Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-10-16
THE STATE PRISON.
REPORT OF DIRECTOR LUTTREEL
AS INSPECTOR.
A. w. Won Schmidt Approves the
Work Done on the Dam
Prison Management.

work Done on the Dam
Prison Management.
The Board of State Prison Directors met at
Folsom on Saturday evening, and transacted
routine business.
Director Luttrell submitted the following re-
port as Inspector for the month of September:
To fhe Hon Robert T. DefIin and the Honorable
Board of Prison Directors ENTLEMEE: By your
order l was appointed Inspector for the month
OF September to visit and examine into the
management of the Folsom Prison.
! beg leave to report that have performed
that duty, and hereby submit the following re-
port:
prison officials are punetual in the discharge of
their reA pective duties; that thorough good feel
| ing and discipline prevail throughout the
prison. and that the prison IN every department.
| is most economically managed. VIII add just
/ here that never in the history OF the State
| Prisons have they been more economically and
better managed than at present.
The health of Folsom Prison is eXcellent-but
one patient in the hospital. he being confirmed
consumptive.
| The 454 prisoners at Folsom are faithful in the
/ discharge OF the duties assigned them, working
more like free men than prisoners All Of
which rebounds to the management and credit
of the prison officials. While upon the subject
of prisons, permit me to say that il is asad COM
| mentary upon the affairs of the State TO see so
many of our young men in prison garb-at
/ least 10 per cent. of our prisoners being young
men. Upon examining into the cause OF their
| incarceration find that strong drink end opium
| are the causes of nearly 90 per cent. OF the
| crime in our State. The laws ought TO be
strictly enforced to prevent the giving or selling
OF intoxicating liquors to minors a man that
| will sell liquor to boy causing him 20 commit
crime ought to suffer the consequences of that
| crime appeal to all parents-as no one can
| feel for the youth of the land as parent can,
| especially those who have borne the sad afilic-
| ton OF son lost By intempcrance-I appeal to
all to exert themselves, and see that the laws
are strictly enforced as to the sale of liquors to
minors
| Second-I examined the Commissary's books
| and found them in good order and well kept /
| also examined the supplies i'll store, and am
pleased to report that all contract 3Is, with one
exception, are furnishing supplies promptly and
| in strict accordance with samples. 1 regret to
have to report that one contractor has furnished
goods inferior to sample. but these goods in all
cases have been returned at the contractors ex-
| pense ! will for the present withhold his
name from the public with the hope that he
viii not, in the future. attempt to palm off in
| ferior goods. The next attempt will be re-
| ported with name in full. Contractors in all
cases must comply strictly with their contracts.
WORK ON TILE DAM.
Third-The work on the dam and canal is
| progressing finely. The concrete foundation
has been laid across the main channel to the
| rising rock on the eastern shore and we are
| now laying 2,50G cubic feet of granite per day.
| The machinery is working admirably.
| FOURTH was requested by the Chairman to
secure skilled engineer to visit the works, for
the purpose of examining the work in the in
| terests of the State performed that duty by
engaging the eminent civil engineer, Colonel
A. W. Won Schmidt, who visited the works and
made a careful examination of the same, fully
concuTring in all that had been done by Mr..
Humbert, the engineer in charge, as will fully
appear in the written report OF Colonel Won
Schmidt, which is herewith submitted:
SAN FRANCISCO, september %, 1855.
To HIS Erceuency r. ". Waterman, Gorerglor,
and the Honorable Board Of STATE Prison Directors
GENTLEMEN: In compliance with your re-
Iquest. proceeded to the State Prison at Folsom
on the 9th instant and there examined the
plans and site of the new stone dam now in
progress of construction across the American
river, under engineer p. A. Humbert.
found the location to be the best that could
be selected.
The work at the time consisted in laying
bare the bed OF the river, and the laying of a
| bed of concrete to receive the granite stones of
which the dam is to be built. The stone, both
as to size and quality, is of the best. and when
| once in place, laid in Portland cement. will
stand for all time.
The dam will be 53 feet high above the con-
| crete foundation in the center, and at the base
60 feet in cross section At top il will be 25 feet
The upper portion of the dam has slight
batter, while the lower side of the dam is made
with an easy curve forming an apron to take
the falling water from the coping of the dam.
For more particular reference beg leave to
refer to the plans of the Engineer herewith,
which gives as the
Length of dam tangent. .21o
Length of curve ........... .12l
Length OF wlnS.---... ..-......--l3 80
Total length of overflow w......................469
After careful examination of the plans and
the location, am of the opinion that every part
of the work has been well and thoroughly con.
sidered, and that approve of the same in all
its details, with one suggestion that is, that the
canal bottom be kept on soliG ground when
practicable.
have been requested also to give some
| 6er1rn To Ina nf dom t.t thaS Stofn
when completed.
There can be no question but that this can be
satisfactorily answered in a few words.
The prison at Folsom requires power to drive
| its various kinds of machinery, whether now in
use, or to be used hereafter, in the successful
working of the State prisoners. Therefore a
cheap power is what should be the first consid-
Grafton.
It is well known that the cheapest coal in this
State is high when compared with prices in the
| Eastern States
; Ii water-powers for manufacturing purposes
are sought for East, why not here?
, AsI understand, the State will get under their
, contract with the Folsom Water Company 600
: horse power, free for all time, sufficient to run
all machinery, from the electric lighting of the
building and grounds, to the running of all
kinds of machinery requiring power.
The value of 600 horse power has been esti-
f mated at $50 per horse power per annum, OF
$4,000 per year. The water company as / am
informed, have standing offers per horse power
. of $50 to SIS per year.
1t is somewhat difficult to give an exact cost
z per horse power per year where said power is
9 produced by the use of coal as the prices vary
so much. but it can be taken with safety at from
! $50 to 500 per horse power. Therefore the saw.
ing to the State would be 600 horse power at $50
! | or SIS 900, or in round numbers would pay in
3 terest on 100000 al per cent.
| am of the opinion that the work is of great
. value, and necessary 10 make prison labor al
Folsom selt-sustaining and profit to the State
5 In conclusion, / would suggest that fifty more
d men be put on the work as soon as possible SC
that the foundation work would be placed be
fore the freshets set in. Yours respectfully,
A W. Won SCHMIDT, Civil Engineer.
|, Fifth-The quarry is improving in appear
ance every day. From the work being per
formed along the line of the canal, there is, ap
5 parently, field of operations for all the prison
ers of the State for ages to come, for the quarry
will last ages, and with the advantages ofwate
10 power can be worked 100 per cent. cheaper thar
70 heretofore. There is no employment at whicl
% prisoners can be worked with so much profit a
10 qIarrying stone the raw material costing moth
= ing, every lick that is struck in the quarry is
% profit
l6 am in receipt of communication from
- gentleman in San Francisco who takes grea
Is interest in the management of prisons and every
| thing that tends to develop the State or to sd
vance the interests of the people; gentleman
qualified to fill any position within the gift {
II the people. regret to say that am not at lit
Of erty to give his name, but embody within my It
r port the communication, which most earnestl
indorse. ] regret that am not permitted I
y give his name, as am sure the publ would
y pleased to know that the gentlemen referred I
~ maufests such interest in the welfare of prison
" ers and the prosperity of the State.
Nie N consider the suggestions well worthy ou
is consideration. The State owns hundreds {
IN lil acres at Folsom of the most valuable QUAR-
~ lands in the State. The State also owns sewers
lie hundred acres of fine fruit land and vine Ian
at Folsom. Here is an inexhaustible field &c
the employment of our prison labor. Here is
field for a state ref3rmatory for our boys Her
II they can be taught useful trades, quarryin
is aud cutting stoneg Here they can be mani
= featuring clothing boots, shoes, ETC., for th
" wards of the State. No healthier locality ca
III be found In the State. as the health OF tn
re prison at Folsom will attest viz: 45i prisoner
v IS civil employees. Total, SOC, and only one o
cd the sick li>t l challenge any loaality, c
IN prison in the world to show better healt
is record.
IN herewith submit my report with thanks