River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-02-20
RECLAIMED BY CoNvIcTs.
Dartmoor's wild Waste Has Become o
Farm and Garden.


The original purpose of sending con-
victs to this prison was to recl1im Dart
moor, and they have made Enclosures TO
an enormous extent, under the superin-
tenience Of farm bailiff. These in
closures are made of most substantial
walls of greak blocks of granite, which
must have cost an amount of labor diff
cult to estimate. A large piece of the
moor is first inclosed; then other in
closures are made, dividing it into good,
large fields; then clearing the stones
and rocks and cultivating the crops be-
gins. This convict prison is, therefore,
very large farm, with any amount of
labor at the command of the farmer.
On the farm are bred horses, ponies,
bullocks and some sheep. There is
large dairy, and there are extensive
kitchen gardens on the farm. The dairy
and garden produce is used in the prison,
and very good il is; butthe live stock is
sold annually by auction in the autumn
at Prince Town fair, where Dartmoor
produce in general is brought 10 mar
ket, and where the collection of wild
ponies is a sight TO see.
The prisoners work in gangs, and
there are many wardens with loaded
rifles surrounding them or in attend
ance. BY good conduct prisoner gains
his reward in working under relaxed
supervision, and in being intrusted with
horses and carts and the dairy work.
The color Of the dress denotes the con-
Wet ranked according to his behavior.
The dress consists of a cap. jacket,
loose breaches, stockings and boots, all
of the regulation convict material, not
to be mistaken anywhere. But it is
curious fact that the lowest class OF con-
victs are dressed precisely in that par
ticular color which is least visible at a
distance. Sometimes in a fog conviets
have escaped: but of late years escapes
have been very rare. In the summer large
numbers of convicts can be seen on the
farm haymaking or harvesting, and in
the winter preparing the land for Guilt
walton. Planting has also been attempt
ed. Trees do not flourish on Dartmoor.
But IL particular tree is found By ex-
perience TO do we'll, extensive planta-
tons ought TO be made of il; for the one
thing wanting on Dartmoor Forest is
trees. In some situations planting has
partially succeeded; but the trees do not
look as if they were enjoying themselves
in that salubrious cline. The employ
ment of convicts in hard farm labor in
the open air is good for them, inasmuch
as they, as a rule, do not come from a
class t hat likes hard labor at all; and
it may be safely said that three con-
viets scarcely do the work of one good
farm laborer. They can be made to
work, but they can not be made to work
hard or well.
Besides the farm labor, the labor in
building, there are carried on within
the prison walls shoemaking, tailoring,
bookbinding, blacksmith's and carpen-
ter's work, baking and cooking. Some
who have found their way inside these
walls, and are not strong enough for the
farm, or invalids, are put in the tailors'
or shoemakers' shoes, to make clothes
for their fellow-prisoners; others are put
to bookbinding; and there is always
plenty to do in the way of washing,
scrubbing and cleaning in general AS
a matter of course, there is school for
the ignorant, chapel and chaplain of
the Church of England, and a Roman
Catholic chapel and chaplain. The late
Father Green devoted his life to these
convicts, aud has left behind him a
name revered and well beloved. -Satur-
day Review.