The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-20
JAIL WARDEN'S REPORT
GRATIFIES OFFICIALS
Institution Now in q Flour
ishing Condition.

/ The annual report Of the District jail
/ has been submitted to the Attorney Cen
! eTaI for his consideration. Warden Har-
/ ris, in charge of the institution. Is more
! than pleased with the showing made,
! and the Attorney General has expressed
his entire satisfaction with the report.
/ As soon as 1t is printed, the report will
! be distributed to the public. and resi-
/ dents of the District OF Columbia will
/ be sratified at the showing made.
/ From sanitary point of view but
few Institutions OF punishment in the
! country are as favored. The prison
/ is not palace, but il was not designed
/ TO be place of reward for those who
/ have observed the laws of the United
States. Neither IS the Districts Jail
what il would be if built and equipped
today The health of the prisoners,
however, is astonishing. But two cases
/ Of sickness were On record yesterday,
and both were insignificant
In Charge Five Years.
Warden Harris has been in charge
for the past five years. IN that time
/ he has received 1850 prisoners under
/ sentence and held Tor court. OF these
twelve died while IN the prison from
natural causes, and eight others were
hanged. IL the first two years there
was much annoyance from malariaI
fever. None OF the cases was serious.
hut many prisoners suffered, and some
were confined IN the hospital for time
This has been stamped out
The prisoners are fed plain. but sub
stautial meals Their average dinner
consists of bread, beef. cabbage and
coffee. Il Is true the inmates do not
enjoy the privilege OF knives. forks and
spoons, and many viii be surprised at
the statement that such weapons, are
not used by them They are compelled
10 use their fingers. The cause Of this
is understood when 1t Is known that
prisoners often use them as deadly
weapons, and many prisoners and guards
have been fatally injured in prisons
where knives and forks are used
Light and Ventilation.
The cells are well lighted and ven
tilated. Although narrow. as they must
be, each cell is lighted by the door and
window, one at either end. The two
blocks Of cells are in tiers OF five. The
heat supplied them enters from below
and drives all impure air upward and
out through airhoIes in the roof Of the
prison The absence of the usual prison
odor is noticeable TO those familiar with
such institutions. and this is readily &C
counted for by system inaugurated by
the present warden
At either end Of each tier basin
filed with diluted quantity of car
b0lic acid is placed on an oil stove and
kept steaming all day and night. By
this method every particle Of impure
air is driven out. Baths are installed
on each tier. and every prisoner is com
PEELED to take baths regularly. This IS
done under the supervision of the pris-
on medical officers. Special bathtubs are
provided for those suffering with infec-
tious or contagious diseases.
4 Model Kitchen.
The kitchen was found IN better con-
dition from a standpoint of cleanliness.
than similar institutions of many hotels.
The cooking is done by the prisoners.
under the supervision Of a citizen cook.
The prisoners do their own laundry
work in a modern establishment. but
recently Installed. A separate prison
is provided for women. and their cook
ing and laundry work is done by them
under direction of two matrons. both Of
whom are experienced in the care of
prisoners.
The question Of exercise is one which
is considered debatable- At the Dis
trict Jail Iong-term prisoners are given
he preference IN prison work. Every
inmate in the institution IS compelled
to exercise daily. II there is no work.
a specified time Of walking up and down
the tier floor Is required. The majority
OF prisoners tire before the allotted time
is up, while others are ready 10 quit
at t-e end Of the hour. The record Of
the institution shows that the health of
long-term prisoners improves. and many
depart with greatly increased weight.
and all with better health
UnruIy prisoners are punished by con
5uement in the dungeon, or by being
made TO stand fastened to their cell
doors The period Of punishment is
limited. however. TO a humane degree.
OF the $50 prisoners. 276 are serving
sentence, others are being held for the
grand Jury. and one is under sentence
or dealt
LIQUOR LICENSES FOR
CLUBS ISSUED YESTERDAY