Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-23
The REFORM SYSrEM.
As introduced and Carried Out At the
station House Driil-Better Food
for Less Money.

! As Introduced and Carried Out At the
Station House Driil-Bstter Food
for Less Money.
From time TO time within the past three
weeks this paper has noted the changes and
| improvements at the station-house, AID now
that the work is completed, full account Of
the system of reform will be Of interest.
When the bill for supplies for the station
house for the past month was presented 1t
was enormous. and the Police Committee.
consisting of Messrs. Jennings, Driscol and
Hickey, determined to investigate IL and see
where expenses could be reduced. With this
object in view they visited several cities to
see the systems in vogue and returned with
full determination TO make a number Of
changes. The first thing to be done was to
peniers were put to work in the female
department fitting up the old cells and
the women are now locked up all the time
instead OF being allowed TO roam all over
the second story of the building and hoot at
passers-by from the front windows. In tie
nor Invest corner OF the large room on this
floor a room was made for the use of the
cook as a bed room, and directly opposite il
another room, which is used as a store-room
for supplies. This is fitted up with shelves,
and the only key to the room is carried BY
the station house keeper on duty who deals
out the supplies to the cook After all these
changes had been made the rooms up stairs
were papered and wood work newly painted.
On the lower floor also the work of i'm
provement was carried on. The cell
room and Office were newly whitewashed, the
woodwork painted and the cells thoroughly
cleaned.
II has always been the custom to give each
prisoner his meals in his cell, but as there
were several objection to this mode it was
decided to feed all the prisoners at once at
one table. Accordingly, hinged shelf WAS
placed along the north WALL running from
one end OF the hall to the other. Here at
meal time all the prisoners sit down and eat
A 6LoBs-REPUBLIc reporter was, by special
invitation from Captain Billy Wood, present
last evening at supper time. Mr.. Jennings,
chairman Of the Police Committee, was also
present and expressed himself a
highly gratifed with the workings Of the in
shtutlon under the new order of things. The
prisoners, under Deputies Goode and John
son, arrived at the station house at five
O'Clock and were Immediately ordered to pre-
pare for supper. While this was going on
the cook with the assis 'ance of two 'safety"
prisoners, brought down supper. This con-
'ist I'd of large tin pan, full OF soup and
half loaf Of bread. When all was in rsadi-
ness Captain Wood blew a whistle and the
prisoners marched around in single file to the
table. At the second whistle they sat down
and at the third commenced to eat. Twenty
prisoners sat down to the First table
and it was surprising the perfect order that
Was maintained throughout the meal. |
As each prisoner finished he pushed his pan |
back and sat with arms folded. When all |
mad finished a fourth whistle was blown, and |
Ill arose and pushed the benches under the |
able. At the fifth whistle the prisoners who |
occupied the north row Of cells stepped back,
md the "south siders" marched to their Cells |
When the whistle was sounded the sixth time |
,ach man opened his cell door and marched |
n, closing the door after him. The doors aIe
hen locked for the night. This drill ls gone
through at each meal, and it 10 remarkable
low well the prisoners act. Once in . while
man gets stubborn but it is soon taken out
# him by depriving him OF his meal. Both
Japtain Wood and Officer Doize take grsst
ride in the new "deal" and to them belongs
he credit Of drilling the men.
The food now given to the men is more
lourishing than the bologna and bread OF
Ormer times. For breakfast they are given
offee, bread, and either beans, potatoes, or
ominy. For dinner they get corn bread,
resh boiled beef and raw onions; and for
upper either vegetable Or bean soup, and
read. The supplies xre all bought at whole
ale, and the members of the Police Commit
re think that they will not only be able to
ed the prisoners on more nourishing food,
ut do so at a much smaller expense than
,rmerly.