The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-08-09
. STATE BOARD
PRISON DIRECTORS
Convict Labor Will Be Used on
the New Tibur0n Road.
Completion Of the Preston school-The Old
Prison Road Will Be Closed by the Warden
Plans for the New Jute-Min

ana director craig absent.
Chairman Sonntag reported that in accord
ance with resolution adopted at a previous
meeting. he and Director Devln had seen
the Attorney General and the Secretary of
State in regard TO the proposition OF bor-
rowing SOS, 900 out of the San Quentin Prison
Fund, in which there is large surplus, IN
order to use the amount in building tower
and completing the roof OF the Preston
Home of Industry at Zone. The result OF
the conference was favorable to the propo-
sition.
Director Sonntag stated also that he had
assurances that the Controller would sign
j, the authorization for the transfer of the
money out of the San Quentin Fund, and
that the Governor on his return to Sacra-
inento would also give his assent to the pro-
posaI. 1t was therefore determined TO go
or with the work at lone, as it is deemed
necessary in order to save a great part OF
lie building already constructed.
SEALED LETTERS FROM PRISONERS.
Director Devlin introduced the following
resolution, which was adopted:
HeSoived. That every prisoner he permitted TO
address once month sealed communication
10 Inc board, or any member thereof, any
matter he desires 10 bring TO their attention,
such communication at san Quentin TO be placed
IN a loo ed box provided for TIL purpose on the
day before the meeting of the board. and IN a
similar box at Folsom on the day before the
meeting OF The board Such box shall be under
The control of the Clerk of the Board, and SHAH
he op ned by him Any officer interfering vii
The fight of Il prisoner 10 communicate In this
manner 10 The board shall be Immediately dis
charged.
Ii explanation the author of the resolu-
ton stated that the Directors seldom Wis
tied The inside of the prisons and had very
little chance of learning OF their internal
condition as far the inmates are con-
cerned. He thought that every prisoner
should have the right to communicate with
tile board without first asking permission
OF the officers of the prison. The other
members of the board agreed with him.
SENDING OUT PHOTOGRAPHS.
A second resolution was introduced by
Director DeYin aud adopted, providing
that hereafter the photographs OF first
termers' in the prisons shall not be fur
nished to any person, nor of second
termers," except upon written request,
stating the reasons therefor, and asking the
permission OF the board. The resolution
applies to both prisons.
Hitherto it has been the custom to send
photographs of first and second termers to
all SheriffS and Chiefs of Police in the
Stale. The Directors do not believe ii right
10 So circulate the photographs Of men who
were IN prison for the first or second time,
and adopted tic resolution.
4 communication was received from At
torney-General Hart in regard to the closing
of roads passing through the prison grounds.
He said that after giving the matter careful
consideration he Is OF the opinion that the
State Board of Prison Directors has full
power TO close all alleged county roads pass
Ing through the prison grounds.
CLOSING OF A ROAD.
Under the constitution and law the Board
Of Prison Directors is granted full control of
SHE prison grounds, and has the right to
erect q wall around those grounds if it SO
chooses The fact that road has been built
over the prison grounds, connecting with
the county road and that it has been used,
does not result III dedication of such road
to the public OF to the citizens to such an eX-
tent that the board would not have the right
10 close the same.
Acting on this opinion the board moved
that Warden Hale be directed to close the
old road running through the prison grounds
and construct a new one, connecting the
county road with what is known as the old
tow road.
Warden Hale stated that it would take six
weeks TO construct the road. and that he
would place twenty men TO work Tomorrow.
lie viii hot close the old road until the new
one is completed.
WARDEN HALE's REPORT.
Warden Hale presented his monthly re-
port. in. which he stated that he is very
much pleased with the result of the discon-
tinuance OF the night shifts in the jute-mil.
The average daily output for the month of
July was over 81 cuts per day, as against
us cuts when the mill was run both day
and night. He thought that the average
would increase during the month, as up to
date the average is about 90 cuts per day.
Each cut Is 100 yards
The Warden reported that there is con-
siderable repairing necessary on the boil
ers ana asked that the matter be attended
to. He had received from the cOnsignoTs
ali the jute purchased last season, and it is
Of better quality than the previous ship
uients.
The Warden further reported that
school for boys under the age of IS years
had been established by the chaplain and
is proving very beneficial adjunct to the
prison. 1t is so arranged that it does not
interfere with the labor of the young men,
and at he same time gives them an oppor-
a tunlty 10 acquire the first rudimentS of edu-
y cation.
The report also showed that the opium
traffic has been very considerably diminished
vi late.
USING PRISON LABOR.
The board took up the subject of furnish
ing prison labor to build the road which
the residents of Marin County propose to
construct from Point Tiburon to the prison
The road will pass through private prop
eIty, but so much will be dedicated to the
public as is necessary for the road. This is
Calculated TO be sixty feet. The property
owners applied for convict labor to build
the road under an act passed by the last
Legislature.
The board went into executive session in
considering the matter, and after an hour
stated that it had adopted the following
resolution regarding the matter:
TIBUROS-ALTo ROAD.
ReSolUed, That pursuant to tile provisions of
an act entitled, AN act TO authorize The State
Prison Directors of the State OF California to en-
ploy any unemployed persons construct roads
10 The State Prison at San Quentin" approved
March 81, 1891 The State Board OF Prison Dr.
Iectors does direct the Warden to employ any
unemployed prisoners in the construction of
road from The westerly line of the Stale Prison
Tract 10 connect with road built, or TO be built
from Iiburon 10 Alto Station, on The following
conditions:
FHst-Tre parties applying to the board for
the construction OF such road shall furnish all
cats, wheelbarrows, powder and implements
necessary for the construction OF such road and
pay all The expenses thereof.
Second-They shall pay the salaries OF five
mounted guards, 10 lie appointed by the War
den, and furnish them with horses and accoutre-
ments l he State Will pay the salaries aud ex-
lenses OF such other guards as may be neces-
sdty.
1hrd-1hey shall furnish the means of trans
poriation and shall pay the expenses of trans
-poItatlon OF men aud provisions from the prison
10 Inc place OF Work. The State Will furnish The
provisions.
Fouuh-Ihey shall construct and nav the cost
OF construction of bridge over the creek esiu-
any OF the bay commonly called Main Creek of
Flnh-The road so to be constructed shall by
proper means be forever dedicated 10 the public
L and be and remain public road.
SiXth-The Slate shall have ana reserves tho
right TO control Tie VOL king Of the prisoners aud
10 order the work ceased whenever The Board OF
Directors thinks il proper.
Seyenib-beforp The works commenced proper
security shall be furnished 10 The Warden Tor the
payment Of such expenses and these conditions
shall be accepted.
The applicants for the prison labor stated
that they believed the conditions were salts
factory. but that they would like to submit
the resolution to the Board of Supervisors of
the county and the other property-owners
interested, and promised to make a report as
sUon as possible.
NEW JUTE-NILI.
HP. A. Humbert submitted to the board
plans and specifications for the proposed
new Jute-mili, and the board occupied con-
siderable Time in discussing the law relating