The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-19
THE STATE PRISON.
Annual Report of the Directors
and the Warden.
BUILDINGS MUCH IMPROVED.
No De1cas I'm the Matntenanes Fund
The Juss Mil should Be
Enlarged.

De enlarged trofI aseFony-toosn 10 sue-
loom plant. its present capacity being
wholly insufficient to supply the demands
for grain bags in this state. Eastern
Washington alone requires annually
no: less than 10000 grain bags.
and Il. has been clearly demon
strsted that, Notwithstanding the fact
that the duty on Calcusta-made bags has
been removed, no competition. even with
midas cheap labor. can prevent the sale
of twice the amount of bags now manu-
featured at this institution at small
profit. besides giving steady employment
to the convicts. The bags manufactured
during the past year cost S-l0 cents and
were sold At 6is cents per bag. besides
which, large quantities of hop and kiln
cloth and other jute fabrics were
made ~ proportionate profit. The big
price was caused by the iute crop of 1895
being small and of an inferior quality.
The supply of iute purchased for next
seasons consumption is much cheaper
and of a superior quality. which will
enable rs TO place bags on the market at
such low figures that no outside competi-
ton can affect the sale of the fabrics of
this mill in the future. To add thirty
looms with the additional extra machin-
cry will cost $50. 600
The system in vogue at present of head
ing grain will be suDrogated to the East
ern or better system of binding. and tho
state would be greatly benefited by amend
ing the present revolving fund law so as
to allow the purchase of material
suitabls for the manufacture of
binding and sewing twine, the
present machinery being adapted for that
purpose. The average price charged
farmers for Irvine is IS cents per pound.
This nrice could be greatly reduced. Be-
side. the manufacture of this item would
stimulate farmers TO the cultivation of
lax, heretofore an industry of the state
that has been almost wholly neglected,
and yet profitable.
The increased output of the jute mill
will necessitate the purchase of double the
amount of jute, etc., as per estimates OF
two years previous. 1t will therefore be
necessary to have the revolving fund in
creased from $50 900 to $lo0, 600 in order to
provide sufficient funds TO enable the pur-
chase of one years supply of raw ma
terial, should an opportunity present
itself whereby money could be saved for
the state by so doing.
Legislation should be enacted on the
subject of enabling tho directors to take
into custody and maintain the United
States prisoners convicted in this state.
pending the construction Of the contem-
plated United States penitentiary. there
being ample conveniences to do SO.
Tho United States prison officials
have repeatedly asked this board
to enter into contract with them
for this purpose. but there being no state
law authorizing the keeping of United
States prisoners at this penitentiary, the
directors have refrained from so doing.
However. the custody of these prisoners
could be made remunerative to the state
and at the same time save the United
States government considerable sum of
money each year.
During the past fiscal year l, 66s .694 brick
have been nsed for permanent improve
ments at the penitentiary, and these brick
ing a portion of fabrics on hand,
valued at $l0.00s go. this being
the retail price OF said brick, and
properly belonging to the revolving fund,
and therefore such legislation should be
enacted as will cover the above amount. so
that proper credit can be entered in the
brickyard accounts.
In his annual report TO the directors
Warden Coblentz, who took charge of tire
prison November 6, 1898. states that the
new brick hospital, 56x75 feet. with
shingle roof and stone foundation, was
built for s.. 4s3, by utilizing convict labor.
Local contractors would have charged
$4,000. The old hospital quarters are
used for the four female convicts.
The tost IsUfalatura N, ada
ton of s.. 500 for improving the water sup
ply. and with this sum an immense we'll
twenty-five feet in diameter and sixtv-two
feet deep-which contains an inexhausti-
BILE supply of cold. clear spring water
has been dug and a large Worthiugton
duplex pump. with capacity of $1,000
gallons per hour, which pumps the water
to tie prison, has been placed in the we'll
The pump Is run with the waste steam
from the jute mill, aud at no time, even
during the intensely dry weather this
past summer, has there been less than
sixteen feet of water in the well. On the
hill just outside the prison a large steel
standpipe has been erected, connected
with the tank. This furnishes water to
the prison, and might be used in case of
fire. The state saves the 81, 40 year
formerly paid for water.
The last legislature appropriated $1,000
to enlarge the stoekads. Local contract
ors wanted $4,000 for the work, which,
with convict labor. cost s5.s97. The
grounds in front of the prison have been
graded and ieveled, lawns made and
iiower gardens planted. by convict labor.
the state paying only for seeds. The convicts
built q fountain. which adorns the
d. all
garden has been set out. The stockade
enclosing the brickyard has been enlarged.
and SO has the jute mill In closure
beside. six watch towers have been
built, al at a cost OF 1870. Formerly
the meat supply was bad. Nov
meat Is bought on the hoof and
slaughtered a. the prison. The state
saves money and gets better beef rail-
road has been built from the prison yard
10 the jnte mill switch. doing away with
the hauling OF freight by teams. Bunkers
haze been built for coal, and warehouse
for lumber, lime, etc. Coal is nov used
altogether for fuel. being cheaper than
wood. A photograph gallery has been
established. under charge Of a convict.
and ''rogues' gallery" begun. The
shops have been enlarged, at
an expense of $3.50. and tho
carpenter shop removed from the
prison yard. The kitchen Is 20 be removed
from the dark place underground TO quar-
ters south Of the boiler room. This w!u
take all tbs Erss out OF the main
baiidings. A residence wsS hailt for the
warden. at cost of g, 80 Hydrants
have been placed in the prison
yards, giving protection from ire. Water
from the tank also irrigaies The garden