The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-03-28
REPORT OF PENI1ENTIARIES.
LEGISLATIVE Visiting Committee Were
Well Pleased.
PENAL INSTITUTIONS WELL MANAGED.
o(rungIy Recommend state Farms.
Irssae Asylum II NeeAed--inves-
tiGation Into Death OF Convict

Austiu. Texas, March 27.-The house
subcommittee appointed to visit the pen'-
tsntiaries reported as follows today:
Hon. l.. T. Dashieli. Speaker OF the House.
Sir: Your subcommittee appointed TO
visit the penitentiaries and convict farms
worked on State account AMI for individu-
ais, have to report that we left Austin on
March IA and arrived at Rusk penitentiary
ON the morning OF the 10th. we spent the
evening OF the 18th and also part OF the
18th looking over the different industries
carried on within the walls. Inc manu-
featuring is If iron. which. in appearance,
and durability is as good. II not superior,
a. similar products of other foundries.
We found everything about the prison in
good order. and as clean and comfortable as
Il II possible 10 be In penal institution.
There seemed to be good order and KIND
but firm discipline In all the departments
The workshops. kitchen and hospital We're
closely inspected with regard TO their san
itary condition. and were found to be as
complete as the environment and means
could make it. The sick were all provided
with comfortable beds. with suitable food
and nursing, aud the best OF medical treat
ment. All Of the officers insisted on the
most rigid inspection. from garnet TO cellar
and cheerfully rendered every possible as
sistance in getting such information as we
desired II is unnecessary FOR us TO go
into q detailed statement OF the iron and
other industries in and adjr cent to the
walls of the prison. as the whole subject
has been exhaustiyely and truthfully set
forth in the annual report OF Superintend-
ent Whatley.
After giving the prison az thorough an
inspection as possible. we visited the wood
atsl 70, ,tu4t nf fruf Nc
portation the railroad built by Major What
ley with the penitentiary force, extending
about eight miles In the direction of Pal
estine. A force is kept to cut wood for
fuel and get out coal for the furnace. While
another force. not able to do hard work.
is employed in cultivating the farm, which
supplies the necessary vegetables for the
prison population. besides the .ield crops
that are produced
We found the temporary prisons com
Portable. and clean aud the inmates gen
orally looking well and healthy. We talked
with quite n number OF them End heard
no word of complaint about The sergeant
or other officials connected With the prison.
We left Rusk on the nth, arriving at
Huntsville on the morning Of the 18th, and
were astonshed at the busy appearance OF
everything about the prison; 1t is more
like great manufacturing establishment
than prison. We were offered every op-
portuDi,y to inform ourselves about the
different industries carried on. aud the gen
eral MANAGEMENT OF the prison. We made
q thorough inspection of the prison and
cells. dining hall. hospital aud workshops.
and found every thingt Ia first-ciass coudi-
ton; very little sickness among me Vris-
oners. The hospital is well arranged and
IA I'm ts.k
erlv looked after.
The manufacturing consists OF wagons
steam engines. cloth for oonvicts and shoes
for same. Furniture and every article
equal in appearance and durability to the
products OF the best factories Of The North
We wish especially to call the attention
OF the Legislature TO the conyicts who are
and have been for some time insane most
OF them to all appearances hOpelessly So
1t seems to us that some provision should
be made for their care and treatment in,
another asylum. under the present law
they would have to be returned to their
home county to be tried for insanity. which
would cost the State too much. when the
inquiry could be made by judge and jury
OF the county in which the prison is located;
small hospital for the insaue might be
built at one OF the prisons, where such
convicts could receive such treatment and
care as would be conducive to their re.
covery.
We also visited the State farm, on which
- worked the third-class conylcts We
found everything In splendid condition
with clean. comfortable quarters for the
men The farm IS well managed and sun
plies vegetables feed crops and produces
nearly enough tobacco to supply the prison.
Mrs. Eastheims farm was visited. ,ghera
number Of convicts are hired, the ZEN
eral conditions W re satisfactory: suitable
provision has been made for the comfort
able housing OF the men. a very good gar
den of Vegetables has been planted Tor the
use OF the convicts.
The financial agent took special care to
shoy us through the store and offices
which. we are pleased to state, ere pre.
sided over with care and ability and with
an eye TO strict business principle.
We visited other farms whore convIrts
were hired and worked on shares, and found
the condition and management like those
already mentioned. hence we do not think
II essential to go into detailed statement
We went directly from Huntsville 10 the
Harlem farm, which is owned by the State
and worked by third-class conyicts under
the direction of the superintendent. After
inquiring into the management OF this
farm and the treatment OF the conyicts
and the profits accruing TO the State from
the proceeds of convict labor as compared