Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-01-01
SOME PRISON FACTS
About the Buildings, Officers
and Men.
1866 MEN IN STRIPES TODAY.
The Annual Prisoners Entertain
ment a Great success.

The Oregon State Prison is built at
the eastern limit of the city, immedi-
ately south of and not far from the in
sane asylum. 1t is by no means pre-.
tentious building, but under the super
intendency of Hon. Geo. 8. Downing
much has been done TO beautify and
improve the grounds, structure and
surroundings, 80 that II has but little
Of the gloomy look and forbidding sug-
Qestion of penitentiary generally.
Rising from cupola-crowned center
two wings extend toward the north and
south, and another containing the Of
fees and residence of the warden rises
westerly toward State street. The
prison yard Is surrounded by a high
brick wall studded at intervals with
guard houses. Within the wall are the
foundry and machine shop, and the
laundry building, substantial buildings,
well fitted and furnished with modern
appliances. Outside the walls are the
stables and rooms for the guards.
For several years the chief employ
ment Of the eonvicls has been the
manufacture Of stoves aud hollow. ware,
the business having been conducted by
outside parties; but, last spriug the
state purchased the plant from the
Northwestern Foundry company, aud
since then IL has been managed by Of
icers Of the prison. Ia full running 1t
gives employment to $50 prisoners
There Is also brick yard in which, last
year, 100000 brick were made
for state buildings.
These, aud the various offices of the
the prison, kitchen, farm, service Of
meals, hospital, bakery, tailor and shoe
shops, aud gardening occupy, in the
busy seasons, nearly all the convicts,
who are under supervision Of "a salaried
officers.
The last legislature appropriated
100000 for the erection of jute mill
aud the purchase of lands; aud $52, 800,
for dining room aud hospital addition
to the prison building.
The custody and care of the prison
aud inmates is under charge Of Hon.
Geo. 8. Downing, superintendent; Hon.
j. w. Berry, warden;J, H. Cavanaugh,
Esq. deputy warden; Capt. d. D.
Dlckey, commissary; and Mr.. r. B.
Fleming, superintendent of the shops.
December Slst, 1898, the prison had
In confinement for the crimes of muir
der, 81, assault with attempt to kill, 8;
assault aud robbery, IL; rape, 7; at.
tempt to commit rape, IL; robbery of
United States mail, 2; manslaughter
Is; larceny, l49; larceny from dwell.
ing, II; perjury, /, burglary, 40; burg
larry and larceny, 8; forgery, 20; assault
with deadly weapon, 10; subornation
of perjury, /; arson, 4; rape and lar
ceny, |; false pretenses, 8; counterfeit
Ing and mail robbery, /; abduction, /,
passing counterfeit money. 2; adultery
aud larceny, Il altering United States
selling liquors to Indians,
2; false conveyance OF property, Ill
attempted burglary, 2; adultery, l;
maliciously injuring personal property,
2; embezzlement, 2; Incest, 2; receiving
or concealIng stolen goods, 2; polygamy,
Ii sodomy, /; molesting a railroad, /;
total, 1855; years Of service. aside from
life sentences, 1852! years.
The penitentlary Is reached every
twenty minutes by electric cars run.
ming out state street, aud amply repays
visitors the time expended in looking
lt over, for they are received with the
utmost courtesy aud given every op-
portunity for investigating the interior
workings of model states prison, |
where scrupulous cleanliness aud neat. |
ness strict discipline without tyranny |
and oppression; and exsellent sanitary
arrangements, combine TO make men
As comfortable aud couteuted as such a
terrible life permits.
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