Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-02-11
NAMES STATE PRISON.
One of the Legislative Committee
Tells of Visit There.

Tells of II Visit There.
The State prison committee from the
legislature visited the prison to-day to
Investigate the di fferent departments and
recommend such appropriations as they
conceive necessary for the repair and
maintenance of the institution.
The appropriations for the different
shops and buildings as asked for by the
warden are follows: Brick work shop,
$3.50; broom shop, 1900; harness shop,
1918; chapel, 500; blacksmith shop, 5000;
prison, 5000; prison wall, 5000; gate
house, S125; carriage repository, SS5; en-
CINE house, sos; store room, $500; war
den's dwelling, 500; officers dwellings,
$500; stable, S150; department warden's
house, 1925; school-room, $1,000; total
of Sl0,635; the appropriation to be ex-
pended by the direction of the warden
and prison inspectors.
We found the prison clean, wei!-venti-
lated, well-iighted and supplied with an
abundance of water from Oyster river
pond This pond is situated somew hat
back from Camden hills at an elevation of
about 300 feet, and entirely surrounded
by clean rocky beach. 1t is supplied
with water by springs filling the pond at
all times of the year. Without doubt the
pure drinking water supplied to the pris-
oners accounts for the entire absence of
| typhoid.
| The products of the prison are a bout 25o
dozen corn brooms week, 100 harnesses
month, 100 sleighs and 100 carriages year,
and quite variety of furniture. This,
| with the repair work, amounts in the ag-
| gregate to about $50 coo year. 1t is
timated by the prison officials that this
amount is sufficient to maintain the in
stitution, with the exception OF the sal
aried officers and repairs on buildings.
The whole number of convicts at pres
ent is 16G-160 males, six females. There
are also seven insane inmates, re-
tanned here after their terms Of imprison-
ment have expired.
We visited the several work shops,
watc hing the prisoners patiently toiling
at he forge, at the work bench, in the
paint shop and broom factory, and we
realized to some extent what it is for an
intelligent man to be inclosed within
|
side these-hard labor and a narrow
| stone cell.
Upon visiting the womei's department
we found a marked change. All We're
provided it'll comfortable bedrooms As
| large as the ordinary, with good bed
covered with "A white spread and provided
with two pillows and pillow shams. The
floor was covered with rugs, and every
thing neat and tidy.
1t seems to US the female prisoners
should be punished for the same crime
in the same way the male prisoners;
| for instance, if male prisoner disobeys
the rules of the prison, he is confined in
dark dungeon and provided with a
scanty allowance of bread and water until
he is penitent, but ii it be female pris-
oner she is simply locked in her COM
| Portable room. Why should murderess
be dealt with more kindly than MUIR
derer? The female prisoners, further
more, have the privilege of talking with
each other, while the male prisoners are
absolutely forbidden to converse one
with another at liberty. This in itself
must be severe punishment.
! 1t was suggested to US by some of t e
prison inspectors that we make recon-
mendation for the appointment OF ma
tron for the women's department, and We
were also urged to do so by the ladies who
visited the prison with us-Mrs. DIR. Bill
lings, Mrs. Sawyer, Mrs. Bailey and Mrs.
| Helen c. Beedy. We think this would be
all that could be done to improve the con-
dition of these poor fallen creatures. If
! they will not reform by the kind religious
| teachings of Mr.. Plummer, the chaplain,
vet h the assistance of a suitable matron
| in these quarters, we doubt if they would
in any reformatory that could be pro-
vided
The appropriation of $4,000 for school
room is very essential, as there is no place
provided for this purpose. The only
opportunity for the prisoner to learn to
read and write at the present time is in
his cell, reciting through the bars in
whisper, to the chaplain. The school
room as proposed would be between the
two wings of the guard house and
directly above. The prisoners could be
taken to this room without going out of
the prison, and as the roof of the guard
house must soon be repaired, it seems to
be the right time to make this improve
ment. M. d. c.
Thomaston, Jan. 2S, 1897