Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-02-25
THEY EAT TOGETHER.
Community Dining Room Where Man
With Rifle Guards Against Es-
eape-What They Eat.

room az the penltenllary Lhls Weel
has effected a change in management
that has been long desired. Eve
since the penitentiary was establish
- ed the convicts have been fed in theil
cells. each man receiving his food OF
plate handed through the door. The
system was neither convenient MOI
- conducive to health, and was believ.
ed to be unsatisfactory from the
standpoint of economy. A large mum.
Der Of walters were required to serve
the prisoners, but as the walters were
convicts there was no extra expense
= on this account, but a loss Of time.
The cells were not pleasant places in
which to eat, and the men often dill
not eat much as they should when
working The system was found to
be uneconomical because It was nee
essary to send to each man a full ra-
tion, even though he might not be
hungry, and there was much waste.
When the new wing was construct
ed provision was made for a large
dining room, and this has Just been
completed after many delays. After
two days use 1t is evident that It
makes a great improvement over
former conditions, and is appreciat.
ed by both officers and prisoners. An
Oregonlan representative was pres.
ent today when the prisoners we're
given their noon meal. Before the
prisoners were admitted to the din.
ing room guard, armed with a rife
was placed in a steel cage in one cor.
ner OF the room and 10 feet above
the floor. The door to the cage is
locked and the key taken outside the
portion of the prison occupied by the
conYicts. The convicts were then
marched into the dining room. and
ranged along the sides of the six long
tables. The steel door of the dining
room was locked on the outside. and
the key taken out into the front of.
hce, so that even If the inside guard
were killed the prisoners could not
get out Al the stroke of a gong all
the men took their seats and pro.
ceeded without ceremony to deyour
the food which had already been
placed upon the tables.
Each man had a bowl of soup !,
large cup Of coffee, good sized plate :,
OF stew and all the bread he wanted u u
me coffee was of the 1O-cents.a.poupd
quality The stew was made of meat 3
potatoes, carrots and onions. The ,
bread was placed upon the table In
large dishes, which were passed nm
ana down when called for and refilIed
whenever empty. II any Of the men !.
wanted second plate OF stew or !.
oonee they handed their dishes N
the walters and were immediately
served When all had finished eat. .
lng the gong was sounded again and
'he men arose and marched ONT of y
the dining room. When all were g, i
their cells the guard was released |, :
from his cage. b
Ihe food served is changed from
day to day but the variety is NOT .
very extensive. Meat is served but X
once day, except to the teamsters ID
and kitchen men, who are given meat Il
'hree times a day Sometimes II Is
ooSted and sometimes boiled An
extra ration Of meat is given twice y
week. For the 256 men who oot Il
AZ the community tables there is a
served each day lS5 pounds Of meat "'
'r lIltle more than one.half a Mound
of each men. For breakfast tbo No. Il
nave oatmeal mush rice. or cracked ~
Nheat mush with bread and co1so III
nc evening meal consists of yeco ~
"o''s with bread and coffee The 81
'''Soh Kitchen is provided with mod. ~
I'm appliances for steam cooking ana |"
W. the food comes on the tabls vol
prepared While # is wholesome ana III
'ehuiuL 1t is not OF such a lipd as ,'
make the prison a desirable hoard. "a
as place. No butter is given The "' "'
1T would bankupt The ca
ya'e to furnish butter here" said WI
warden Curtiss when asked upo1 mis-
o'nt The men have sugar for tbsIr
'ash' but not for their conee -.
Ihe advantage OF the new mo,hos ~
serving food are that il saves tIme ia ia
ha labor, prevents waste ana in "
ares that each man has am the foo5 /
g desires TO eat A few days ago "a
le OF the men working In the fonnd ~
stopped work and declared tha, "a
2 could keep mp no longer ON tbe p
'0as he was getting. The men were r'
Zen being served IN their cells ana ~
? declared that the waiter am mot 'n
'nI his plate when requested 70 40
The waiter denied this ana ~
le COnNlCt's word a. a. - &c