, 1897-04-10
STATE CONY|C7S.
TERTIARY LESSEE, INTER
VIEWED.
Mcdonald to be Retained-New Lessee
VIII Furnish Work for Prisoners
and Keep Their Minds Occupied
Many Reforms Proposed in Manage
menl Of P~enitentiary.

N. X. Boswell, the new lessee of the
state penitentiary. who was in the city
Thursday and returned home to Lara
mie yesterday morning, was seen by the
Cheyenne Tribune reporter and asked
regarding the policy which he would
pursue as lessee.
First, l shall find something for the
convicts to do" began Mr.. Boswell.
The great trCuble at the penitentiary
heretofore has been that the prisoners
had little TO do to occupy their minds
and keep them out Of mischief. l pro-
pose to rectify this mistake and as early
as possible. There are 800 acres Of the
finest farming lands in the state adjoin-
ing the penitenLiary, which shall cul-
tivate and make productive, thereby
furnishing work for the prisoners and
food for them to eat. The land in Ques-
ton Is we'll watered, lying as it does be-
tween the Pioneer canal and the Lara
mic river, and is especially adapted to
raising vegetables, corn, etc. Twenty
acres OF this tract Of land was ploughed
up 20 years ago, but nothing was ever
done with it. l shall pillow up a greater
portion of the 800 acres. l shall also
keep a large number of milch cows,
horses, hogs, chickens, ETC., etc. In fact
l propose to make the p~enitentiary as
nearly self-supporting as possible. In
side the penitentiary, although l have
not selected any particular work for the
men,I shall have them make all Of their
clothing, shoes, etc. Brooms will also
be MANUFACTURED"
GUARDS WILL BE RETAINED.
When asked IL any changes would be
made in the force at the penitentiary
Mr.. Boswell said: Il understand that
Warden Mcdonald has made a good and
efficient warden and 90 far as I know
now he shall be retained. He shall have
control Of the guards and l shall be
governed by his suggestions as regards
the employment or discharge of such
employees of the institution
WILL BE KIND TO CONVICTs.
In speaking Of the treatment usually
accorded ~convicts, Mr.. Boswell said he
thought his ideas regarding this matter
were the correct ones.
Il was sheriff Of Albany county nine
years and had from 20 to 40 prisoners
on my hands all the time. When some
Of them were first locked
up they said they would
kill me when they got out. But they
never attempted anything Of the kind
and l will venture the assertion that
every nj Of them that is alive is my
friend today. l don't believe in treating
prisnoers as they are treated sometimes.
l believe in being kind to them, provid-
ing them with work to occupy their
minds and when their term expires they
will go out into the world feeling that
they have something to live and work
for. II they are i'll treated and are al
lowed to lay in idleness. they will, many
OF them go crazy and those who do not
will be worthless when they are releas-
ed. I believe in strict discipline and
shall see that the guards are all disci-
plined and in turn the prisoners will
have TO toe the scratch, although they
will be treated as kindly as possible"
CONVICT5 WILL HAVE PIN MONEY
81 propose also" added Mr.. Boswell,
ito lay out SO many hours work for each