The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-31
A STATE PRISON SCHOOL
WARDEN HARLEY'S EFFORTS TO
KEEP IDLE CONVICTs EMPLOYED.
Wants to Lease Ground Near the Pris.
on and Have the Men
Cultivate 1t.

The warden and directors Of the Northern
Prison met yesterday and made the regular
financial settlement with the State. On ac-
count of the new law forbidding contract
labor in the prison, the warden of the insti-
tuition found deficit of $25, 900 at the close
of the fiscal year. Since the law went into
effect in April last, none of the expiring
contracts by which many men were en-
ployed, have been renewed. Although some
of the contracts are yet in force, Warden
Harley thinks that by the first of the year
he will not have more than $50 men en-
ployed Last year, under the old law. the
Northern Prison turned into the state treas
ury as earnings the sum of $l03,00O This
year the prison is ZOO short
Notwithstanding the fact that the prison
authorities are making every effort possible
to conform with the requirements of the
statutes the new law is very unpopular
with the inmates of the prison. The men
at least the majority Of them-prefeI
work to idleness. Many of them have
learned to dread the long vigils in their
cells. One of the plans the warden is about
to put in operation to employ the minds OF
the men is what he terms school" A
building has recently been constructed large
enough to accommodate about $50 men. The
interior has been fitted up like a school
room, with seats and desks. 1t is the pur-
pose to teach the illiterate class of prison
ers to read and write and do little ''hgur-
ing" There are many men at the prison
who cannot write their names In the
prison are a number of men competent to
teach the common branches, and they will
be put in charge of the school" BY this
means the warden hopes to accomplish some
good results
otto state is TO establish a farm near the
prison. Within a short distance of the
prison walls is a tract of land comprising
several thousand acres of swamp ground
This real estates is owned by Chicago cap
italiSts, who have agreed to lease two OF
three hundred acres Tor a reasonable sum
Warden Harley thinks that with $1,000 OF
$1,000 he could get possession of this lane
and drain it so that ii could be utilized as
farm The ground is sandy and could be
successfully cultivated. The warden be-
lieveS he could raise potatoes onions, beans
and other garden truck in sufficient quanIi
ties TO make the investment pay. He woulC
cultivate the farm with the hoe and couic
work many hundred convicts. The product
he thinks, could be disposed of to the diff
ferent penal and benevolent institutions. OF
the State. Warden Harley has mentioned
the scheme to Governor Mount, who seems
to be pleased with it. AT this time, how
ever, there is little prospect of procuring
sufficient funds to start the farm.
Some time ago Warden Harley gave the
men of the prison a picnic" as it was
called In building the new system of water
works it was necessary to use thousands
of bricks. These bricks had to be elevated
and instead of having this work done by
means of the hod the warden introduced ar
innovation. All of the idle men that were
able to move about were brought out and
put to work carrying bricks Each man
bore one brick to the masons and then re-
turned for another. This was kept up for
several days and the men were delighted
with the exercise. They went about the
work like children at play, and it was truly
a picnic for them. The prison now has
nine hundred inmates.