The Monte Vista journal., 1898-09-03

W
sentative of the Leadville Herald
Democrat, made the following interest
Ing statements concerning the states
prisoners:
1.-THE reformntory Mt Buena Vista Is
In most excellent condition." said Mr.
Stonaker. "nnd the best part of it Is
that every one of the nincty-elght boys
there are hard at work every day in
the open air. They work in the fields
and you certainly cannot see finer
crops growing anywhere in the state
than the fields cared for by the pris.
oncrs at the Bucna Vista reformatory.
They raise no end of vegetables and
many of the boys there never had such
good food in their lives. They are fed
better than at the great majority of
prisons and reformatorics in this coun-
try; they sleep In cell house which
for sanitary comfort Is uneXcclled;
they have school and books. and al
together they are mighty well cared
for. The work they do in such fine
summer climate, with regular and
wholesome fare, plenty of hours for
sleep, puts them In the best physical
condition. and they go out on parole
greatly improved by reason of So
journ at Warden Hoyts sanitarium.
"Contrasted with the prisoners at
Canon City. the reformatory boys are
in great luck. Mind now, | do not wish
to convey the impression that Warden
Clcghorn is not doing good work at
Canon for the old prison birds there
who have seen the insidcs of num-
her of eastern prisons say that the
Colorado penitcntlary is far better in
every way. The Canon convicts get
vegetables In abundance, they have
fine bread and meat. they have good
library, regular habits, and in discip-
line they are making wonderful rec
ord. considering the conditions. DR..
Dawson. who has been prison physi-
clan for many years, told me the other
day that there had not been II case of
fever in the penitcntlary in seven
years. The men gre required TO drink
distilled water. and they are given reg
ular baths. They come to the ins,itu-
ton with health and constitution shat
tered by dissipation and disGrderly
lives, and they go out better in ply
sique than when they entered. In fact.
the regular hobo convict enjoys So
Journ there and goes out in fine fcttle.
ready to commit some new piece Of
rascality.
Fully 30 per cent. OF the 5SS men
now confined at Canon City are sery-
ing second, third and in a few eases
their fourth term in prison. Many OF
them have done time before in that
prison, while others driftcd to Colora-
do after being released from other
state institutions. They had to work
and work hard in other prisons. but
this state prefers to entertain these
guests without eNactinc anything In
exchange. Why, nm average of SIX
hundred men convicted of olfcnscs
against the people Of this state should
be given n chance To learn how Ia
pass their time In absolute idlcness and
learn TO become chronic idlcrs Is the
surprising thing about our system of
punishment Men who have worked
most OF their days and who, while in
toNicatcd. committed an ofrcnsc which
sent them to Canon are there taught
In n year or more to live without work.
and they 20 ont finally confirmed
idlcrs unable ana generally unwilling
To work hard any more. Old prison
birds whose reformation IL practically
hopeless have Just MS easy n time ms II
IL possible for men TO have In their
position.
Warden Clcghorn Is n most tender
hearted man, n humane officer and
thoughtful OF the welfare of his
charges. They all speak In the mos,
respectful terms OF their treatment
there. but their murmuring Is against
their enforced idlcncss. The prisoner
who has the duty Of sweeping down
the terrace steps Is happy because II
gives his muscles n little exercise; the
sixty men who 20 out to the farm and
garden tract nrc cnvlcd by the others
who have routine duties to perform
about the place. Warden Clcghorn dis.
tributes the men about the place as
well MS he can. five men doing the
work that one man could cnsily per.
form. simply TO give n little exercise
to all. The men who have to LAY in
for several days are put out when 9th.
,rs take their place killing time In the
cells,
For the discipline OF the prison. for
the welfare OF the men and because
they should be compelled TO pay for
their keep. work FOR all should be pro-
vidcd.
1T can be done for the educational
benefit To the men. for their financial
benefit. for the benefit OF the state,
nnd adjusted In u variety OF ways. The
pcnitcntiary costs the state OF Colora-
do Ssn,OOO per annum: II should cost
less than onc.half that sum.
Contract labor. OF course. Is out Of
tho question. The mnkcshift Of trying
to hnd some form OF labor which mny
not 'nntngonlzc' free labor ought to be
no longer Ignored. These prisoners
must be kept by the people either out.
side prison walls or within. They will
not work. nt least large proportion
of them. unless they are compelled To
toll. and taxpayers must feed and
clothc them.
Furniture made In Lansing pcnlicn.
ilnry In Kansas II sold In this stntc:
shirts mndc In Jackson pcnitcntiary.
Michigan. nrc worn by the men Of
Colorado: prison made articles nrc
bound 10 he sold NIL over the land.
Colorado cnn do something towards
giving the prisoners hcalthfui employ.
mcDt without going wholesale into
contract labor or without Introducing
expensive machinery or adopting some
single line OF manufacturing. Warden
clcrhorn Inns u number OF practical
iduns which he could Immediately
adopt. but he can lo nothing for lack
OF money. The appropriation IL ex.
hnustcd md the prison IL now running
on credit. No money can h. used save
for food aud clothing nnd the bare rt.u.
al ..f A..