St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-12
The MINNESOTA PRISON.
improvements During the Past Year
Amounting to Over $4,000.
IA GREAT SAVING OF LABOR
Effected in Most Instances The Plans
Indicate That This Will Be a
Model Prison.

buIluS tlc past year important lM-
provements have been going OH at the
state prison, which will, with those con-
templated, place it on a par with any
similar institution in the Union. Except
the new solitary cell building, the work
has been done almost entirely by state
labor, thus costing only a small per-
centage of what it otherwise would. To
make preparation for the work, early in
April last tWenty-fOur-inch sewer was
put in Immediately south of the main
cell building, from which smaller pipes
were lad III every requisite direction,
thus giving thorough system AMI
aDatlng the sewer gas nuisance, which
formerly had caused SO much sickness
among the inmates. At the upper end
of the sewer, and connected with it, is
fan which draws all the gas from the
sewers, forcing it out through smoke
stack which overtops the building.
THE KITCHEN. t F.
This is new building in which are
placed four boilers, each containing
sixty gallons, and here vegetables, meats
and such-llke are cooked by steam, as
well as the tea and coffee made. There
are also two steam-chests, in which
buildings are cooked. All the boilers
and Steam-cheSts are so constructed that
no steam comes in contact with the food.
The food cooked is of the best deScrip-
ton, and even the potatoes are pared.
The outfit cost $500.
THE BAKERY.
In this department all bread for the
$50 cOnvicts, as well as that for the
guards and officers, is baked, and is of
the very best quality, only No. flour
being used. They also use graham flour,
and during the term of the present Off
Gals there has not been a failure in a
single batch. In the rear of the bakery
Is the soap house, and here all that is re-
quired for cleanliness is manufactured.
The press is powerful one. and half
hours work now makes more soap than
they could formerly make in day with
the Old apparatus. The next room,
| formerly the wood house, is to be fur
nlShed III spring with tWenty-four bath
| tubs and three BARRIERS chairs, so that
each convict will be thoroughly cleansed
once week.
ELECTRIC LIGHT.
AT a cost of 1926 3O0-light dynamo
and engine have been placed; and in a
few days the prison will have 2S7 lamps
in operation, the remaining thirteen
being placed later on the walls. Every
thing Is being fitted up by convict labor
boilers which drive the engine and
dynamo and, also supply steam to heat
the warden and deputy warden's resi-
uences, are OF the best marine iron, and
each OF 50-hOrSe power The boiler
room, 36X34 feet, built of stone taken
from the old sewer, is a capital Job, and
cost only Sill, the cheapest building in
the state. This is more than can be
SAID OF the washrOom and laundry build
ing, finished only a couple of seasons
ago Tor the state at cost of some S., 600
or $4,000. 1t is tumble-dOWn concern,
and is prOpped and bOlted at all points.
1t will have to be rebuilt.
THE WASHROOM. -.s.
This department is complete in every
way and contains the latest machinery.
Extensive improvements are still to be
made here, especially in the storing of
cOHvicts' clothes, so that each convict
will have the same articles as sent to
the wash.
The storeroom is now over the wash
room and Storekeeper DOdd has every
thing under his eye. tailor shop, shoe
shop and all clothii4gsj supplies. The
new cloth, with stripes running down,
instead of across the suits, is an iin-
prevement. The knitting machines
supply all the hose. required, and all
clothing is made by convict labor. The
cleaning of the buckets, as well as many
other improvements. have been made
since Warden StOrdOck came into office.
He has been ably assisted by his deputy,
j. A. Westby, and Assistant Deputy
John Cover. But not one of the least i'm
provements is in the food supplied by
Steward Benner. 1t is well cooked and
warm. and of sufficient variety for any
citizen. The food is supplied in tin
dish with three compartments, one for
meat. another for soup and the third for
bread. The dish is handed to each man
as he passes, and the bread is in large
basket, the men taking just as much as
they wish. Everything is done with
military precision. What is left, and
but little is returned after each meal, is
sold by contract. <,.-