The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-14
Prisoners on Mcneil Island to Be
Put to Work.
PLANS FOR A NEW BUILDING.
Marshal Ice. Finding His Request for
an Appropriation Set at Naught.
Has Decided TO Put the Iatl Birds
TO Constructing = Substitute for
Serving n Warden's Quarters.

TIE jelly set of Jail birds who roost on
McNeiFs island up the Sound near Ia
ccs-na. as the inmates Of the United States
peaiien.iary, will very shortly have other
employment than basklng in the warm
June sunshine and watching the whitecaps
racing over the blue waters OF the Sound
in front Of the prison. provided United
States Marshal c. w. Ide, whose head
quarters are in Tacoma, carries cut
pleasan. little plan he has formed for their
amusement this summer. The sixty pris-
oners haven't a great deal OF work down on
the island. as rule, and the marshal be-
iieves they might as wei be set making
brick, which will be used In the erection Of
new quarters for the warden and other
officers OF the institution.
Marshal ide has been considering the
plan for some time, and yesterday in his
Seattle Office in the United States court
building he gave II in detail to Post
IntelIigencer reporter. Said he:
The penitentiary building itself. over
on the island. Is not so bad. IL is Of
stone, and serves It's purpose quite well.
But the old wooden building that Is used
as quarters for the officers is an eyes6re
1t was bull, OF wood In 1s77-I believe that
was the year-and naturally in twenty-six
years it has not been entirely unscathed
by time. The floors have sunk. the walls
lost their grip. and the roof sagged until
it is sight 10 behold. Fer long time l
have been wanting repairs made. and
have no doub: that IL the matter were
properly attended to in Washington City
an appropriation could be obtained for the
purpose
This war. however, or something else
at Washington. seems 20 have overshad-
owed us out here fer the present. A few
weeks ago l telegrap1ed back for leave
10 make repairs at an expense of $3.50
but l have never received an answer. a.
though | have telegraphed and written
again and again since then. The more
| thought about il. the more / became
impressed with the idea that didn's need
any appropriation, and would be able TO
do the work with the money allowed me
for running expenses. | figured out that
| had all the labor | wanted at my COM
mand some of i skilled, 100. and | re-
solved that If the government was too busy
30 answer my kilograms and letters
would do the work myself and let the bills
take care Of themselves for while.
When ! so back to Tacoma I shall buy
a cheap lot OF brick-making machinery and
send II over to the island. and before the
government knows what am doing I shall
have burned the brick and put up a new
building to replace the wooden antiquity
now used for wardens' quarters. OF course
they may stop ne when they find out what
| am about. but II they don't there viii he
a changed appearance about the peniten-
tiary grounds in short order.
As Marshal Ide said this he leaned back
In his chair and smiled broadly. He Is
man OF action. and not Of words. as his
opponents in politics have cften found. and
he evidently has no apprehension that his
pans will 30 awry. rnere was at one
time a brickyard on the Island. but IL was
long ago looted of its machinery. The
yards and buildings will serve for the ac-
commoda.ion Of the new plant. however.
Marshal lde has been a busy man during
the few days he has heen in Seattle. and
the deputies In his Office have been hee;.
over head In work. Yesterday the fees
Of the last grand jury witnesses were
being paid. and arrangements being made
For the transportation Of the remaining
United States prisoners from the county
Jail TO the island.
One OF the prisoners indicted by The
grand jury. who pleaded guilty and was
sentenced 10 six months IN the county
ian. yesterday comVla ned 10 the marshal
az the meals furnished ny Sheriff Mover
Gaining he was compelled - nj ont for
additional food In order TO escape st&yva-
SION The marshal remarked that the ia
WAS nat supposed 10 he llrst-class beard
ing house. but instructed Deputy Mar
shall TYLER 10 cali around some DAY 81
.leal time and see just What Sheriff Meyer
was = wing United States prisoners 70! the
money paid hini by the government.