The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-11-05

this first session than to organize the classes dis
tribute the text books and advise the scholars of
the system that was to be pursued. We will next
week give a full account Of the school.
AS there are a number of new men with us we
will state for their instruction that they may send
their copies of THE MIRROR home after reading
| them. Write the address on the margin of the
paper above the heading and on Friday evening
place it in your door. 1t will be taken up and
mailed free of cost. You are not allowed to
write on the paper anything besides the address.
Sheriff s. Braley accompanied by Deputies
Arthur slads. John Trip and John wineze-
wiski. of Winona county; Sheriff Gus. Morgan
of Itasca county: Sheriff VIM. McKinnon of
Carlton county; Sheriff Geo. h. Markham and
Deputies H. T. Bevans, C. E. Camp and Geo. H.
Munro of Stevens county. brought prisoners this
week. The three latter gentlemen were shown
the place to subscribe for THE MIRROR by Asst.
Deputy Glennon, and they subscribed.
Democratic journalism in saltwater is hoo.
dooed. Smalley Bros. & Smalley who resurrected
the several times defunct Democrat, and to
change the luck. called it the Times. have re.
turned it to its tomb. The boys infused a won.
derful lot of elixir into its old veins but somehow
or other it would not reanimate They had the
wasting time and money in long experimenting.
The boys made good showing Of ability. and we
are sorry of their poor success.
Hon. j. S. Proctor. who was warden of this
prison 1860 to 1868. was visitor Monday and was
shown through the institution by Warden Garvin.
1t is needless to say that he observed that things
had changed little since his time. There were
six convicts in the prison when he took charge. 1t
was through his efforts that the first good time
law was passed and men were given gate money
on release. He also established the prison library
and introduced the striped uniforms. There is not
a man in the prison to-day that was here under
his administration.
w. o. Turner, who has filled the position of
assistant clerk Of the prison for several years,
handed in his resignation last week. He will be
succeeded by Miss Farley, of st. Paul. who has
been here several days. Mr.. Turner will probably
complete his labors this week, and will then 20
east to try his fortunes. He has made many
friends in the city and among his fellow officers
who regret his going away. II good wishes are of
any avail he certainly will enjoy a successful ca
reer in his new field. THE MIRRORS best wishes
are his for all time.
Prisoners were received during the past week
as follows: From Winona county six. rfor man.
slaughter, second degree. ten years: for forgery,
second degree, five years; for grand larceny.
second degree, two years; for burglary. third de-
gree, three years; for grand larceny. second de.
gree. fifteen months. Stevens county four, all for
grand larceny; l received five years. three years
each, and two years. Carlton county two, 1 for
the crime of escape six months. the other for
burglary in second degree five years and half.
ltasca county one for assault, second degree,
three years.
Gov. Merriam made visit of inspection to
the prison Tuesday. He was accompanied by
Rev. DR.. S. G. Smith and Sec. II. II. Hart of the
board of corrections and charities. and Editor
George Thompson Of the st. Paul Dispatch. All
the departments of the prison we're inspected and
a number of the inmates were granted interviews.
A Dispatch reporter says: "GOv. Merriam tasted
the prison food and pronounced it good, although
not up to the standard of the Minnesota club
cuisine" If the Governor had come a hash
morning with good appetite he would not
have made the disparging comparison. We are
not much on soups. but strong on hash.
The work of paving Second street in front of
the prison is progressing very slowly owing to the
trouble had in getting material They have the
work finished nearly to the main entrance of the
prison. The material of VIII ch they are short is
green blocks. Perhaps it may be new to many to
know that it is necessary that part of the paving
blocks should be green when put down. The rea.
son for this is that all the blocks dry they
would. when soaked with water by the spring
rains, swell and force themselves up like frozen
ground. The green blocks. mixed among the dry
ones. will shrink enough in dry weather to make
room for the expansion from moisture of the dry
blocks. and thus things equalized.
An examination was made of the sewer that
runs from the prison out under Second street to
see that it was all right before the new paving is
laid. The dirt was removed and just as they we're
about beginning to make an opening the top gave
way and one of the boys suddenly disappeared in
the depths. His fellow workmen hustled about
and finally fshed him out with pole The only
injury sustained was in his appearance. The
sewer was found to be in a very bad condition and
in fair way to becoming choked up with old rub.
Dish that had forced its way through the grating.
1t necessitated great deal of work to put it in re.
pair and owing to the fact that the flow of water
could not be shut off during the day. the men had
to do most of the work at night. The Deputy says
it was beyond all doubt bad job.
We have a new member on our staff, intro.
duced by the cloven.hoofed member He hrouobt