The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-06
Much Work Yet Remains to Be
Done on Building.
NOWHAVE $50 CONVICTS
Food Cooked at Old Prison and
Taken to the New.
COnVicts Who Are Good May Be
Allowed to Play Ball.

nciently to remove the prisoners from
the old by January 1, 1906, but the
buildings will not be completed until
perhaps a year after that time The
present splendid weather has given the
authorities an opportunity to place the
men at work on the outside of the
buildings now being erected and it is
thought roofs will be over all of the
buildings by the tim the rainy season
begins.
There are at present 1,042 prisoners
confined in both the old and new prfs-
ons. Before the Offices can be moved
over to the new site all of these pris-
oners viii have to be removed there.
The authorities are unable to do this at
present for the reason that there are
not enough cells completed for them to
occupy There are now $50 prisoners at
TIE new penitentlary, some Of them be-
ing confined in the northwest cell house
and the remainder in the laun Try build
ing. 1t is expected that the northeast
cell house win be finished by May /.
This cell house will hold APO prisoners
and when everything is in readiness z00
prisoners Will be confined in this build
ing. The other 220 men viii be remov-
ed from the dining room building to
this new cell house This Will leave
about 100 prisoners still at the old PriS-
on and the laundry building at the new
site will be empty to allow the removal
and harness shops to this building from
the old prison. The 100 men who are
to be retained al the old prison will
take care of the sick in the hospital
and viii be employed in various ways
until room Car be furnished them at
the new site
The offices will be the last to be rec
moved to the new place and this will
not be until the last of this -ear. The
authorities expect the department of
justice to retain possession of the old
prison for some time after the remov-
al of the offices to the new prison
If this is true the government will not
be able to use this prison for the con-
hnement Of general prisoners until
about July, 1905. 1t is expected by
the war deDartement that the depart-
ings now occupied at the old prison
by January I, 1907. This is the max
imum limit, but if no serious cOmpli-l
cations set in they will be removed to
their new possessions long before this
time
The authorities are more than anx-
ious TO get out of the present build !
ings for the prison may catch fire
some time and everything within the
walls would be consumed as the
buildings are all of wood and would
burn rapidly. For this reason the i'm /
portant documents and other belong |
1ngs were removed to the newly con 1
structed buildings at the new site /
These buildings are absolutely fire
proof being constructed of brick and 4
cement.
Before they will be able to transfer
TO the new site. the hospital. kitchen /
and chapel will have to be completed. !
AT that present time a considerable
amount Of cooking is done in the
klrchen at the old Denitentiary and
the cooked food is hauled to the new
penitenuary in the covered wagons
The coffee and tea is made at the new
penltentlary IN the temporary kitchen
which IS of small capacity located in
the basement of the laundry buildiug
A visit to the record clerks room i
one or pleasure A splendid view of the
entire grounds can be had from this
Iocatlon The various documents and
unger prints, and the BertillOn unea
ments of prisoners are kent in lockers
that are absolutely fire proof. The entire
moor IS devoted to this one department
t 4nu Is one OF the finest of its kind in
the country The phOtographing room
mas q skyight that is the highest and
largest in this part of the country.
temporary offices have been provided /
Tor the various departments of the pen
1tentiary for use SO that the officials will
De able TO remove their present quarters
IN short time. The permanent offices
will not be finished for few wears.
I These offices will be in the main corri-
cor which communicates with the front !
entrance.
one Of the new departures that has
psen installed in the prison is a tele-
with all parts of the yard and does
away with prisoners as messengers.
AFTER its completion and after All the
oIlceS are removed to the new site the
penitentiary will be run on the reform,
atory plan and not as a prison for the
reason that the majority of the rriSor,
ers confined within its walls are under
the age of 90 A school will also he no
V1ded for the prisoners This braocE,
VIII be complete in itself. The school
VII pc run on the plan of the city
puonc school and the uneducated will
De taught to read and write A large
number of the prisoners who are brought
10 the prison are uneducated and fbe
officials would have had a schocl ~
the old prison if they had had the room
The prisoners are now at work on tbe
ulnlng room and expect to have il com
pleted within a few months The room,
VIII seat l.6OO prisoners at one time
and the chapel. which is also in the
course OF construction viii seat the
same number
It viii be some time before the pris-
oners will be put to work on the front
portion of the prison where the central
dome is to be constructed. This portion
OF the prison Will be very beautiful IT
will be built OF granite. The front en-
trance viii extend down to Metropolitsp
avenue. Near the front entrance a (
miniature lake is to be constructed and
In the center will be a fountain. on
both sides of the lake beautiful drive
ways viii be built and when completed
the prison viii present the appearance
Of some of our state capitols, and not
q penal institution. The Warden's and
deputy warden's residences are to be !
built in front of the prison one on eth
er side of the driveway. 1t is expected
that these buildings will be ready for
occupancy by January l. 1t viii be two
years before the front with the large
dome viii be finished.
One Of the most enjoyable features of |
all the departments for the prisoners viii
be the large athletic field which will be
built near the northern wall This field
viii be a very large one and will be built
especially as a baseball diamond It will