The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-02-28
WHY NOT =?

WHY NOT?
The inmates of this prison should be en-
ployed to as great an extent as possible in
manufacturing wares for use in the chart
table and correctional institutions supported
by the state; in doing the greater part of
the state printing and all the book-binding.
There would be enough of such work to
keep the greater part Of the convicts busy
the year round, and at great saving to the
taxpayers. Such plan could not be OBJ
jected to by free labor on any reasonable
grounds. 1t would furnish variety of
work suited to the diversity of talent found
i'm our prison. 1t would afford the OppOr-
tunity of teaching the inmates practical
trades. 1t would not necessitate the hiring
of high priced financier to conduct the
business The state has about $50, 900
worth OF machinery here in the prison;
most of which could be put to use, or sold
and the money invested in other machinery
suited to the line of work to be carried on.
The state owns the engines and shops
which would give power and room to WORK
all the convcts.
The cost of starting the various indus
tries would not be great, and there would
be no question about the disposal of the
goods, and very little chance to defraud the
state. even if the management should be so
disposed. 1t would be found in very short
time that it would not be necessary to en-
plOy but very little outside labor. for we
have men among us who. with a little in
Struction. would be capable of attending to
all the inside business as faithfully as free
is being done in other states.
Below is an extract from letter we re-
ceived some time ago from a Minnesota
gentleman, suggesting that the state school
books be printed here in the prison. We
do not know whether or not the state has
anything to say in the matter, but we think
the gentleman's ideas are good, He says:
Numbers of inmates of the prison. including some
in the female ward, could be proftably employed
by the state in printing and book binding
One of the heaviest taxes on the average family
of this state, in moderate circumstances is the
purchase of school books. In some states books
are provided for all pupils at the expense of the
state. That idea has many advocates in Mime
sofa. 1t is a theory with much to commend it. A
still farther Improvement would be to put state
prison printing establishment in the prison, and
publish the school books there. The educational
influence of such work would be good feature
One state, Iowa or Kansas remember, has a
public printer appointed like other state appoint
ees who does the state printing at state printing
Office The plan works we'll, and saves the state
much money. In Minnesota not over a dozen
printing houses are prepared to do the state work
and none are prepared to print school books. So
that neither of these plans would bring prison
Dor in general competition with outside labor.
There are always enough we'll educated
men in the prison to carry on the printing
business with the assistance of skilled
foreman. The cost of the plant would not
be great compared with the number Of men
it would employ. 1t would keep within the
state thousands of dollars that now 90 to
eastern publishing companies.