The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-10-29
Warden Freeman, of That In
stitutiOn, Makes His An
nual Report.
UNDER THE NEW REGIME.
His Institution Is Now Known as
the IncOrrigible PrisOn-In.
Good Condition.

The following is reproduced from
the Detroit Tribune of Monday:
"In September, 1897, at meeting
held in Marquette, the members of
the three prison boards of the state
decided that it was advisable, as a
means of reform, to make a wiser
distribution of the convicts among
the prisons of the state with view.
OF taking out of the reformatory
prisons such convicts as stood in the
way of reformatory work. 1t was,
therefore, agreed to designate the
Ionia institution as the reformatory,
the Jackson institution as the in
dustrial prison, and the Marquette
institution as the incorrigible prison.
Warden Freeman of Marquette, in
his first report under the new re-
gime, says that, owing to the above
classification, the per capita cost of
guarding and maintaing a strict
discipline would be greater in either
of the higher grade prisons. There
were just 200 prisoners at the be-
ginning of the period, and during it,
III new prisoners were received, 20
were received from Jackson prison,
one was returned from the asylum
and two were recaptured, making
the total for the period, 349. OF
this total 12l were discharged by
expiration of sentence, 16 were
paroled, four were transferred to
the asylum for the criminal insane,
two escaped, one was released by
order of the court, three were par
doned, and two died, leaving 200 at
at the close of the year
"The discipline of the prison ac-
cording to the report, has been note
ably good. Infractions of the rules
have been confined to a small per-
centage of the population, the num-
ber being surprisingly small when
the character of the men is consider
ed. The parole law is declared to
be an undoubted aid to discipline.
During the biennial period, 20 con-
victs were released on parole. OF
this number but one violated the
conditions of his parole.
From February, 1896, to Janu-
ary, 1898, there were no productive
industries whatever in the prison,
and during that period the men
were employed, as far as possible,
in such productive labor as
clearing land, grading the grounds,
etc. All labor saving machinery
laundry machinery, sewing ma
chimes, etc.-.was removed from the
institution, and the work was done
by hand in order to give employ
ment to more men. Last January
the warden entered into a contract
for the manufacture Of cigars and
stogies on the piece price plan. At
the close of the fiscal year the con-
tract was earning about 30 cents
per day per man. An increased de-
mand for the employment of con-
vict labor is noted by Warden Free
man, who states that be has recent
y received two very favorable
propositions. ~
During the biennial period the
average cost to the state of main
tanning each convict was 46 51-lO0
cents per day or $7.56 per capita
per annum less than during the pre-
ceding period. This saving has been
accom- plished without any detriment
to the prisoners. For the first time
in the history of the prison the farm
department made profit last year.
a school is conducted four nights
each week, attendance being COM
pulsory. There has not been an
epidemic or contagious disease in
the prison during the past six years.
The next legislature will be asked to
riake the following special appro-
priations: For extension of east
cell house to provide solitary cells
and hospital, $l3, 900; armature and
commutator, $500; replacement of
boiler, etc, 1883; laundry rqui p
mrnts, $500; horse lawn mower and
sweeper. $3.50; pig pens, 800; barn,
$9O0; general repairs. $1,000; coal
snpd. 81, 900; total. Sl9,539.
The estimates for current ex-
! p,nses for the ensuing two years
q $50 5l3,50 for each year. This
i aWodnted to S3i, az 6ti in 1897,
q Sil.9S3 28 IN 1898 The prop
a = of the institution, including
(, l1ild'nes and grounds. rs inven-
{ lied 1T s2J2, l2g.