The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-14
Prisoners on Mcneil Island to Re
Put to Work.
PLANS FOR A NEW BUILDING
Marshal iae, Finding His Request for
an Appropriation Set at Naught.
Has Decided to Put the all Biras
tn Constructing q Substitute for
the Present Dila pidated structure
Serving - Warden's quarters


McNeigs island. up tie Sound near Ia
coma as the Inmates 81 The United States
reaitent!ary VIII very shorty have other
employment than hasking in The warm
Jane sunshine and watching the whitecaps
racing over the blue waters OF the Sound
in trent OF the prison. provided United
States Marshal c. w. Ide. whose head
quarters are in Tacoma. carries cut a
pleasant little plan he has formed for their
amusement this summer. The sixty pr.s-
oaeFs haven't great deal of work down on
The island as a rule, and the mars raj be-
Heyes they might as wei be set making
hrlck. which VIII he used in the erection Of
new quarters for the warden and other
officers of the Institution.
Marshal Idle has been considering the
plGn for scme time. and yesterday in his
Seattle Office in the United States caur,
building ne. gave il in detail 10 a Posi-
Inteiligencer reporter. Sad he:
The penitentsary building itself. over
or the island is not so bad j. ia Of
stone. and serves its purpose quite well.
But me old wooden building that IS used
as quarters FOR the Officers is an eyesore
Ii was built OF wood In 1S7e-I believe that
vas the year-and naturally in twenty-six
years II has MOI been entirely unscathed
BY time. The floors have sunk, the walls
lest their grip. and tie roof sasged until
i is a sight to behold. For a long time I
have been wanting repairs made. and /
properly attended 10 in Washington CITY
an appropriation could be obtained for the
purpose.
This war, however, or something else
al Washington. seems 10 have overshad-
owed us cut here fer the present 4 few
weeks ago | telegrapAed back fer leave
10 make repairs at an expense Of $3.50,
but have never received an answer.
though | have te.egraphed and written
again and again since then. The more
I thought about 1t. the more / became
impressed with the idea that l didn't need
any appropria lion. and would be able TO
do the work with the money allowed me
for running expenses. I figured ont that
| had ali the labor | wanted at my COM
mand some of il skilled. TOO. and | re-
solved that If the government; was too busy
TO answer my kilograms and letters |
would do the work myself and let the bills
take care of themselves for a while
When | go hack to Tacoma l shall bay
a cheap lot OF brick-making machinery and
send Il over 10 the island and before the
government knows what l am doing ! shall
have burned the brick and put up a new
building to replace the wooden antiquity
now used for wardens quarters. or course
they may stop me when they find out what
am about. bu, If they don't there viii be
a changed appearance about the peni,en-
tiary grounds IN short order
As Marshal Idle said this he leaned back
in his chair and smiled broadly. He is a
man Of action. and not of words. as his
opponents in politics have often found. and
he evidently has no apprehension that his
plans will go awry. There was at one
time a brckyard on the Island. but IL was
long ago looted Of lis machinery. The
yards and buildings will serve for the ac-
commodatioa Of the new plant. however.
Marshal Ide has been a busy man during
the few days he has been in Seattle, ard
the deputies In his office have been heels
over head in work. Yesterday the fees
81 the last grand Jury witnesses were
heIgg paid. and arrangements being made
for the transportation Of the remaining
United States prisoners from the county
Jail 10 the island.
one OF the prisoners indicted by the
grand jury, who pleaded guilty and was
sentenced to six months IN the county
jail. yesterday complained to t1e marshal
Of the meals furnished by Sheriff Meyer.
Gaining he vas compelled to send out for
additional food in order 30 escape s;arva-
ton The marshal remarked that the jail
was not supposed 20 he a first-class board
ing house. bat Instructed Deputy Mar
shat Tyler 70 call around some day at
rnea! time and see just what Sheriff Meyer
VAS giving United States prisoners for the
money paid him by the government.