The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-09-14
Tho Texas Penitentiarics.

In the light of recent events, and the
prominence given by the late disturban
ces in Tennessee to tho convict question,
it may not be uninteresting to the public
to learn something about tho prison sys
tenn of Texas, and how it has been adjust
ed to work in harmony with the social
aud internal economy Of the State.
gressive of all Southern States in her
public institutions and State charities,
and more especially is thisStrue of her
great penal establishments. The state
ment is a broad one, but can easily be
verified by any one who will trouble
himself to do so. It is now some years
since Texas has done away with the
lease system, and tho convicts are now in
sole control Of the State, and under the
care of officials who are responsible to
the State authority alone. The executive
authority of the prison management is
composed of the following officials: a
penitentiary board, appointed by the
Governor, who legislate and act on all
questions pertaining to prison affairs, and
who serve without salary, except when
travelling to and inspecting prisons, the
Office being one rather OF honor than
emolument. a superintendent of State
penitentiaries, in charge Of all prisons,
and an assistant perintendent, each in
charge OF the Huntsville and Rusk pris-
ons respectively; a financial agent who
looks after all convict camps. All of
these officials are appointed by the Gov
egnor. Although the State has two large
and well-built prisons, capable Of hons
ing soms two thousand oonvicts, there
are all least thousand more dispersed
on the various work-trains of different
railroads, and upon the State farm, and
it is these latter whom the State inspec-
tors look after. The main prison is
located at Huntsville, and is an extensive
affair, built in accordance with the best
ideas of modern prison architecture.
The cells are larger than the average,
being about SX1O feet, with an iron
barred front, having small iron gate for
ingress and egress. They are scrupu-
lously cloan, and furnished with double
bunk, mattresses, sheets, pillows, towels,
etc., all of which arc changed every week.
A small table, stools, washbasin and
bucket of water complete the furniture
of each cell. The industries of the prison
are harness and saddlery making, furni-
ture of a high grade, boiler making,
machinery and engines. The shops are
extensive buildings, we'll fitted with the
Of the convicts are skilled mechanics,
while others have the opportunity Of
| learning useful trades before serving out
their sentences. Electric light and ice
factory plants have been placed inside
the walls for the use Of the prison. A
| commodious chapel building is also stu
ated inside the walls, where religious SER
vices are held by the chaplain on every
Sunday, q good choir and an organist
being selected from the convicts. The
State has recently built new and we'll
equipped hospital at this prison for the
| benefit of its conyicts, which is unsur-
passed by any prison hospital in the
| country. The other prison is located at
| Rusk. 1t is the newest and last built.
The building is about nine hundred feet
long, and has cell accommodation for
| over thousand convicts. A large three
| armory and sleeping rooms of officials,
| stands in the front and center of the
| prison. These buildings are all con-
structed of yellow sandstone, and present
an imposing appearance. Tho manufac-
| ture OF iron and iron work is the only
| industry pursued at this prison. The
| State owns and operates here, blast fur
| mace with daily output of twenty-five
| to thirty tons of pig.
One of the largest pipe foundries in the
Southwest has just been built and equip.
ped for the manufacture of water and
| sewer pipe. The furnace and pipe toun-
| dry are situated outside Of the prison
walls, some hundred yards in front of the
| prison building. A high board fence or
stockade surrounds them, and electric
lights are placed evsry fifty feet along
this fence, preventing escape on the part
of the night force. fh" mines, or more
properly speaking the ore beds are stu
ated some two miles from the smelling
| furnace, and arc worked by gang OF
convicts, who strip the ore from the sur
| face and load it on cars, which are run
down narrow gauge incline track into
the furnace yard and emptied at the
crusher. Inside the prison walls proper,
are the foundries, machine and pattern
shops, where car wheels, axles, sugar
mill machinery and general architectural
iron work is manufactured. The dome
and iron columns Of the new'State Capt.
tol at Austin were manufactured in these
shops by convicts. Electric lights, ice
factory and water-works supply the
prison. A steam laundry and bathhouse
serve to keep the convict clean and COM
Portable. \, portion Of the prison yard
adjoining the cell.and hospital buildings,
DaS DCSu ldlG OuG III q INV "a SN10SH "A1AA
nicely graveled walks, and conservatory
built upon it. This feature of the prison
excites and appeals to the admiration OF
every visitor on account of the great
profusion and beauty Of the flowers, as
we'll as the artistic arrangements OF them.
A convict gardener and his assistant
devote their entire time and attention to
it. The drainage and sewerage OF the
grounds are perfect, and it may fairly be
called model prison in many respects.
Both the Huntsville and Rusk prisons
contribute largely to their own support,
each having large vegetable gardens and
orchards, worked by conyicts, who sup
ply their own tables. They manufacture
the cloth aud make all OF their own CLOTH
ing in the prison.
The Texas State pcnitentiaries, under
the management OF the State, and work.
ing on the State account system, have not
only been self:supporting, but have been
paving an annual sum into the State
treasury for a number of years. Much
of their present efficiency is doubtless
due to the ability and good management
of Major Thomas j. Goree, who was
superintendent Of penitentiaries in Texas
for nearly twenty years. An enterpris-
ing aud progressive gentleman, he was
member of the National Prison Associa-
ton, and irregular attendant of its annual
conventions. Major Goree went out Of
Office when the present administration
came in, and is now general manager Of
the New Birmingham, (Tex.,) Iron and
Improvement Company.
The management Of the Texas peniten-
tiaries and the government Of its con-
yicts, Is modelled after the better class OF
Northern State prisons. The discipline
nay possibly not be quite 80 rigid,
owing to the different character of the
work, but in other respects it is copied
after as closely as possible. But few
instances of cruelty and inhumanity are
reported, and when they, do occur, are
promptly investigated by the penhltentliairy