The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-12-04

about the grounds and buildings under
the supervision of few foremen and
several guards. They have taken oui
and dressed all of the stone, have done
all OF the masonry work, carpenter work
tin work, ETC., ON the different buildings
lately erected. Their labor on the new
north cell house wing represents $780,,
600 to $4,000. They make all of the
clothing and underwear, all of the shoes
and harnesses, many of the tools, etc
They do all of the cooking and kitchen
work and serve the tables. They care
for the three hot houses, and they dc
Einnumerable other things. The black
smith shop is one of the features OF
the grounds
While all start in the stone cutting
shop, they are later assigned to any
special occupation that they are most
adapted to, and they are taught such a
degree of proficiency that they are able
to and do take good positions when they
are naroled. and mary Of them have
done well and are useful and indus
trious citizens. All are given military
instruction, and one of the companies
goes through the silent manual with
great proficiency.
When the young man enters the re-
formatory he is placed in the second
class, and at the end of five months, if
he has $50 credit marks he is advanced
to the first class. If he loses twenty
marks he is advanced in six months, but
if he loses thirty marks he has to begin
all over again. If he is careless and dis
obedient he is placed in the third class,
and dressed in red, but there are only
two in that class at present out of the
PCS inmates. When he is in the first
class, he is entitled to seek for parole,
and some have been liberated as early
as nine months after going in, but
the usual length of time that the young
man is kept is eighteen to twenty
months. When his application has been
favorably acted upon, a place for him
to work is found, and he is liberated, but
is kept track of for certain length of
time to see that he does not relapse.
Second Termers Ousted.
Second termers are not wanted, as
they are considered to be not susceptible
to the good influences of the institution
and to have a bad influence upon Others
1t is against the law to send anyone
there a second time, but often the young
criminals deny that they have been there
before in order to be sent there again
and thus avoid a sentence to Saltwater
AS soon as they are detected, they are
sent to Saltwater for minimum period
of two years. The other day, ten sec
ond termers were taken to Saltwater in
! bunch.
A new administration building is in
course of construction, and a new cell
block, go by $50 feet, and 40 feet high
On the inside, is to be erected next year i
This will contain 1876 cells. There are
now 264 cells, or four less than there
are inmates, so the additional ones are
greatly needed, and will be more so be- !
fore the new building is erected.
The stone for these buildings is now
being gotten out.
The inmates attend school every other
night, and are taught all of the common
and useful studies. They are
also steady patrons of library of L.
300 volumes.
A physician, DR.. o. H. Wolner, is
stationed at the reformatory and attends |
TO the ills of the inmates. He has |
splendid record as physician and sur
yeon, although young man. He is
not easily deceived in diagnosing case,
although inmates often try to get out |
If work by feigning illness.
Dozen Blood Hounds
An account of visit to the reforma- !
tory would not be complete without j
mentioning the dog kennel, where "a
lozen thoroughbred English blood hounds
Ire kept for the purpose of tracking
who escape. They are well
5rained, and are practiced every evening.
fhe young ones are playful enough, but |
10 one except the keeper cares to go !
lear the old ones. They will follow the
slightest scent for miles and have been |
very successful. They have been sent
,or for use in all parts Of the state, but !
ire only loaned out to search for lost
children, two of whom they have found. /
)ne little tot wandered away into a
swamp near st. Cloud, and was located
~ the hounds, but it was dead. At
)sakis year ago, after fourteen mile
,hase through timber and brambles and
oriars, another little girl was found
standing in the water in the lake, where
The had stepped into a deep hole while
ost and had drowned. The dog follow
ID this scent although it had been cross
ID by hundreds of people searching for
he lost one.
This particular dog was killed by some
escaped inmates whom it was tracking.
t overlook them and they bound its
eet, placed a stick in its mouth and tied
he stick behind its head, and filled its
yes with red pepper. The old dog man.
,ged to get it's fore feet free and to pull
he stick out of its mouth. and with its