The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-02-16
THE PRISON
ATT MOUNDSYILLE

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(! After persistent batting with les
sal weapons Augustus w. Machen,
once the dictator Gs the postotlice3
|TebattMenE ana no Gtoffs have been.
iacelyed at the Moundsvllles CIV, 3gSa.l
pehltrntlary under sentence fer con.
stp'l.rscy 70 drt7aNd tAc government.
The prison. was. established shortly
after the close Of the civil war II
was then found necessary by Tho
State Of Wost Virginia to have a
penal institution, and tho Village Of
tMqundsvillej was selected as the site
upon which tho structure was 10 be-
built. a piece Of ground embracing
something like six acres near tho foot
of the hills in the eastern part Of tho
Village was purchased, and in 1896
ground was broken for the build.
ings. More than 100 prisoners were
corralled In a stockade. built on "a,
portion Of the ground, and rough.
looking frame shanties were con.
structcd within the stockade. AS
soon as tho ground had been leveled
and drained the work on the prison
was commenced. and In a marvellous.
4 " short time the .northI and south
halls Of tho institution were ready
for occupancy. Il
An effort was made to follow the
prison system In vogue in !. other
States, and this system prevailed
with few notifications until the year
i 1897. During all this period the pris.
oners slept in cells of solid masonry
with narrow iron doors. Immense
oil lamps were used In the halls and
.Ebutslitt1e thought was given TO the
subject OF sanitation. The result was
4 that the hospltaltwas frequently over.
! crowded and the mortalIty5was high,
When Warden Hawk assumed con.
! troll Of the prison in 1s9TStherc were
4 abouta 400 prisoners In the institution,
Additional provision for the care o.
inmates was made and Just before
& Warden Haddox received his appoint
!: ment as many us 900 prisoners were
being cared for He has done every
!: thing in his power 10 obllterate re
!; minders Of prison life and endeayort
: to make prison experience as cas-,
as possible under the circumstances
Before taking charge; OF the prison
/ the warden was engaged In newspa
per work and came in contact viii
people Of all classes. This work hat
the effect Of making him broad.mintl
ed and humane, and since takini
charge OF the big State institution
he has made an honest effort TO trea
4 those 5lntrusted Ito his care as hit
namely as possible and send then
away from the prison at the expire
z ton Of their terms feeling that Their
syet some good In life, Besidesfha
< Ing been in the newspaperS bushes
Warden Haddox was connected wit
the schools of5West Virginia.
Y The words Eat hard labor are q
8 tached 10 the sentence of every pri'
Z oner who comes here. whether frot
e tho State or the District of Colln
y bia, but this does snot&mean that til
y, work is to be SO hard that 1T Is
], punishment. This matter is left e
= tircly togthe direction ofSthe wardel
Y who determines theIcharacters Of til
Y work that Is to- be performed Sh
! each inmate of the institution.
= man who is physically unableSsft
Y hard labor Is not put at workupons
:, machine or In a place where he5c cal
E not perform the duties assigned hin
3 Iie must give some service, hoWeye
Z, as the rules OF the prison requireSth,
7 labor shall be done. There is cleI
:, cal work as well as manual labo
- and prisoners are called upon to-
4, partEo Of each. What kind of work u
9 postoflce prisoners will do may n
= be determined fora day or two
5 Men are taken there from the5Di
e trlct OF b Columbia or Virginia