Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-08-18
THE WORK HOUSE.
An Elaborate Report of the Visiting Com
mittee to Other Institutions.

An Elaborate Report of the Visiting Com
mittee to Other Institutions.
The warehouse board having returned from
the East, where they went to inspect the sys-
TENS of number Of cities, held meeting
yesterday and elected Mr.. Fitzgerald, OF
Detroit, Mich, as superintendent OF the st.
Paul workhouse, and Mr.. f. A. Renz, oil 81.
Paul, secretary. Mr.. Fitzgerald will probably
Ieaye tbeDetroit woikhouse to come here, but
his positive decision has not been made. Inc
board, in company with his honor, Mayor
Rice. will inspect the institution at O'Clock
this afternoon. ,,..os
Appended is the report yesterday submitted
to the board and accepted:
ST. PAUL, August 16, 1882.
To the Honorable the Mayor and the Board Oh
Directors of the st. Paul Workhouse.
GENTLEMEN: The undersigned members oil
YOUR board who were requested TO yislt De-
troit and other cities with view OF securing
the services of competent superintendent ana
upon other matters of interest to your insti-
tuition, would respectfully present their report
and offer q few suggestions that seem to , them
OF importance. we have visited DETROIT,
carefully examined the houses OF correction at
those places. Three days were spent at De-
troit. The Detroit house has at present 40
inmates, of which number about 1OO are ie-
males. TIE house frequently contains 70O 10
500 persons. Prisoners are received
from a number OF the western states
ard territories, many OF whom are
sentenced for long terms, and these are espec-
tally valuable to the Institution. But one
branch of manufacturing is carried on at this
institution, that being the manufacture OF
chairs, bedsteads and cradles. The institution
is now conducted upon strictly business and
paying basis. On account of the close prOx-
unity of the hardwood forests Of Michigan
and Indiana, the institution is most favorably
located for this line of manufacturing. Dur
ing the last three years the institution has
paid into the city treasury sum in excess of
$1O0, 900 after paying all expenses, repairs to
buildings, etc. Particular attention is given
to the sewerage and ventilation of all the
buildings The entire clothing of the
inmates is made inside the walls, including
the knitting of socks and the making of shoes.
In addition to the cell blocks and factory
rooms the institution is provided with
chapel, male and female hospitals, bake shops,
foundry and library. The entire premises are
heated by steam. The systematic order every
where noticeable, and the fine discipline
shown throughout this institution challenges
our admiration. To Mr.. Joseph Nicholson, the
superintendent, and Mr.. John Fitzgerald, his
deputy, we are indebted for courtesies extend
ed and for many valuable suggestions. Mr..
Nicholson especially and repeatedly urged
upon us the necessity of building an institution
with view to the probable contingencies for
the future, calling attention to our city
being by reason of its geographical
location a great business center and that
with even the nucleus of q workhouse we
should not only be called upon to care for
prisoners from our own midst, but that from
all parts of the state, and from adjacent terri.
tories, we would be immediately solicited to
imprison their criminals, and that the major
iiy of prisoners received from such sources,
being sentenced for long terms, they would
not only be valuable, but necessary to make
the institution self-supportiDg. By starting
right, said he, you will avoid the mistakes
we have made and the difficulties with which
we now contend, referring to the cramped
and crowded condition of the Detroit institu-
built and added to from time to time,
as the occasion demanded, and consequently
without being conveniently arranged for the
present needs of the institution.
At Cleveland we found the house of cOrrec-
ton, in connection with refOrmatory for
minors, with about 800 inmates, IN all, which
is about the minimum number-500 to 600
outside of Cuyahoga county are not received.
The system is similar to that employed at
Detroit. Brushes of all kinds are the staple of
manufacture. When built the institution was
thought to be too large, but 1T is already
crowded and additions are now much needed.
AS at Detroit, the business is conducted by the
superintendent, independent of contractors.
At Chicago we visited the house of correc-
tion and found q large bnt an overcrowded in
stitution, three prisoners being frequently
allotted to one cell. The recent brutal mur-
der of an inmate by another, without hin.
drance, in that institution is sad commen-
tary upon the system of cOnfning more than
one prisoner in cell. A large portion of the
labor is let to contractors, and knitting fac
tory and harness factory are carried on by
them. The Institution upon its own account
manufactures brick and those made in its
yard are generally employed in sewerage
work of that city. The buildings of the in
stitution were constructed of brick of their
own manufacture, some of the buildings hav-
ing been entirely built by the labor of the
inmates. The construction of the cell blocks
in this institution are especially fine, being
made Oflarge flag stones throughout. Your
committee were indebted for courtesies ex-
tended, to Deputy McIntosh,at Cleveland, and
Deputy FELTON,; - Chicago, the superintend-
ents of both institutions being absent at the
time. On the matter of selection of super
intendent we are of opinion that 1t would be
extremely unwise to select any one who has
not had large experience in an institution of
this kind. We would also recommend to your
immediate consideration the following prop
ositions:
First-Whether in view OF our recent inves-
LEGATIONS it will be policy to invest In any ex-
pensive or permanent heating ap-
paratus at this time in view Of
probable changes and extensive
additions to the present building, which make
it probable that only steam heating apparatus
can be employed to advantage.
Second-The necessity Of taking steps to
have the necessary legislation to enable this
board to secure the issuance OF bonds for a
sum sufficient to build the necessary works
for the institution.
Third-The early adoption of comprehen-
sive plans for the entire institution looking to
the continuance of our work in the near fu-
ture. A. s. ELFELT,
]. j. WATSON,
(y0mmittpa