The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-01-02
Bowler on rrisou L,bnr.

The question of employing the in-
mates of the penitentiary is n that
must be considered by The next leg
islature. The State Board of Char
tiles and Corrections advise theestab-
liSi.ing of u Irvine plant if the imam
ci;l condition of the state warrants
the outlay necessary. Hon. John A.
Bowler. ex-warden of the p%enitentiary
was interviewed by d representative
OF the Argus-Leader and after stating
the state could not at the present
time expend $500. 600 in the erection
of a Irvine plant, said: But there are
ways in which the %cOnvicts could be
given steady work and with great
advantage to the state. 1 believe
that they should make all the shoes
and coarse clothing used by the inmate
of the various penal and charitable
institutions, the mattresses and bed
ding and any articles of a simple nat
ure which the state is now compelled
to purchase. II the prisoners were
thus employed a large annual saving
would be made in the running expense
of the institutions and the men
would have employment.
"Of course there Is not enough work
OF this kind to keep busy the whole
force at the p%enitentiary. But there
is enough of it to keep those in work
who are unfit forheavy labor. A very
little instruction to. the long timers
would make them capable Of doing
the finer work like cutting and fitting,
while the coarse wotk could be done
by the convicts generally.
"In my judgment the able bodied
prisoners should be kept busy quarry
ing and dressing stone. The state
own a fine qnarry and there is no
work better suited to the average
prisoner. All of the state institutions
are erecting buildings from time to
time and the prisoners should get cut
all the stone for them. And when
there is no immediate demand there
is no reason why they should not be
keptat work quarrying and dressing
stone and piling it mp against future
need. Some day the state will desire
to build a new capitol building. This
should unquestionably be built
of Sioux Falls stone, for that is the
only stone which will not chip. dis
color and show the wearofthe weather
and because it il tlle h~andsomest stone
which can be put in a building.
There is no reason why the cm,vi-ts
should not be getting out first
class range work for this building.
1t would take the wlln.e farce 1T ile
penltentiary years To cut and drs.S,
enough stone to make Il credtta t,lt.
building Of the kind which We SLIT
reQui.e aud they might as wr.l Il,
busy at that now. Or course tliae
could not dress all which vii; :ye used
until such time as the legislature .tsi-
Opfs plans, but most of the SR;lle
which goes into such a Fulfilling viii
be straight. tirst-ciass range wt5gh
ana this could be finished and pilec
up ready for nse.
| am inclined to tii;nk that tlie lca-.
islatHre could sensibly take steps 10.
ward providing a plan forsucll a bui.d-
ing. no matter whether it is to be or
ected next year or ten years from ao,
and have the convicts at work on the
stone. Then when the time comes
the material will be on hand.
y think that in this way without
much expense the state can employ all
q conyicts who are able to work.
The robust ones, which means Tie
great majority, could be steadily en-
ployed cutting and dressing stone.
while the less strong could be worked
at getting out clothing. shoes and ped
ding for the various penal and char
liable institutions. In Enlightenment
that would be a far better way to
work them than by insulting a Irvine
plant even if the state had the money
TOT n latter. But certainly with
appropriations running so high and
revenue SO low this plan strikes me as
I'M measurable superior to the other.