Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-11-24

AhS Hineh dhhuai report VI Tie clstbt
Board of Prison Directors of California
was recently been submitted. Its leading
features are as follows. Referring to the
prison at San Quentin, it says:
THE SAN QUENTIN PRISON.
At this prison the principal industry
carried on is the manufacture of lutte.
which experience has proved may be done
successfully ard profitably to the State
and to the people. Prior to the incoming
of the present Administration the lutte mill
had been operated solely by day-working
about eight hours day. At the sugges-
ton of your Excellency, It was determined
TO operate the mill by double shifts, oper-
ating the same by night as well as by
day. Many intelligent people doubted
the expediency of the undertaking, proph-
esying that it would prove failure on the
grounds that the additional expense would
be too great to justify attempting to
operate the mill by night. 1t was
also feared that the temptations
and opportunities to escape would
be so much increased that it would be i'm
possible to properly protect and guard the
convicts. All of these objections have
been successfully overcome, and we do not
hesitate to say that the present plan of
operation by double shifts is entirely sue
cessful, and it is believed that if we had
a sufficient number of conyicts we could
easily operate the jute mill by three shifts,
working the entire twenty-four hours of
every day, the result of which would ne
cessarily be to prevent the forming of COM
binations or rings in grain bags, which OPP
crate 50 disastrouslv to the farming inter-
ests Of the State. The mill, under the
double-shift system, now readily produces
about fourteen thousand sacks per day, or
something over four million per annum
After referring to Improvements made
upon the prison grounds at San Quentin,
the report says: The building at the front
entrance to the prison proper is an old and
dilapidated structure, and should be en-
tirely removed, as it is considered danger
Gus by occupants, and a new building
should be constructed in its place. The
Board caused an investigation into the
condition of this building to be made by
competent experts, who testify that the
same is dangerous to human life. We
would respectfully recommend that an APP
preparation be made for the purpose of
constructing such new building. Detailed
plans and specifications of such building
have already been prepared, and will be
submitted to your Exeellency.
We will call your attention to The pro-
priety of purchasing the tide lands lying
between the prison grounds ddeep water,
said lands being so situated as to shut off
the State grounds from deep water.
"a olo.n ~ c..
tin without highly commencing the eff
Gent management of the present Warden
and his subordinates.
THE FOLSOM PRISON.
The State Prison at Folsom and its man
agement and the proper development of its
vast resources, present some of the most
interesting and important questions of any
public institution in the State, and the
Board, in connection with your Excellency,
has thus far given to it a great deal OF
thought and consideration, with view of
fully utilizing and appropriating the same
Its inexhaustible quarries of granite, that
will require ages to develop and work, its
vast water power, unsurpassed by any on
the coast, viii, when in proper operation,
be the means of making the institution
self-sustaining without in any manner COM
peting with free labor, and will be of meal
culable benefit to the State at large.
Early in the summer the feasibility of
appropriating the vast water power of the
American river for the use of the State
and the surrounding country was suggested
TO your Excellency and this Board. After
mature consideration it was determined
to make the effort. Arrangements were
at once concluded with the Folsom Water
Power Company for the construction of
dam across the American river, and the
building of a canal along the river front on
the lands belonging to the State. When
the work is consumniated the State will
own in fee water power equivalent to
SIX hundred horse power, the value of
which is estimated by the eminent civil
engineer, 4. w. Won Schmidt, at about
$1,000, eco. In addition to that it will
have st lis command all of the water nee
eSsary for any use TO which it can be APP
Piled including that ofirrigation of ali the
States lands. With this water power, ac-
quired as above shown, we will be enabled
to drive all the machinery that we desire,
light the prison by electric lights, and
operate the quarry 100 per cent cheaper
than heretofore, thereby making the
prison self-sustaining. In regard to the
dam and canal, and the uses to which
they may be applied, we respectfully call
attention to Warden AulPs report, which
is herewith submitted, and we heartily
commend the same.
A REFORM SCHOOL RECOMMENDED.
Eminent citizens of the State, who are
well qualified tospeak of such matters. and
to voice the sentiments of the community,
have suggested to the Board the propriety
of establishing at Folsom Reform School,
the object of which would be to endeavor
to reform young offenders, and those per-
sons convicted of the lesser crimes. 1t is
thought by means of such school the
young offender and those convicted of the
lesser crimes could be kept apart from the
ordinary criminal, and ultimately become
useful citizens, The great improperly of
combining youthful criminals and the many
persons who are convicted of the violation
of the law upon first offense, and in many
cases where they are not criminals at
heart, with the hardened and criminal ele-
ment, must be apparent to every thinking
mind; yet, under the present system, every
person who is convicted of any crime is
punished in the same manner and in the
same place. The youthful offender is at
once brought in contact with the most de-
based and criminal element in the country.
This plan of reform schools is not by any
means new one. 1t has been tried in
many of the older States, all of which is
fully demonstrated in the report of the
California State Pathological Commission,
under Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 5,
of February, Is, 1885, special reference to
which is hereby made. No better location
can possibly be found anywhere in the
State for such an institution than Folsom.
We have not only most healthful and
salubrious climate, but the grounds of the
State, with perhaps some additions by pur-
chase that might be judiciously made to it,
are eminently fitted in every respect that
can be suggested for the establishment OF
such school, where the juvenile offender
and all persons guilty of the lesser offenses,
and who are not criminals at heart, may
be taught useful occupations. Those not
able to work and learn the more laborious
trades could be taught farming, horticult.
ure and viticulture, as the State lands are
well adapted to cultivation of this kind.
We cannot too highly commend the
faithful and competent management shown
by the Warden and his subordinates at this
prison. 1t is truly gratifying to 60 to Fol
son, and witness tine extraordinary good