The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-03-08
REFORMATORY
INSPECTED
Commission and State Officials
Visit Railway Institution

Vice President FarreIIy Presides.
One Wing about Ready for Occu-
patton. A Forward Step Towards
Reformation of First Offenders.
Governor Voorhees,, the State re-
formatory commissioners, a delegation
of State Legislators and guests took
part recently in a public inspection of
the New Jersey Reformatiory at Rah-
way, work upon which was begun
about eight years ago. The institu-
tion is yet far from being completed
in accordance with the original,plans.
AS soon as the work can be finished,
the institution will be opened for the
admission of prisoners.
The main building, when finally COM
pleted, Twill consist of four mammoth
wings extending from the very large
rotunda, which is surmounted with
one of the largest cupolas in this coun-
try.
The only part of so far built is the
rotunda and one wing. leaving three
wings yet to be built
The buildings are of brick and very
substantial. The wing of the main
building, including the rotunda, has a
length of 450 feet. The wing con-
tains four tiers of cells, 256 in all,
each of which is provided with
closets, stationary basins, water, etc.
The floors of the cells and of the en-
tire building are of comp osition
equal to stone.
The building and cells, as we'll as
every other building on the ground,
are illuminated at night by electricity
generated in the powerhonse at the
rear of the administration building.
The rotunda is lighted by day
through colored glass windows in the
dome, and at night by hundreds OF
incandescent lights.
The administration building is
three stories high, and is fitted up to
date. The two culinary departments
are provided with everything needed
for the cuisine.
The laundry on the third floor, con-
tains mammoth wash boilers centri-
fugal wringer, mangle for sheets and
drying department., all operated by
electrical power.
The storeroom on the first floor, is
filed with mattresses ready for use
the moment that the institution is
opened for business.
The sleeping apartments for the
officers and employees on the second
floor are homelike, the bedrooms being
provided with suits throughout, heated
by hot air and lighted by electricity.
The power and boiler house are in
the rear of the administration build
ing, and contain four large boilers, one
1876 H. P. engine, with 100 z. W..
generator, and one of so H. P, with
80 K. W. generator.
After lunch had been served, Vice
President Patrick Farrelly, of the re-
formatory commission, extended a
welcome to the governor and other
guests, and spoke at some length of
the reformatory and it's purposes.
David M. Chambers, president of the
commission, spoke briefly endorsing
the remarks made by Mr.. Farrelly.
Rev. Mr.. Mattox, chaplain of the
Trenton state prison, complimented..the
commission, declaring it had done it's
work we'll. He believes the institu-
tion will result in the salvation of
young men, who, having fallen once,
would be saved the disgrace of being
sent to prison and be given an oppor
tunity of redeeming themselves
Governor Voorhees,, when introduced.
met with warm reception. 1.-THE
New Jersey State Reformatory," he
declared, "had been one of his pet
schemes, hence his desire to see it
completed. Few there were," he
said, "who understood what the in
stitution was meant for. - He ex-
planned that it was no prison, but
simply house of refuge, as it were,
where young man might be given an
opportunity to reflect and reform be-
fore sinking so low that it would be
necessary to send him to state prison.
The governor said that he was sure
that once the institution got to work
a public sentiment would be aroused
which would soon result in it's rapid
and final completion.
Senator Gross spoke of having been
speaker of the house when the bin for
the inauguration of the reformatory
was passed, and. in happy vein, spoke
of the part he took toward securing
its passage.
Brief remarks were made by Senator
Strong, Commissioner Blackwell,
Judge Vail, also commissioner, AS
semblyman Meeker, Rev. DIR. J. A.
Liggett, and Rev. @. I. Cooler.
Railroad Notes.