The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1889-01-24
UNFORTUNATE CONVICTS
WHOSE HEALTH IS NOT PROPERLY
PROTECTED.
The Necessity of Improving tho Condi-
tion of Some OF the Prison Shops Re.
vealed by visit-Consumption Pro.
ducing Machinery.
Co.1rMpus. O.. January %

Co.rMBUs, O., January %.
Quails have their wardens, fishes have
their commissioners, but the Ohio convicts
are without proper protection while in the
employ Of prison contractors. No effort is
made by some prison contractors to either
preserve the life or protect the limb Of their
unfortunate employee.
The Holmes bill pending in the House,
provides that the State Inspector of Shops
and factories shall be permitted to inspect
the shops of public institutions. On last
Thursday Mr.. Laylin. OF Huron, moved to
amend the bill SO as to exclude the peni'
tentiary on the ground that the bill as
originally introduced would reflect on the
Before vote WAS reached. motion to
postpone further consideration until next
thursday prevailed.
While attending the chapel services at
the penItentiary last Sunday press re-
porter was forcibiy impressed with the in-
cessant coughing of the convict congrega-
ton. 1t seemed that big portion of them
were in the early stages of consumption.
DIR. Clemmer. the prison physician when
approacle OH the subject simply invited
the representative to makea tour through
some of the prison shops. The milling
rooms of Colonel Patton, hollow ware con-
tractor were first visited. 1t is in this de-
partinent that the big tumbling
barrels used in polishing iron cook
ing utensils were i'll operation.
The air was so dense with iron AMI emery
dust that the convicts could scarcely be
seen at distance of thirty feet. At close
quarters it was difficult to determine
whether they were white Or black. Such
work on the outside is performed by an
improved tumb.ing barrel, provided with
a hood and exhaust fan, and practically
does away with the dust.
In the chair factory, wood dust finer than
-four arose in clodIs from the sand belts
and wheels that revolyed with lightning
rapidity. Over these deadly pieces # ma
chincry, used to polish wood, the convicts
stood, inhaling the consumption producing
dust. just because the contractor is not
humane enough to supplement the ma
chincry with a SIS hood and fan.
Some of the sand wheels were running in q
horizontal instead of a vertical position.
BY such an arrangement three conyicts are
able to work at single wheel two and a
half feet in diameter. whereas but one
could work at wheel running in q yerti-
cal position.
N t only the lives of the convicts are
thus placed in jeopardy, but also the lives
of the guards and foremen.
About year ago, DR.. Clcmmcr entered
a protest against the convicts working amid
such surroundings, when foreman William
Iugraham replied: "Pve been working in
these shops twelve years and have felt no
evil results" Last June Ingraham died of
consumption. Wheels and betting two
feet from the floor run without any pro-
lection whatever to the conv;cts, whose
clothing could easily be caught by the re-
volving machinery. A colorcd convict is
lying in the hospital today from the
effects of falling onto circular saw that
larcerated the muscles of his left arm i'll a
horrible manner from shoulder to wrist.