by the authorities of the pris-
on, the quality and quantity of food furnished
etc, but as there has been joint special COM
mittee appointed to Investigate these matters
the GLOBE does not wish to anticipate their
| findings
At II o'clock the entire delegation assembled
| in the prison yard, the steam whistle blew, the
! bell was rung, and the convicts formed in
| i 49, G H.
ing to partake of dinner in their solitary cells.
The food, Friday being "fsh day." consisted Of
goldfish with butter gravy, potatoes, bread and
! water, and was in generous quantities.
The cells were clean and in good order: and
many of them were provided with carpets and
| lack of taste of the occupants; Others had
writing desks or cabinets of good workman
ship, made by themselves musical instruments
and other articles of luxury
| The dungeons are located at the west end of
the main building and Of the same size
| supplied with two iron doors--one the in
side of the wall and the other the outside.
The inside door has diaInond-shaped aper;.-
ture Of about two and half inches situated
near the top. and the outside door has like
opening near the bottom, thus effectually shut
ting out the least ray of light. The space be-
tween the two doors is about one foot. For
ventilation each dungeon has tube of about
| three and a half inches in diameter inserted in
the wall and passing out at the roof.
There is nothing whatever in these dun
geons, not even astool, and their occupants can
como in contact with nothing bnt stone and
iron. Several of the committee suffered them
selves to be shut up. that they might expe-
rience the sensation of such punishment.
Inspector Butts informed the committees that
this is the only punishment inflicted upon re-
fractory prisoners, and that they may termi-
nate it at any rnome.t if they will promise to
obey the rules. Prisoners in the dungeons at
neal times fed upon bread and water only.
The hospital and chapel were visited and
produced good impression. The library con-
tains 500 Volumes and comprises excellent
selection of books on history, science, biogra-
ply, poetry, travel and adventure, humorous,
historical romance, romance and fiction, re-
ligious and miscellaneous,
The members OF the legislature were then
invited into the deputy warden's apartments.
where they sat down to plain and substantial
dinner.
| The books Of the warden were inspected, and
| to all appearances were methodicaily kept and
correct.
| The prisoners appear cheerful and indus
trious, good discipline has been maintained,
but two deaths have occurred during the year,
and the health Of the prisoners has been good.