St. Paul daily globe., 1888-07-15

EfA IuC OlunS
taAR which skirt the edge of
WE V Lake st. CrOix. The
MA*SzEko main street OF the city
TWSTS> ground near It, the lake
end of this street is situated the state
abode for criminals of every de-
scription.
The prison yard is surrounded by a
high stone wall on three sides; on the
fourth steep bluff makes natural
defense and wood fence runs along
the top. Guard houses are stationed at
such intervals that the whole yard is
under constant watch. Yet prisoners
have occasionally escaped, and the fact
that the Wisconsin shore is just across
the lake, makes escape easier if once
outside the walls. 1t is said that few
have ever succeeded in making good
their escape from this place.
Since the fire, which occurred some
years ago, several buildings have been
rebuilt and some new ones added. The
broad flight of stone steps leads to the
warden'S Office. The outer office for the
plainly but neatly furnished; at one
desk sits a convict whose sentence has
nearly expired. The inner office or
sanctum of the warden is furnished
with Brussels carpet and substantial
furniture upholstered in leather.
On stating my wish to see the interior
of the prison, was put under the guild
ance of one of the guards. There are a
number of workshops connected with
the prison. An iron foundry, machine
shop, also a sash and blind factory are
among the industries. Many of the con-
yIctS are employed in these shops. 1t is
said that few of them have any trade on
their entrance, but are put into the
shops to learn. A number of citizens
| are also employed, although their en-
| plOyment has formerly bred diStuI b.
ance, as it was reported that they some
times encouraged the convicts to insub
ordination, and caused them to be pun
| ished where they were not wholly to
blame. L remarked that the men seemed
to have good opportunity to learn a
useful trade, but the guard said that
| they seldom worked at the trade learned
after leaving the prison, seeming to re-
| gard 1T as means of passing away time
rather than as useful employment.
Even the most careless observer can
hardly fail to notice the large
PROPORTION OF YOUTHFUL MEN
among the criminals, the majority ap-
| pearing to be under thirty years of age.
l was prepared to see lot of men bear
ing on their faces the impress of dis
sOlute and criminal career. 1t is true
that among their number are many sui
len and desperate looking men. On the
other hand, many bear in their faces no
trace OF those traits of character which
have placed them outside the pale of So
ciety. They seem as frank, Intelligent
and manly as the more fortunate people
| to whom circumstances or deliberate
crime have never brought a residence
behind the bars. Their present mode of
life may have much to do with their
pleasant appearance. The treatment,
as far as l can judge, would give oppor-
tunity for attaining good physical and
| mental condition, at the same time re-
straining from eXcesses common to
| many classes in state of freedom. Not
all of the cOnvictS were working. as the
work seems in state of uncertainty.
The shops have formerly been under
control of the Saltwater Car company,
who hired the labor of the convicts, pay
ing the state from 40 to 60 cents per day
as wages for each man. The various
kinds of articles manufactured thus
were thrown upon the market at much
lower cost of production than where free
labor is employed. This competition Of
convict and free labor has attracted
much attention and discussion during
the past few years. At recent session
| of the legislature law was passed DIG
viding for the employment of convicts.
but prohibiting the present contract sys-
TEN; also providing that the goods man.
ufactured shall be placed in the whole
sale market at the current price for the
same goods when made by free labor.
This latter system is not yet in OPERA
ton, but is claimed to be vast i'm
provement on the former method.
A good deal of improved machinery is
used in these shops, only part being
owned by the state. To me the most
interesting was the 365-horse-power
Corliss engine, which furnishes the
power for all the machinery. The fly
wheel. weighing only twenty-nine tons,
and revolving at high rate of speed.
made me wonder if the wheel on which
Ixion was bound over Tartarus looked
anything like that.
THE PRESENT WARDEN
seems to be well liked by the convicts: ::
as he passed through the shops any one
of them who had request OF complaint
to make stepped up to him and talked
freely. This is quite a contrast to their
manner under a former warden. re-
member going through the prison with
him several years ago, and throughout
the visit not convict raised his head
from work or spoke. / was told that
their manner was the result of the per-
fect(D system of discipline used. The
warden in speaking of his duties said
that it was no easy matter to take charge
of $50 convicts, each having his individ-
ual peculiarities which could only be
known by personal acquaintance. In
order to maintain any system of disci-
pline or reformation it becomes neces-
sary to vary the treatment according to
individual needs. Prisoners, although
knowing themselves to be paying fixed
penalty for crime, yet. quickly resent
any system Of government which over
looks or despises their needs and feel
ings as human beings.
The prison proper is separated by a
paved roadway from the shops. This
building is made of light stone; the
style of architecture is pleasing, only
the barred windows reminding one OF
its use. My guide took me first to the
kitchen, where dinner was being pre-.
pared. The food is cooked in big iron
cauldrons. These are heated by steam,
The dinner that day consisted of SOUP
pudding and bread. / tasted all of them
and didn't think much of the soup; the
meat was tough and the soup seemed tc
consist mostly of wind and water, The