The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-01
HE MAKES HIS REPORT.
Superintendent Simmons Closes
Reformatory Term.

Hutchinson. Kas., Oct. 1.-Mr. ]. S.
Simmons who has concluded his work
as SUPERINTENDENT of the State Indus
trial reformatory. mas submitted a re-
port to the board of rnanag gers of the
institution which is a thorough and
| complete statement of the work of that
place during the past year.
In the statement reference is made
to the master mechanics report of the
principal building work, which includes
the rev barn. the cold storage plant
and the repairs and extensions to the
and the wall around a 2Ortion of the
institution is also mentioned.
The report of the principal of the
schools shows that the educational fea-
| lures of the institution are not being
neglected. and that much good will
come from the 0resent plans and the
wise measures Which are taken in this
department
The parole officers policy of holding a
young man on parole until he is fairly
! settled in life, regardless of the length
of time, proves to be the best plan for
| this portion of the work and Mr.. Sim
mons recommends that this feature be
adopted permanently. He considers this
department as being one of the most
important in the institution.
There has not been a successful es-
cape of an inmate from the institution
! during the past year and none for nearly
four that were not recaptured and
brought back. This is ar. excellent rec
ord for the institution.
The report of the superintendent con-
| cludes as follows:
AT the writing of this report. Sep
TENDER 1, 1903. the writer has presented
/ his resignation on account of his in
creasing personal business and it is only
proper that he should continue his part
| of the report to this date.
Since June 80. the work under head
way at the time has been continued.
| The north wall of the cell house, which
also makes part of the prison wall,
| has been com ,0leted to the bottom of the
window s:lls. The north side of the
main prison wall has been started and
! is now UP some four feet. The carpenter
shop has not been built further because
| of the delay in receiving the proper
| lumber, caused by the general blockade
of the railroads. The other departments
| of the institution are all under the same
| direction as at the date of the report
and are in a satisfactory condition.
| Under these circumstances it would
perhaps not be improper to mention
some of the work that has been done
in the last four years. In brief. the cen
/ trial building has been completed. the
roof being only partially on when 1
took charge; this includes the compile
| ton of the roof, the finishing of the
guard room, chapel and hospital inside,
The corridor. both dining rooms, bath
room, kitchen and bakery have been
completed inside, including the making
and laying of the floors, Plastering.
painting electric light and heating
work The engine room has been built
and the entire electrical plant and cold
storage plant installed. The smoke
stack has been built two boilers and
one large pump in the boiler ROOM
The cell house, known s cell house
I No /, has been built entirely during
this administration and many improve
ments made in it over the other cell
! house. The large stone barn has been
built entirely during this administra-
ton An appropriation has been OBJ
| tanned for the partial building of the
wall and building the carpenter SHOP.
The wall has been started and is well
under way and when completed Will be
of great help to the institution.
PERHAPS the most arduous work for
the superintendent. however, has been
the organization of the institution
When I took charge four years ago
there were very few records being used
There was but one main record in the
store room and the ordinary CONNER
cial bookkeeping books in the clerk
office. All of the statistical records
have been introduced during that time
and all Of the blanks for the manage
merit of the institution. the paroled in
mates, etc. have been prepared, and in
troduca5 As there was an entire
change of administration when 1 took
charge what little organization there
was if any. was disregarded and the
present administration of the institu-
ton, without one single breath of scan
DIAL and with practically no criticism
at all. leads me to believe that this or
ganization was thorough
| Respectfully submitted
~. S. SIMMONS,
"Super;ntendent.''
E E. Marshall has been checked in
by the hoard and takes charge today.