The record-union., 1894-09-10
TIE STATE PRISON.
Proposition to Sell the San Quentin
Buildings.
Arguments In Favor of Having All
the State Prisoners Con-
fined at Folsom.

[San Francisco Examiner, September 9th.1
The annual report of the Board of State
Prison Directors contains the usual state
ments of the work of the board since the
last report appeared, and a detailed ac-
count of the receipts and expenditures
for all accounts of the penitentiaries at
Folsom and San Quentin, and the Pres
ton School of Industry at lone.
In one respect the report differs from
ats predecessors, and that is in the radical
recommendations made by the board and
the suggestions for future management
of the criminal element by individual
direction.
As board the directors urge the sell
ang OF the present prison property at San
Quentin Point, and the use of the money
In erecting buildings at Folsom for con-
nnement of the prisoners now at San
Quentin.
The arguments used by the directors in
support of the recommendation are con-
CURED in by all of the board, and cover
the whole ground of healthfulness, econ
omy, safety and self-sustaining facilities.
The report traverses the suitableness OF
the San Quentin site for penitentiary pur-
poses, ana points out the desirabiIity OF
the place for other purposes.
IT Is TOO FINE.
''San Quentin Point" the report says,
''ls one Of the most eligible suburban
spots near San Francisco for improve
ment as a place of residence. Its value
has already reached very high figure and
rs steadily increasing. 1t can be reached
by rail or by water quickly. 1t is shell
tered from winds and is comparatively
Tree from fogs and frosts. For homes it
has all the advantages of the most ia
Vored suburb, and no draw back that cam
not be overcome by such a use of the
natural advantages of site and soil as
would follow its subdivision into resi-
dence plats.
"For penitentiary purposes it presents
many points for just criticism. The prop
erty is too valuable for such use. 1t can
never be made productive in an agricult-
ural or arboricultural way, because the
soil of the State reservation is not well
suited for the growth of grains, vegeta-
DIeS or fruits. Its best use at present is
as brick-clay yard.
zone of the most imperative needs of a
penitentiary in which many convicts are
placed IS sufficient supply of fresh water
Oh healthfuI quality. At San Quentin
there is no available supply of water ex-
cept that OF the city of Sau Rafael, and
the. water necessary for prison uses costs
nearly 81, 100 monthly. The water is OF
good qualify, but a prison should not be
dependent upon any outside source OF
supply for the water needed within il
ana for Its general maintenance. At San
Quentin all the power requisite to drive
The machinery Is necessarily derived
from steam, to develop which compels
The purchase of great quantity of fuel.
COSTLY LIGHTING.
'The prison at San Quentin must be
lighted at large expense because no
electric plant can be operated except by
steam. The healthfuluess of the present
San Quentin system of prison buildings
is not what it should be. but it can only
be bettered by complete rebuilding OF
the sewerage system and general revision
OF the cell buildings. The availability OF
the property for other uses than those to
which it is now devoted insures the re-
ceipt OF very large sum by the State
from It's sale. 1t is believed that a sum
large enough to build an adequate prison
plant upon an improved method on a
more suitable site can be derived from
The sale of the large acreage now owned
by the State at San Quentin Point.
The recommendation of the board is
that the whole of the State property at
San Quentin be sold to the best advantage
and the proceeds applied in erecting al
Folsom series of penitentiary buildings
better adapted to the confinement and
reformation of the conVicts placed in du-
ress.
''In selecting Folsom as site to be
commended, the board has kept in mind
several essentials for the best manage
meut of convicts.
SAT Folsom the State now has control
of S00-horse power from the electric plant
recently established. That power is to
be furnished III perIetuity and is avail
able at any time, by day or night, or a,
all hours, without cost to the State. The
lighting of the prison at Folsom would
cost nothing, because the electric lights
used would be supplied from the power
perpetually at the command of the State
NOT UNHEALTHY.
s'The healthfulness of Folsom has been
demonstrated by the presence there fol
many years of a large number of prison
ers. The prisons would be built of stone
of which there is a limitless supply now
on the ground owned by the State. The
labor would be performed by the prison
ers at minimum cost.
1.-THE water supply for all uses within
the walls, for power where considered ad.
Visable and for irrigation, is ample in she
American River, which runs by the State
reserve at Folsom. Tine reserve of nearly
zoo acres of good land is large enough to
permit employment of many prisoners in
cutivating crops which could be used in
prison maintenance.
Folsom is far enough removed from
any city for prison uses, but is easily
reached by rail at slight cost"
The report contemplates the main
fenance Of two prisons at Folsom, TO be
supplied with lights, water and factory
power from common sources. Director
DePue has given especial study to the in
ternal economies of the proposed prisons
and recommended that the inmates of the
prisons be classified and separated.
He urges the placing of the confirmed
criminal class by itself. and the enforce
1nent OF discipline more severe than
that now in force. For the present he
would employ that class in the jute mill
at San Quentin.
Director DePue believes that the Legis-
lature should make an appropriation fol
erection of proper buildings and the pur-
chase OF the necessary machinery, and
that articles such as clothing, blankets
hats and shoes should be made by the
prisoners for all inmates of the prisons
asyluns and other State Institutions.
SEPARATION NECESSARY.
eat the prices now paid for such arti.
cles," he says, ''the institution would be
self-supportlng, or nearly SO, and would
teach the inmates trades that would as.
sist them when liberated. AS the plan
would not include the sale of such arti-
cles to the trade, it would be free from
the objection raised to nearly every other
industry, namely, competition with free
labor.
with the Preston School of Industry
connected as it is with the prisons. and a
distinctive class at each prison, our sys-
tenn would be vastly improved and ap-
proach more nearly that of New York
and other States that have tried various
systems. To carry the matter to the
most successful issue at present, a law
should be enacted relegating the first
timers and lesser criminals to Folsom