The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-21
HOUSE OF CORRECTION.
The Use of Opium There Is
Steadily Increasing.
A Great Many Use the Place as Health Re-
sort Who Are Abundantly Able to Take
Care Of Themselves.

The annual report of Superintendent Mar
tin Fragley of the House OF Correction was
filed with the Board of Supervisors yester-
day. The Superintendent expresses the
strongest sentiments that old and young
should not be mixed at that institution. He
finds that its use as a house Of correction
for youthful criminals is almost entirely
frustrated by the herding together of all
classes of the worst elements of crime that
city can produce During the gear there
were sent to the institution 81 under and
S61 over the statutory age of % years. OF
this latter number 16S were over 90 years
old.
"a SCHOOL OF CRIME"
1t can easily be seen that this massing TO-
gether of those who have been for years a
charge upon society because OF crime with
youths who have committed their first Of
Tense against the law can have no good re-
suit in the way of reformation. 1t rather is
nothing but a school for instruction in crime
which far too many of our youth take ad-
vantage of, as the after records furnis ned
by the police and State Prison authorities
will show Of most of the House of Correc-
ton graduates. Ii the 168 over 80 years OF
age had been sent to the AlmshOuse, where
they rightfully belonged, and the balance
over IS years of age relegated to the Peni-
Tertiary, the city would have been spared
the expense that could very well be incurred
for some more worthy object.
Another drawback for the reformation of
the youthful criminal is the want of ade-
Quate means Of immediate and steady en-
pluyment following incarceration. Some
means should be furnished whereby they
could be taught q useful trade or occu patton
that would relieve them from all idleneSs
and fit them to be useful citizens after their
release.
THE DEADLY OPIUM AND COCAINE.
The Superin tendent finds that the
use of morphine, cocaine and opium is
steadily on the in crease among those COM
mitted TO this institution, and that a num-
Der sent there under the vagrancy law have
ample means of support and use the place
as a sanitarium or 'heaith cure" through
the influence OF their friends. This great
evil should be stopped by all means in the
power Of the city government. IL Is running
30 many bright and promising lives and
desOlatiDg so many happy homes that it is
a wonder that society does not demand the
abolition of the admittance Of opium into
our country in any manner whatsoever,
whether for medicinal purposes or not. Sci
ence is far enough advanced at the present
day 10 provide a substitute that will not,
like cancer. be eating out the lives, moral
ly and physically, Of the young men and
women of the land.
IN GOOD HEALTH.
The sanitary condition Of the prison is
excellent and the health OF the inmates
could not be better, the only cases o. sick
ness in the institution being self-incurred
through the use of opium and from other
causes outside of the prison jurisdiction.
The expenses for the year were S45,9S2 SO
and the appropriation only S4i, 900, leaving
deficiency OF S4574. On July l, 1891, there
were 3l6 prisoners in the House, 81 women
and 264 men and boys. The average dali Y
cost of maintaining each prisoner during
the year was 80 51-I0O0 cents.