The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-06

Interesting Things Found in
Directors Annual Report.
pEnlTENTIARY NEARLY FULL.
ne Jute Mil Profitable-The Federal
Government Owes tho state
Thirty Thousand Dollars.


for the state the grant made for a peniten-
t.ary by the fifteenth section of the en-
sbling act. The United States refuses to
surn over to the state the penitentlary at
McNeil's island. The enabling act grants
% Washington $4,000. ito be devoted ex-
clusively to the purchase of the necessary
ground and the erection Of penitentiary
under the direction of the secretary of the
Interior" The grant has not yet been
made, and the directors say:
The attention of the Washington delegation
n congress should be called to this matter, and
they should be requested aud instructed to
secure the necessary appropriations TO make the
grant effective. Ii the appropriation is made
during the coming session OF Congress the
necessary accommodations for the care OF
United states prisoners can be provided in the
early part of next summer. In anticipation OF
ths appropriation by congress, the legislature
should give the directors authority to contract
With the United states for the proper keeping
and employment OF United states prisoners.
The directors continue:
At present there are on the penitentiary
grounds three cell wings. Each wing contains
eighty. four steel cells. arranged back to back,
three tiers high, fourteen cells in each tier, the
total number OF cells being 2J2. Each cell is de-
signed for two prisoners, or a total OF 50A But
o four OF the cells are known as "dark cells"
because they have solid doors aud are used n
preserving the discipline of the prison. the to-
tai number OF prisoners for which cell room is
provi6ed is reduced to 495.
On the S0th of September, 1892 the total num-
Der o! conviets in the pententiary was As, or
ony ffty-one less than the maximum cell &C.
eommoiation.
The increase in prison population keeps
abreast of It, IL 1t does not exceed the increase
OF the population OF the state. In the report
made TO the legislature of 1891. the average an
nual increase was figured at seven,y-four, and
II was predicted that on September 90. 1892, the
prison population would be 40. Appropria.
tons for maintenance, etc, were made on that
estimate. The actual result shows q total in
crease over the estimate of thrty-fve, nearly so
per cent more than the estimate If the
Increase continues, and there is no reason
for doubling that ii will, the penitentiary will
be filed TO overtiowing inside of year. When
the legislature. which meets in January adj
journs, there will not be another session for two
! year,, unless an extra one is called. This prac-
tcay allows three years for increase OF prison
population, because 1t takes about six months
70 build cell wing after an appropriation is
made for one. Three years. increase at the pres
ent ratio means prison population in 1895 of
/ N This seems to demonstrate the absolute ne
| cessty for the making OF an appropriation for
new cell wing by the incoming legislature. We
estimate the cost of additional cell wing OF
equsl capacity and quality with the ones now
I In use at $4,000.
With an additional cell wing to be built by the
state, and one of like capacity which there
Is every probability will be built at the
/ expense OF the United States, the penitentiary
Will be prepared 10 accommodate all the prob
I abe prison population which viii be sent TO IL
/ during the next four or five years.
While it is possibly true that cheaper raw
material to be worked up By convict labor can
Be obtained in Western Washington than at
hsia Walla. 1t Is equally true that provisions
OF all kinds are cheaper in Walla wslla than
l they are III Western Washington. 1t lie also true
that to provide the needed accommodations for
the probable increase of prisoners during tho
next four or five years and to supply means for
their Employment in Western Washington would
cost many times more than the same things
would cost al Walla Walla.
II Particular attention is called to that part of
the report of the penitentiary physicians touch.
/ ng the abso lutte necessity for a separate build
| Ing Tor hospital purposes The last legislature
| appropriated lump sum of $500 for - cell
| wing. a hospital, kitchen and bakery, the
IL Increase OF the water supply. aud the improve
msnt o! the brick yard" In discussing this
appropriation the directors found there was not
money enough for hospital and q cell wing,
With the other items. AS the cell wing was q
more pressing demand than the hospital they
81 were compelled To leave the construction of the
latter to be provided Tor by the next legislature
Neestimate the cost of proper hospital build
ing with dispenssry, operating room, etc, at
E2,5a This Is for a main building with two
Wings AS II would not De necessary to build
both wings now, the estimate can be cut down
IE5a
aching upon report of the special senate COM
Aitiee on state penitentiary. submitted at the
as's session. the legislature made a small lump
/ Appropriation FOR a new cell wing and improv-
/ ing various departments. including the kitchen
i sao bakery. Notwithstanding the fact that this
appropriation was iudiciously expended. it was
ieona utterly impossible 10 make the Kitchen
/ sna BAKERY what they should be. Neither OF
i VIII Is large enough, both of them are incon-
l sshient aud each is almost uninuabitable dur
Dg sne summer. proper kitchen. and bakery
isoouid be built entirely above ground and con-
aec'ei with Toe cell wings by halls
l IL is q se.i-evident proposition that il is not
Fope' 10 eonhne female prisoners in tho same
WI wing with male prisoners, nor should they
scanned III the same building IL il is possible
@e'aefwise arrange the prison. They shonid
" cohanei In q building expressly fitted for
'Asm with cells, kitchen, dining, bath and work
.v'ms, 10 which proper accommodations are
tn'huea Tor matron. While il Is true that
sis are at present only four women prisoners,
wv serving Lille sentence, 1t is equally true
fsaas hey now are and always have been, con-
ia1sa IN rooms separated from the room used as
EnNptal by board partitions, rendering the
tss&Ssbreeding germs, stenches and noises
tsas's'a Very d:sagreeable ii not positively dan
Iseoas 10 the health of the female couvicts.
l "eeslmate the cost of separate building,
IAtee enough 70 meet The probable wants OF the
lPisan Tor many years, a. 5000
80 tsnSd hiss been the increase OF prison popu.
i@noa iaelit has been absolutely necessary to
iAaKe CORES bonding increase in the force of
IsaafaS and citixsn employees So great has been
SIS Increase that the sleeping accommodations
- guards never equal 10 the demands, are
s~i4! inadequate. Four and six guards oc-
I.1pF one eedroom, ANA even then there is not
VA enough 10 accommodate al. TO meet the
sIsna Tor sleeping quarters, were CON-
sNed 20 buy four large wall tents, and TO rent
noms III the city.
| present constructed and arranged the
" 'He ehceTs. guards aud employees
la. ASt IN the same kitchen with
liz " 'ne eonvlcts. and served in a room
I - Alsla building inside the stone
1s"s IBIS pian IS one fraught with much
l - 4s"ould be unwisa to sllow guards 10
tA..sa'u us 10 iheir meas inside the stockade
/ l,.se Ds sudden, pgeconcerted acton con-
] ~. o'Alng III ths dining room might seize
/ Is !. 's aAd take possession OF the prison Nor
Is H. poAouFe Of discipline - have them
I tsany coagl.ts 81" ~ VI 80
i ia''4o'e building for quarters for orfners
i tss and employees. fitted with Kitchen t,,'
i rom, bata rooms. etc. should be erecteI
i lEs- LAS ''0'1 Dc erected
/ .ee last legislature by an act anproxas
= decided 80