The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-01-16
THE PRISON AS 1T Is TODAY.
An Account of the Different Depart.
ments Entirely Under State Control.

ments Entirely Under State Control.
Upon entering the front portal of the prison
there is nothing to denote that you in any
thing more than ordinary business building.
On the left side of the entrance is situated the
Warden's office and business department which
links the prison with the outside world. Once
past the Wardens Office and Managers meeting
room. the iron grated door and occasional click of
the heavy keys. plainly indicate the purpose of
the institution.
The reception room wherein prisoners first
| received is situated between two iron doors one
leading to the freedom of the world. the other to
prison tomb. The space between these two
doors is known in prison parlance the bridge
| OF sghs." 1t is in this room the prisoner loses
his identity unit of the social system, and
here also between these grated doors he meets his
relatives only to part with them again after a
brief converse-they going to the bright side of
the bridge and he to the dark side.
portion of the second and third story of the
front part of the building is divided into comfort
able sleeping apartments for those officers who
reside in the prison.
THE FEMALE DEPARTMENT..
The female department is situated on the south
side of the second story of the front portion of the
building Mrs. H. A. Walker. Matron. is in charge
Ol tnIS department. having at present nVe WaIuS
under her guidance The Matron personal quar-
| tiers consist of large, airy paror and bed room
neatly furnished and adorned Upon opening the
door into the female department proper the eye
meets with two rows of cells facing central pas
sageway. There is also another of cells max
ing in all thirteen cells and one dungeon. The
dungeon. by the way, is never used for its
original purpose. 1t is degraded rather pro-
donjon keep for brooms, dustpans and numerous
| other housekeeping paraphernalia the names and
uses of which women alone understand. Five of
the cells are occupied at present These cells ere
slightly larger than those in the male department.
being 6XS feet. The cells, rooms they are
called in this department, present decidedly
pretter appearance in their adOrnment than the
neatest in the male department There is no
room to doubt that other than feminine hands ar
ranged the various little knickknacks and fxngs
that help to tone down the tiresome glare of the
bare walls. The principal occupation of the fe-
male inmates is the making and mending of some
of the linen used in the officers dining room also
starching and ironing articles that cannot be
done up in the steam laundry. This department
| is managed on a regular housekeeping plan. The
kitchen is fitted up with the necessary utensils.
|
The dining adjoins the kitchen and is about
| 1Sx20 feet. One more room which is used for
sewing and general work. completes the quarters
Of the female inmates. This department the
| whole is model of neatness, everything is bright
| and neat. and the careful, housewifely touch is
| noticeable on all sides
| CULINARY DEPARTMENT.
The culinary department is in charge of H. j..
| Benner. Steward. There are two distinct k:tch-
| ems in this department. one for the officers, and
one for the cow lets. In the officers kitchen are
| employed one cook, two assistants. dshwasher
| and waiter all prisoners. This kitchen is sup
| piled with large range, brOiler and the usual
equipments. The convcts' kitchen has for its
principal appurtenances "a military looking of
six serviceabe steam bOi ers, four large ones for
| the cooking of meats, and two smaller ones for
potatoes other vegetables. One cook and three
| assistants employ ed here. Besides these
there are in connection with this department three
| bakers, and one butcher. Five hundred pounds
| of beef leave the butchers shop daily never to
| return. Four and half sacks of flour do likewise
| from the bakery.
MUSHROOM
When the food is ready to be served out it is
| conveyed to the messroom which is in the cell
room proper. Here six men are employed to dish
| it out into three-cOmpartment, square pans. DISH
| ing up the food does not commence until about
| twenty-five minutes before the meal hour. and
other necessary precautions are taken to prevent
the meals becoming cold but it is found almost
| impossible to keep all the plates warm. The men
eat all thu ee meals in their cells. Breakfast is
wheeled around to the cells in trucks by the
room men, Dinner and supper is handed each
man as he returns from work at noon and night
| and baskets of bread are placed so that each man
can take as much as he pleases. Fourteen large
clothes basketsfnll of cut bread used up daily
Each man. hasa tin cup, knife, fork and spoon in
his cell which for himself. All the plates