Middletown transcript., 1905-01-14
COUNTY
VORKHOUSE
Daniel w. Corbit, One of the
Trustees, Tells About 1t
PAPER READ TO FARMERS

PAPER READ TO FARMER.
: At recent meeting of farmers in Dover
, Daniel W. Corbit, of Odessa, read the fol
lowing interesting paper:
i, There is no subject of more importanc
to aciviized people than the one before US
The proper treatment of prisoners ha
engaged the thought and attention of tht
best thinkers of all nations, from the be
ginning of civilization to the present day
The great humantarians everywhere
have striven to carry the reformation oil
the criminal side by side with his punish.
ment. With the spread of Christian ideas
throughout the world, and the advance in
civilization, much progress has been made
in this direction until now we have, as a
partial elimination of the efforts of our
most noted and humane penologists, the
indeterminate sentence and parole, which
means that the convict himself deter
mines the length of his sentence. No
criminal shal be liberated until he is
thoroughly reformed and has proven both
his ability and earnest determination, to
make an honest living and be no longer a
tax upon the state.
Foralimited period after lis liberation,
he is to be under the surveillance of pa
role officer, who is paid by the state, and
whose duty is to aid and further the good
resolutions OF the prisoner by all means in
his power. Many of the states have
enacted laws embodying these principles
in a greater or less degree. What bless
ing it would be to any state or commun-
ity, if these ideals could be fully real
lied!
Our own we'll beloved state is becoming
more and more alive to the necessity of
improvement in our county jails, and
few years ago it enacted law creating the
New Castle County Workhouse, and plac-
ing its management and control in the
hands of five trustees who are appointed
by the judges of our superior court, and
who are to serve without compensation
except their necessary expenses in attend
ing the meetings of the board. The five
men selected appreciated the honor con-
ferred upon them by the court and ac-
cepted the responsibilities OF their posi-
tions. They first made every effort to in
form themselves on the subject by read
ing, by consulting leading penologists of
Philadelphia and Baltimore and visiting
and studying the methods Of as many as
possible of the penal institutions of the
neighboring states of New Jersey, Penn
sylvania and Maryland. They also sent
the president of the, board to New York
and the New England states for the same
purpose.
The present workhouse and Jail at
Greenbank, on the Red Clay creek, is the
result of their labors. They were many
problems of construction and manage
ment that were most difficult of solution.
The main building is of brick and stone,
containing 200 steel cells, with kitchen,
laundry, women's department, and work.
shop where from 100 to 12O long term
prisoners are steadily employed. The
building throughout has all the latest ap-
pliances for sanitation and for. the secur.
ity of the prisoners and their separation
into classes, so that first offenders may
not be corrupted by old and hardened
criminals. Its capacity is already over.
taxed part of each year, by the increase
in the number of short-term prisoners.
In the care of the inmates the main /
object is to impress upon the prisoner
that it pays to be good and that wrong
doing will positively bring punishment.
Thus with strict prison discipline, impair
TALLY administered, and sure reward for
the obedient and industrious, with the
regular life and habits, wholesome food
and healthful exercise of daily labor, the
prisoner is surrounded with at least an
OF reform, and is put in the
way of earning an honest living after his
5 The board of trustees was most fortu-
nate in the choice of its president. He
is man Of sterling integrity, successful
in business, with wide experience in
constructing and managing large public
works. The time and attention he has
freely given this institution has undoubt-
sdly saved the county many thousands
of dollars. 1t was said of him, by one OF
he leading newspaper men of Whining
on. that the city would be better and
more economically governed if all its de-
,artments we're placed under the exclusive
control of ]. Newlin Gawthrop.
In selecting their salaried officers the
board proceeded with the greatest care
Ind caution. the fundamental idea being
hat only fitness and efficiency should be
considered in making the appointments.
fhe most important position is that of
warden or chief executive. On his
houlders rests the management and con-
rol OF the whole institution. He must
,e man himself of great force of charac-
er, good judge Of men, with quickness
# perception, just and humane in the :
maintenance of discipline, and capable
# performing the duties of any office un- !
Ter him. We have all these qualities and
more in Warden Meserve. The trustees
eel they were very fortunate in secur- ,
ng bis services and those of his wife.
'hey have had several years experience
u similar duties in Pennsylvania and in
ur own state.
The total cost of the whole plant was
l75, 900, which includes power house J
nd connecting tunnel; 40 acres of land. q
nd, stone quarry adjoining the railroad /
nd trolley. We have been repeatedly !
old by men of experience from other !,
tates that it could not be duplicated for
zoe, 200. t
All tax payers and persons interested v
re invited to visit the institution. 1t
oes not fulfil our ideals of what prison ),
hould be, but ali will admit that it is a Y
tep in the right direction and an inn 8
'rovement over the old iails. We have G
ur burden to carry, which is not inn i