The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-22

l III informed Dy prisoners. no them
creating vertigo and headache. aud it
certainly appeared to me to be done
more n tie interest Or the contractor than
T0r the purpose et' discipline.
Fer the services Of the prisoners who
work at that rate and whose work
will compare favogab,y as 10 quality
with any work of the same kind done
anywhere according to t.l sworn
statement Of the Warden Of the Peni-
Tertiary. made in Albany August %.
IS'O, the contractor pays from thirty
i've 70 fifty cents i day. TIE wages
OF a workman outside the prison Of
similar craft, are at least ~I.25 Der day
ana rs prisoners in the ALBANY Peni-
Tertiary perform, IN my judgement
from what Islw, one-fourth more work
IN one day than any workman would
90 or could lie made to 90 bv coercion
outside a prison, the real value o. the
prisoners labor is worth 81 81 Per dav.
10 not think the system pursued in
regard to the labor required from the
prisoners IS humane in this institution.
next visited the south wing Of the
prison and cells, which | found very
small and entirely unsuitcd for its pur-
pose OF confining any human being in.
These cells were only three feet wide
- feet long and 81 feet high. The
length Of tie hall in which the build.
ing IS constructed for the cells is ninety
eight feet. and there is a passage way
on each side Of the cell building about
thirteen feet wide. There are four
tiers Of cells in tins wing, containing
nlnety-siX cells, il which the male
prisoners are confined. The north
wing Of the prison is used for the con
hnement Of females and contains f0rtv-
eight cells, similar in size to those Of
the south wing. The air in this prison
must be impure during the night.
when all the prisoners are in their cells,
as the means Of ventilation are not
equal to the requirements Of a prison
constructed as this one IS. | asked
permission of the Warden to talk with
some Of the United States prisoners.
but he said he could answer al tie
questions could ask them.
| asked TO see the |rations, but they
W5re not shown t O me. | saw. some
mush made of Indian meal, which an
pearcd like mush Of the same kind
had seen elsewhere.
MISCELLANEOUS
The punishments inflicted in the
prison, the Warden Informed ne.
We're confinement in dark cells on hard
bread and water. | did not see the
punishment cells as they were not
shown me. Every part Of this prison
| saw was remarkably clean, except
Of lha beds Of the prisoners,
| thought might have been in
order. 1t would be comfort and
humane to the prisoners If they were
allowed light clothing in summer, in
stead OF beng required, as they are,
to wear heayy woollen clothes as was
the case last summer.
This establishment is self sustaining,
and last years gains over expenses
were $40, 091.C1. Prisoners in this
prison are allowed to see and
their friends once u month in the
presence Of the superintendent, deputy
u clerk They are allowed to write
heir friends once a month. Service is
leld in the chapel every Sabbath, AT
which the prisoners attend.
THE WEEK. BILL. OF FARE.
IL l had been allowed to talk with
he United States prisoners il regard
o the matter Of food il would nave
,ecn more satisfactory to me. The
Impression made upon me in regard to
he system which governs this prison
5 moderately expressed in the follow
ne words, which | copy from the
yyenty-second report OF the State
'rison Association Of New York: -
But the impression which the system
makes upon Us is not, we are constrain-
q to acknowledge, IN agreeable one.
is hard, colt and unsympathetic,
oppressive. 1t works against rather
han with nature, and, therefore, 50 far
5 the higher end Of Imprisonment
tfOrmaticn-is concerned, must work
> a disadvantage and must consequence
often fai! when a more kindly and
atural system would succeed. /
In regard to the security Of prison.
rs confined in this prison there is, |
link, but slight chance Of escape /
ON it. Prisoners, by the rules Of /
lis institution, are not allowed to {
communicate with each other at any t
me.
In August last Robert IL. Page, eN- /
leriH Of Claiborne county. Mississippi,