The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-06-05

clusOn that ut is deemed better for the
well being of the prisoner" that he should
be sent to the House. If the prisoner COM
plains that be has been convicted and
Ought to have been got out Of the scrape,"
he is told that it is doing pretty well to
keep him out of San Quentin or Folsom.
In proof Of the assertion that this instl-
tuition is a political ranch it Is only neces-
sary to state that since IL was opened in
1875, period Of sixteen years, it has had
nine superintendents, each one with chan ge
OF undeTlingS. All with the exception
Of the incumbent, Martin Fragley,
whose time will probably come after the
next Board Of Supervisors is in power, have
been removed for political reasons. Tie
following are the names of those who have
been in power at the House: A. P. Denni-
son. K. l.. DOre, A. w. Provost. NJ. w.
Davis. Samuel Shear, John Sedgwck. T.
NJ. Mackin, John Foley and the present
Superintendent. Martin FTagley.
Not long since a representative OF THE
CALL visited the House and spent several
hours IN the institution. The supposed
ref0TmatOry, but in fact penal house, is
within high board Enclosure, on the south
east corner OF which is a sentry box, from
when guard has a commanding view of
the grounds, except that portion obStructed
BY the main building.
This main building was completed at a
cost OF S12G,0 The central portion is
Octagonal in form and from this have been
built wings IN which are tiers Of cells The
main building is so arranged that at any
time additional wings can be added and
accommodations for 1000 prisoners provided
without crowdiDg. The front part of the
main building is devoted to Offices on the
first floor and the upper floor is set apart
for the superintendent, his family and
officers.
A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN.
Within the inclOSure on the east aud on
the south sides there is a beautiful flower
garden; on the north is located the laundry,
the paint shop. the carpenter shop and the
bath house, while in the rear or west side
is another beautiful flower garden, and back
OF this are the ables aud pig pens. I'm
mediately in front Of the eastern line Of
fence, and extending 10 the road on which
runs the electric railway, is a fine
field Of barley and large potato
patch, both of which belong to the
city and are cultivated by prison labor.
The whole is inclOsed by a neat white
washed fence. A portion of the ground set
out to barley has been reserved as a vegeta-
bic garden and the products are cabbages
and caulifi0wer. but these are raised only as
reserve, for the contractor who feeds the
prisoners furnishes the vegetables. Yes"
said an officer OF the institution, I'VE can
raise all the vegetables that the institution
would use, but it is chraper TO get them
from the contractor We use the barley
So far as the exterior of the building is
concerned and the ground surrounding it
the application of order aud neatness is as
nearly perfect as anything can be, and 1t il
doubtful II any private garden or farm can
make better showing in the matter of
being well kept.
The moment that the visitor passes the
portal that leads to the main Office he real
yes that he is in a prison, and The impression
that was produced By the well-kept flower.
beds, the neatly trained trees and shrubs
and plants with their thousands Of vaTi-cOl-
ored flowers is dispelIed. lie sees alta glance
& prison with many Of its seventies. Each
official wears a stern look and each reminds
one of the King who never smiled. Prison
ers who are known as TRUSTEES" and who
are granted certain privileges by reason of
good conduct or the influence Of certain in
diYiduas 10 secure them easy billets, move
about the offices in garments that other and
less favored prisoners are not allowed TO
wear. According 10 the regulations the
prisoners are compelled 10 wear a uniform
Of gray and black striped cloth, including
pantalOOns shirt and sackc0at or blouse
but these TRUSTEES are required TO wear only
the prison pantalOOns, and these are made
after fashionable cut. They are allowed
to wear any kind of shirt that they may be
able TO sport, any kind Of vest and the
coats that they were in the habit OF wearing
when tree TO roam the streets. a visitor
who IS not very close observer would
naturally suppose that these individuals
are not prisoners, but officers of the institu-
ton. LII is breach of prison discipline
that ought not be tolerated, and the officials
ought not 10 show favors Of this kind to one
class of prisoners while they are denied to
others.
ON THE INSIDE.
When the representative called al the
House it was at the time Of the Republican
convention at Stockton, and when he asked
for Superintendent Fragiey was informed
that Captain Fraglev is at Stockton" In
bis absence Captain J. S. Daley, his deputy,