The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-01-13

Prison. The Androscoggin County Jail, at
Auburn, is in first rate lcondition, clean, well
ventilated and In good order.
The Aroostook County Jail at Houlton, is
substantially safe AS against prisoners within,
we'll cared for and comfortable enough.
The Cumberland County Jail at Portland, is
the largest jail in the State, and one during the
past year had nearly as many inmates as the
State Prison. The habits and character OF the
prisoners is such that at times Ii is difficult to
keep the institution up to the proper standard
Sheriff True and his assistant have done their
duty as we'll as could be expected. Well cook
ed food, sufficient in quality and quantity has
been furnished.
The Franklin County Jail at Pennington, is
kept in fair condition and answers reasonably
well for the small number Of prisoners COM
mitted to it.
OF Hancock county Jail at Ellsworth the
commissioners says; In 1871 the grand jury OF
the county examined that Jail and reported
that in their opinion it is inconvenient, unsuf-
hcient and detrimental to the health and
morals OF its inmates. The grand jury request
ed the county commissioners to take such
measures for the improvement Of said Jail as
seemed proper or to bring the same to the at
tention 3of the voters Of the county for their
action. The inspectors say-"Thirteen years
have elapsed and it remains the same-Wear
and tear excepted" No prisoners are now sem
fenced to this Jail and none will be until some
change JIG made.
The commissioners say Kennebec county jail
at Augusta has not been what it should b.
Too much intercourse between the prisoners.
Justice appears to have been tempered with
too much mercy. Feb. p, 1884, the inspectors
found in this Jail 1O8 prisoners, 40 or 80 Of
whom were loose on the corridors, having fres
access to Wilkinson, the Bath murderer, one OF
the most dangerous men now In the State pri
son. At the last visit of one Of the board much
improvement was noticed.
The Lincoln County Jail at Wlscasset, Is one
of the oldest 10 the State, and in good order.
and we'll kept the past year. The number OF
prisoners has not been so large as formerly, the
prisoners from Knox county new being sent to
Waldo eounty jail. The inspectors say no
good reason for this transfer appears, this jail
being sufficient for the needs of its county.
The Oxford county jail, in Paris, Is an ole
fashioned JAIL in good condition, aud unoccu-
pied at our last visit, Dec. OH
Penobscot county Jail at Bangor, is the besr
in the State, and has been kept up to the stan
dard. Order, cleanliness and good food have
been the rule, The usual industry Of broom
making has been carried on under lease OF
the prisoners.
The Somerset county Jail at Norridgewock
is an old-fashioned Jail, sufficient for the needs
OF the county, If the prisoners can be kept
therein. One man committed for drunkenness
one for selling Intoxicating liquors, one tramp,
five poor debtors, Is the model and modest re-
port of the county.
Waldo county Jail continues the same struc-
ture as heretofore, unfit for Jail. The sheriff
does his best to make il decent and fit for it's
purpose. A yard has been built adjacent to
the jail whore tramps are compelled to learn
the trade Of crushing stone, which has bsen
very successful.
Washington county Jail, at Mschiss, is we'll
administered. the prisoners we'll cared for and
securely kept.
The York county jail, at Alfred, is nearly
new. II has bsen pretty well taken care OF
during the past year, and ought to be q safe
jail. The system of administration is rather
loose.
Whole number in the several county jails
Nov. 30th, 1883, was 313 Nov. 30th, 1884, was
308 Number committed for drunkenness dur
ing the year, 1876. Sentenced for drunken
ness, 675. Number committed for selling in
toxicating liquors, 100. Sentenced for selling,
145. Number committed by police officers
and taken out by said officers, no return OF tri-
al OF sentence being made, 327.