Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-12-04

Of the incest plants in the west. w
have the air shaft now completed, WIT
hosting apparatus, cages, ETC., and y
case of accident to main shaft can nm
mediately transfer our hosting to tn
air shaft, thereby avoiding delay u
operating our mine from any acciden
whatever. The completion of the al
shaft will enable us to save considerable
time in sending our men into the mine
In the morning or raising them at night
The state is to be congratulated upor
having such valuable property as thu
Ienitentiary coal shaft. It enables thu
penitentiary not only to pay all running
expenses, but to turn into the state
Treasury very handsome surplus each
year.
Without the coal shaft, in the present
depressed condition Of the manufacturing
interests Of this country, the institution
would run largely in debt, as there are
but few penal institutions in this coun-
try self sustaining. We have also DEM
onstrated that convicts can be worked
successfully in coal mines, and I am
thoroughly convinced, after more than q
years trial, that coal mining is peculiarly
adapted to convict labor. They are the
healthiest prisoners we have, and after
working few days in the mine are well
satisfied, and very seldom, if ever, ask
to be changed.
We are crowded for cell room; we have
700 cells and 500 prisoners, which ne
cessitates the doubling up Of $40 men,
that is, we are compelled to put two men
in cell; the cells are only 4x7x7, and it
is not necessary for me to say that it is
not space enough for one man. let alone
two, with the thermometer at 1O6, as it
has been several times this summer. It
is not only dangerous to health, but it is
demoralizing, and very hard to maintain
discipline. We need, and we need it
very bad, an additional cell house. It
can be built at an expense of $35, 900,
and would increase our capacity to say
LOO without any additional cost for
other buildings, etc.
I desire to call your attention to the
necessity of making some provisions for
caring for our insane. We now have
some fifteen persons in the asylums at
Osawatomie and Topeka, and have from
fifteen to eighteen on our hands here
that should have better treatment than it
is now possible for us to give them. It
certainly is very Objectionable to mix the
criminal insane with the respectable in
sane; lay ing that objection aside, our
insane asylums are full; they are not
able to accommodate us, and they refuse
admission s.tor want of ROOM" To COM
pei them to receive our patients would
result in the sending home of poor un-
fortunate persons to be incarcerated in
county ja:ls or poor-houses, to give room
at the asylum for men who have COM
lifted crimes, been sent to the peniten-
tiary, and subsequently gone insane.
It will cost less to keep them here than
at the asylums, and will remove then In
centive for feigning insanity, which is
often attempted at the prison, in hopes If
they can only get to the asylum their
is greater for escape. 1t is
always dangerous to put criminals in
our asylums. It is only necessary to
call your attention to the killing of two
patients at Osawatomie few years ago
by patient in that institution who was
sent from this penitentiary. have care
fully estimated the cost of building for
that purpose, consisting of two wards,
capable of accommodating fifty insane;
it can be built for $4,000.
I also desire to call your attention to
the female prison. 1t is situated inside
the main walls, and in such close prox-
unity to the main prison that we find it
impossible to allow them in the yard,
consequently they get no opportunity
for exercise in the open air. I am OF the
opinion now, as I always have been, that
female prisons should be separated from
penitentiaries, and should be under the
control of women. We spend thousands
of dollars attempting to reform men and
boys, we build large institutions and
study the wants and best manner OF
treating them, in order to make
better citizens out of them If they
should violate the law; but we do not
give thought to the poor, unfortunate
woman who has committed some offense
and gets into trouble, but society turns
its back on her and she is allowed to go
from bad to worse, and finally lands in
the penitentiary, where she is soon for
gotten by the outside world. The only
pleasant thing connected with the sub
iect is that but few get here, but those
few deserve better treatment, and it is
not practical at present to build sepa-
rate building and put it under the man.
sgement Of women, it certainly is desir-
able that we construct abuildin1 outside
of the main walls, and give them an OPP
porturity to have little more sunlight.
Il would not cost to exceed $4,000.
The legislature at it's last regular ses-
sion made an appropriation to purchase