The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-09
WALLA WALLA PENITENTIARY.
A Well Governed Institution-The Jute
Factory.

Factory.
WALLA WALLA, Sept 7-tSpecial. lon the
brow OF hill one and One-Quarter miles from
Walla Walla il located the state penitentiary,
which is one OF the most imposing aud sub
stautially constructed prisons in the United
States. The prison contains $50 cells, is built of
stone and steel, surrounded by a stone wall
twenty feet high. A wooden stockade. twelve
feet high, encloses about twenty acres, in the
southwest corner Of which is a brick structure
containing the jute works, while the remainder
of the enclosure is devoted to the brick yard.
The two works are separated by a high board
fence. In the jute mills are fifty looms, giving
employment to 80 conyicts. These looms have
this season turned out 13l 500 grain sacks, which
have found ready sale at II cents per sack, a
saving to the farmers Of this section of from to
3 cents per sack, as former prices ranged from
to 1c cents per sack. This industry will prove
beneficial to the state in many respects. The
brick manufactured are of fine quality and are
retailed at S. per 1000, and the demand is equal
to the supply.
Among the $50 convicts are found three life
prisoners, two from Walia Walla county and
one from King county. Mrs. J. II. Piles and her
and Albert Fredrichs compose the trio of
life convicts Freidrichs has shaved his
whiskers off and has settled down for life in the
shoe shop, seems contsnted and gives no
trouble
The sanitary condition OF the prison is well
looked after. Not only are the surroundings
kept neat and tidy, but the prisoners are COM
PEELED TO battle twice week in a large bath,
30x20 feet, built of brick aud cement, for this
purpose. The five women prisoners are source
OF considerable trouble, as no suitable yard for
their recreation was built from the main en-
closure, which necessitated their being locked
in the second story continually, with but lttle
recreation.
The personnel of the convicts are varied and
numerous; the lawyer, banker, DOCTOR civil
engineer, merchant, druggist, aud almost every
tradesman is found among the $50 convicts.
What an object lessson Is taught by the lives of
the unfortunate creatures. Men who are fitted
for the most noble and respected walks OF life
are here found wearing the striped garb of the
convict. Albertson looks pa.e and detected,
his couniensnce plainly showing the battles of
q troubled heart, while the Seattle dentist who
is here for seduction, denies his guilt and tries
to make the best of an unfortunate occurrence
As one passes among the hundreds OF conviets
the hardened criminal is easily discerned from
the frst-term man at bis side. One brazen and
defiant while the other with lowered eyes and
detected demeanor attempts to battle scrutiny
evidently within his heart pledging his future
life after his expiration OF imprisonment to bet
ter walks and acts which is hard to follow after
Que has dwelt in the convict cell The world
has no sympathy for the fallen and where one
hand will be extended toward the unfor,uuate
creature OF humanity, Others will close the ave-
nues OF reformation and place barrier stead
oil good word in the way OF be who wouId
"try and be man again"
When prisoner is discharged he generally
goes forth without cent, unless the Kind war
den. who has upon more than one occasion, sees
fit To hand the liberated convict 81 ors2 In
some states prisoner gets sl2 when diseharye1
but IN this state lie receives no money and face,
the worid penniess ami disgracei. which eonci
tons make II harder Tor him TO start fairly On
| the better walks life
Warden Michael NcClus is liked by the pris
one's- lie is man OF strong WILL yet the vein
| o. mercy IS rooted deep in his heart His word
! issupreme. and every conyic, i well sware ,hat
| he must obey the rules punishment will fol.
! low. In face OF these facts very little trouble
| Il ever enconntele.i in. soverning the rrisnn