The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-09-04
State Penitentiary to
Be Made a Model
Institution
A Farm has Been Leased TO
Raise Supplies For
This State In
stitution

holds another office in his life. II
overhauling and renovation he is 81
ing the Oregon state prison ought I
endear him to the humane people {
Oregon people forever.
The old parts Of the building hav
been thoroughly cleaned and free
from vermin. and with the liberal us
OF whitewash and dlslnfcctants mad
habitable and sanitary.
The cells have been lined and scouI
ed and repaired so that they are cleai
and sweet for the first time in tn
history OF that institution since years
The foul smell that greeted one fl
passing the doors is no longer pres
ent.
The cells themselves can never b,
made perfectly wholesome foE human
habltation. as they are too small
many Of them improperly connected
with drain pipes, and have not enough
air for two men.
The corridors have no proper aft
circulation and are filled with dead
air all the time. except an occasional
ventilation when a window Is down
Under these circumstances today
the prison is without case OF fever
and the hospital is empty. The pris.
oners are happy and contented, every
one OF them at work and all speak in
the highest terms OF the management.
This is not saying there is any lax.
fly Of discipline. There are stringent
new rules for the commissary and the
care OF the cells and the personal
cleanliness OF the prisoners.
The slightest infractIon OF the rules
and discipline Is punished with the
dungeon and bread and water diet.
but fiogging has been practically abol
lshed II is seldom used.
The congregated dining hall that
was built some years ago. but not put
into use Ia nearly ready for occupan.
cy and Will be a great relief from the
present system OF feeding the men In
the cells.
A steel cage heavily guarded by
armed guards will be suspended above
the floor TO make this dining hall ab.
solutely safe It will guard not only
the dining hall. but all the approaches
from the yard
In his Efforts 10 render the prison |
more safe the Governor has had all |
tho brush cleared away from all the
water courses leading 10 the prison
grounds, removed many old sheds and |
10 full view. and raised
all the electric lights so that the night |
illumination is perfect.
The women prisoners have been |
put into the same quarters and told |
that any differences OF opinion among
them viii be punished and that they |
must live In peace and harmony. Their
luarers have been cleaned and i'm.
proved.
All the drinking and washing water
for the prisoners Is boiled and fur.
nished fresh each day on every ward.
A musical concert Is permitted In
the chapel several evenings each |
week. consisting oi singing and In.
strumental pieces conducted by trus.
Ties This affords a great pleasure TO |
AN the men In the cells
These are only few OF the Inn
provements made. In llne with human.
itarian prison reform and inaugural.
cd by Governor Chamberlain.
The present governor OF Oregon Is |
determined so far as Il Is possible
with the present plant 10 make the !
prison a model institution.
Leased Prison Farm.
superintendent James has leased |
IssA 1
east OF this city for the use OF the
and will farm the place
with a view 20 producing all the feed |
required al the prison The lease |
was made for four years, az a rental |
OF $3.50 for the first year ana 5000 a |
year for the next three years, a con. |
siderable smaller sum than former Su. |
perintendent Lee recommended that
the state pay for the use OF this same
tarm which contains 2Os acres and is !
ip a high state OF cultivation. Mr..
Lees recommendation was for S. per
acre year The land was In hax
this season and was thoronghly culti. |
waited, and MIR James SAYS he will
be able 10 produce on that place all
the feed required for the stock at the
prison so that no feed viii have to be
bought as Is being done now. This
year the prison authorities are com.
pelled 10 buy about $1,000 worth of
iced and che management proposes 10
save this expense In the future. The
farm has been used by ID BOsse for
the production OF nax and some of
his hackers called on the Governor
Yesterday afternoon and asked that
The lease be not made until they could
seq about arranging for the retention
n the place for fax culture another
year but they were too late as the
lease had already been signed and
he farm Is now under the control OF
The state aud win be FOR the next four
years. Mr. James considers the
larr one OF the best to be found in
his section. ard the fact that Il Was
used for nax and the promoters Of the
Ilax industry are anxious 10 aEain "a,
cure 4 proves that the land Is valaa-