Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-05

Iinkhan is a Christian, and at the Sun
day religious services he addresses the
prisoners, and urges them to lead better
lives.
TT would greatly please me-" he said
in a recent address to several hundreds OF
the male culprits, TO see every cell In
this place empty. I would rather that
there should not be prisoner within
these walls, even If l had to lose my po-
sition, and if you will give heed to my
words. ! will help you to keep away from
this prison instead of coming here as
often and regularly as you do
The new superintendent in speaking OF
the dark dungeon, the ''gald ROOM" the
leg irons and other means of punishment
said while he is in charge of the work
house harsh measures to enforce disci-
pine and obedience will never be re-
sorted to when the desired results can
be accomplished by kindness and per-
suasion
Another reform which is about to be
1naugurated. and which is important from
sanitary and clearly standpoint, will
be the placing of long dining tables In
the corridors. from which the prisoners
can eat their meals. At present and
since the establishment of the work
house the meals have been furnished the
inmates in long tin receptacles, and they
have been required to devour their food
as best they could in their cells This
itary conditions.
Still another reform will be the intro
duction of electric lights about the
grounds and in the new wing, which is
now occupied. Here the individual cells
or cages, as they are more generally des-
ignated. are each supplied with running
water, stationary washstand and Law
at0ry, and neat, well-kept cot The
cen ana corridor floors are kept scrupu-
lously clean and sanitary rules are
strictly observed.
The interior arrangements are very
i on tne order of those of the Mary
.ana STATE penitentiary at Baltimore. The
new building is known as the south wing,
1t mas a capacity for accommodating IA
prisoners by an automatic arrange
ment all the eighteen cage doors along
ahy one OF the tiers can be opened and
ciosed simultaneously by pulling a lever
Or any one, two, three, four or five doors
can De SO opened or closed at the will NJ
the operator. BY this arranremant oil
81 tne 9oors IN the building can be opened
In rev mopents to let the prisoners n,t
TO go to work, or closed at night when
silence" e'S ou' ana
ventilation and Temperature.
The steel cages are perfectly ventilated
and the temperature is maintained at
about seventy degrees on the hottest
days To bring about this result there IL
a oi" ventilating fan down stairs which
Is used when necessary. AS a result
there is an almost entire absence Of the
stihing smell. known as the prison
odor." which is SO common to tails. sta
ton houses and other places of confine-
ment.
,,I Escape from the steel cages is well-nign
impossible. The cells, besides being Sc
cure are about fourteen feet from the
outer walls, the intervening space being
corridors, which are patrolled by guards
with flashing lanterns throughout the
night The small, steel-barred windows in
the walls are fully twelve feet from the
Work on the new east wing, to be similar
to that now occupied, will soon be com
menced. Congress at it's next session will,
perhaps make provision for the north wing
and administration building. The latter will
contain the offices Of the institution dining
and bath rooms and other necessary apart
ments.
The work of laying cement floors in the
cells of the old workhouse has Just been
completed. and good drainage and Improved
sanitary conditions have resulted While
this work was in progress Superintendent
Zinkhan requested Judge Scott Of the Dis
trict branch of the Police Court to send as
many prisoners as possible to jail, In order
that the work might not be Interrupted.
Judge Scott complied with the request and
the work was completed without interfer-