The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-01-16
CONTINUED From Third Page.)
The Prison as 1t Is To-Day.


The Prison as 1t Is To-Day.
engine used is a 45.horse power. horizontal auto
matte cutoff engine. The dynamo is of the Wes-
ton make. and has a rated capacity of6OO hundred
sxteen-cande power lights; but at present it runs
nearly $50 lights. The dynamo is run from four
to ten p. m. every night, and for about one and a
half hours each morning at this season of the year.
There are several ingenious safeguards in the
dynamo room to regulate the force of electricity
and give warning in case of accident. The
weather has considerable to do with the quality
of the light. On damp. rainy days the dynamo
works poorly; in clear dry weather the light is at
its best.
ENGINE ROOM.
The state now furnishes all the steam power
used within the walls In all five engines and five
pumps are used for various purposes within the
prison. The principal one, and the only one
shall speak of here is. the large engine en-
ployed in generating about 95 per ceut of all the
steam power used. This engine is monstrous
affair of 500 horsepower and Corliss make. The
fly wheel is "a feet in diameter. Four 81 inch and
two 60 inch boilers furnish the steam. Ira Wood
is chief engineer, and convict who is compe
tent engineer, acts assistant engineer The
boilers are in active service night and day they
are also used for heating all parts of the nstitu
ton. The fremen employed both day and night
are convicts. Sawdust and slabs are the principal
fuel used; it takes on an average fifty dump-cart
loads of sawdust to last the twenty-four hours,
and this amount is considered by engineers as
very economical firing for the quantity of heat
and power generated.
TUB AND PAIL FACTORY.
At the last session of the state legislature a law
was enacted providing for the employment of a
portion of the inmates on the state account plan,
and after considerable time spent in search
of an industry that would least conflict with free
labor, the tub and pail manufacturing business
was decided upon. The factory occupies three.
story brick building. On the first floor is the
mandatory; the painting department is the
second floor; and the third floor is used for stor-
age. This business the only manufacturing in
which the state is engaged, is not yet in full work
ing order, but is progressing toward that point
daily. All the machinery used is of the latest i'm
proved patterns, and the capacity of the factory
whensin complete working order will be $50 tubs
and 500 pals daily. superintendent Coven is in
full control here and is kept busy at present in
structng his men, none of whom had any previous
knowledge of the business. The manufacturing
of tubs and pals will prove paying investment
to the state within a reasonable time as it is the
intention to make an AL grade of goods that will
find ready market. Some business house has
already offered to buy up all the tubs and pals
made here.
CONCLUSION.
This completes the regular departments that
are entirely under state control. There are other
men employed in doing sundry light work about
the yard, many of whom are incapactated for
other labor. The state has a carpenter shop also
which employs six in doing general repair
and construction work. One tnsmith, a black
smith, and machinist. all of whom are compe-
tent tradesmen, do general work in their Sc "
eral crafts. The state has complete control over
ia men which includes those employed by it and
all the infirm and disabled men. The other IT'S of
our population are employed by the Thre sher
Manufacturing Co.