West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1894-02-22
OUR STATE pENIrENrIAaY.


! written Tor the ARGUS.
Perhaps no one of our State insti-
tutIons has been so nearly banished
from public notice as the West vir-
gina Penitentisry. The newspapers
Of our State have often times TEEN
ed with well written articles con-
corning the Asylum, Reform School
and our University. while not o
word, within the writer's recollcc-
ton, has been said about our Penn
ten larry. Perhaps there are reasons
for this that could not be construed
rs reflection on the institution or
its officers. 1t has been said that
funeral sermons are not pleasant
subjects, hence they are hard to
preach.
Since commencing this article ]
have realized that my subject is
neither cheerful or inviting, but by
the help of my personal knowledge
of the institution, (having visited
it twice within the last monthly,
and having the benefit Of the mem.
oranda, ! will endeavor to give the
public fair account of the institu-
ton, from my standpoint.
The building is modern stone
structure. with capacity for near
five hundred persons-the walls Ell
closing several acres of ground.
Within this wall are the dining
rooms, work shops and other minor
buildings. The structure is per-
haps u little too level. ! think
one fourth, or even one eighth of
mile further northwest, would have
been better, but, by the way, there
are very few nicer locations for n
town, or even city, in West Vir-
gina than Moundsville. The Peni-
tentiary, situated as it is in the
beautiful Ohio Valley, looms mp as
monument of modern architec
ture-not only SO, but it indicates
To each and every one that may
view it, that the law of the land is
supreme. To-day there are 41S
conyicts within its walls-251 white
males, 43 colored males, 6 white
females, 8 colored females-31 males
have life sentences and the Others
have from one to 20 years. Two
hundred and fifty seven males arc
now employed by Weaver Bardall
Manufacturing Co., who manufac
ture brooms, whips, leather fly nets
and hatters-10i men are employed
IN whip shop, 70 in fly net, and 70
in broom shop. Forty men are EN-
ployed about the building and
grounds. There are about fifteen
old or crippled men that are not
able to work. Ninety men are un
employed, and are able bodied, but
no work to do. In connection with
the institution there is an excellent
hospital, with modern improve
ments. The sick are we'll taken
care of. AT present there are about
seven inmates-sll have lingering
diseases. The doctor visits the in
stitution daily. A. new feature is
the school. While the unemployed
have no manual labor to perform,
they are put to studying the com
mon school branches. Strange to
say, two thirds of all the prisoners
cannot read intelligcntly in the
second reader.
The present officers of the inst-
tuition are: Ex-senator Van Pelt,
Of Fayette, county, Warden; j. III.
Wellman, of Wayne, CLERK; ID.
Sbafer, Of Ohio, Engineer; John
Ray of Ohio, Officer of Guard; j f.
Bane, Of Brooke, Guard; NJ. j.
Barrett, of Harrison, Guard; j. IL.
Brown, Of Jackson. Guard; w. II.
Carter, OF Kanawha, Guard; w. Il.
Chambers, of Hardy, Guard; II. j.
Frey, Of Lincoln, Guard; George
Cooke, Of Preston, Guard; A. Kill
coyne, OF Cabell, Guard; a. 9.
Murryfeld. Of Ohio, Guard; NJ.
/ r. Marshall, Of Hampshire, Guard
j. s. Nugcn, OF Fayette, Guard; j.
T. Overly, OF Morgan, Guard, RI
Rice, OF Mason, Guard; j. II. Rob
inson, Of Barbour, Guard; John
Sullivan, Of Ohio, Guard; j. r.
Supple, Of Kanawha, Guard; L.
Shimp, Of Marshal, Guard; J.. W,
Williams, Of Raleigh, Guard.
For men employed on contract