Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-02-05
THE STATE PENlTENTIARY.
Yesterdays OmeiaI Visit sfisspse-
ton
By ccmmistees From the Hose and
Senate---The institutions and IN
mates ia Good Trim.

Yesterday was the day set apart BY the
the biennial Official inspection Of that insti-
tuition, and accordingly. about hahPast
seven in the morning the House Committee,
made up Of Hon. /. C. Post, chairman, and
Delegates Terrell, Jacob, Randolph, Crock
EFT, GiIkescn, Robertson, Taylor, Campbell,
Sayre and Edwards; the Senate Committee,
headed by Hon. c. l.. Brown, chairman, and
Senators Price, (of Msrshall,) Unger,
Gwinn, Scott, Hays and Morrison, together
with half dozen other legislators and citi-
zens, repaired to the B. & o. depot and
boarded the o'clock train, en- route to the
county seat Of Marshall, arriving at S:45.
The VISITORS
were met at the depot BY Superintendent
West, Who escorted them to the penitentiary
building and turned them over to Cap
tain Of the Guard Robert Czfy, who patient
ly and politely led the tour OF the buildings
and grounds.
The party first visited the bake shop,
where the prison bread is baked. Here a
gigantic slab Of hot corn "pone" was di-
Tided between the visitors, who one and al
pronounced il excellent. The blacksmith
shop Of the wagon department was next
entered, and from there the party passed to
the whip factory, where quite number OF
the committee purchased whips. The
broom factory was next inspected, and on
emerging from that portion Of the building
the committee paused and watched the con-
Victs form and
MARCH TO DINNER.
The progress OF the meal was watched with
much interest by the investigators. The
bill Of fare included hot corn bread, beans,
pork and coffee, all of excellent quality and
in unlimited quantity, every convict eating
all he desired. The mode of conducting
the meal and Of waiting on the diners struck
some of the members as being little extra
ordinary. For instance, when q convict
had more meat or bread than he cared for
he stuck il upon his fork and held it aloft
IN silence. Another, passing along between
the tables with huge platter, removed the
surplus from the fork and placed it on his
dish. In ike manner, when one OF the
diners wanted more meat or bread, he held
up bis open hand, and the man with the
platter placed in it the article Of food he
saw missing upon the plate from which the
hungry felon had been eating.
After the convicts had finished their meal
the visitors repaired to an apartment in the
front building, where
PLAIN But SUBSTANTIAL REPAST
was spread before them BY Superintendent
West, and to which ample justice was done.
Afterwards Mr.. Gallaher, one Of the Board,
met the committee and furnished all the in
formation required by them regarding the
prison and its inmates. The penitentiary
contains 223 cells, each calculated for one
prisoner; but as there are PSI prisoners,
tbirty-iour cells have two occupants each.
There are 81 United States prisoners in the
institution.
About o clock the committee left the
building and, by invitation, repaired to the
hospitable residence of Representative Geo.
Edwards, where refreshments were partaken
of and an hour or two spent in general con-
TerEation. Before taking their departure
Mr.. Gilkeson, in his usual happy way, re-
turned thanks on behalf of his companions
for the unexpected pleasure extended to
them bYMr. Edwards.
At 3jbcleck the visitors set out for the
depot expecting to find trim waiting to
bring them up to the city. In this they
WIFE disappointed, however, and were com
,Delled to wait until o clock when the cars
were boarded. The party reached town
about o'clock, somewhat fatigued, but
nevertheless well pleased with the trip.