Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01
COUNTYLAH
is PREMIER
cLEANEsT IN THE COUNTRY rs
CLAIM
SHERIFF. HAMMEL MAKES BIG
IMPROVEMENTS
Praise Of Restaurant Inspector Could
Be Applied to All Depart
ments of Big Insti-
tuition

The recent inspection of the cuisine OK
the county Jail by Assistant Restaurant
Inspector Harry @. Wright, whlcn ter
minated In such brilliant comparison of
the county Jail kitchen from a sanitary
point of view with the leading hostelry OF
sthe city, has diverted public attention TO
the methods employed by the Hammei adj
ministration in conducting the affairs or
the jail in general.
At the present time there is perhaps not
one county jail in the country which could
merit a comparison with that of Los, An
geies county. Those familiar with the
conditions which almost invariably pre-
vail in county jails would do we'll to visit
the local institution. 1t would be nothing
short of a revelation TO them and when
they had completed their investisatior
they would undoubtedly bear with them
more pleasant memories than are gener-
ally obtained on visiting institutions OF
this nature.
Yesterday prisoner of the Los An
geles county jail. who although confined
with the scum of society and surrounded
by the most degrading moral conditions,
has still been able to maintain that brill
lance of mind which at one time charac-
tcrized him as man of science and
leading professor in an eastern college
said that he often wondered II 1t was not
the dirt of jail and the filthy conditions
prevalent that affected the mind of the
Visitor rather than sympathy.
Has Seen Many
"There is a strange charm in cleanli-
ness" said the prisoner. Through some
irony Of fate for the last three years
have been the inmate of county Jais-
have toured the whole country and there
are few counties whose jails haven't
visited.
II am not here for any serious offense-
lust perpetual drunkenness brought on by
grief I'll be out shortly.
but, coming back to the cleanliness OF
county jails, this is the only one ! have
ever seen that was fit for human beings
| to live In Sheriff Hammel is a man with
| a true sense of human sympathy.
| There is more of truth than poetry IN
| the statement of Prof" Smith, as he is
called by his criminal confreres.
| Take away the dirt, the nauseous odor,
| filthy rags loathsome food harsh treat
ment and the like and substitute in place
| cleanliness, good jail clothes, nutritious
| diet. consideration and similar human sur
roundings and the Jail will be for its in
mates rather a place for reflection than
despair, rather a reformatory than an ag-
| gravation of crime
The prisoner seeing kindness rather
| than harshness, will cherish less bitter
feelings and hatred to the soclai system
which condemns him to temporary con-
finement, thinks the Jail administration
Wrought Big Change
| Sheriff Hammel knows these things. and
| that is the reason his sense of justice has
actuated him to turn the building whicn
| previously was known to inmates as the
most realistic hell on earth into something
different.
Yesterday afternoon. in speaking OF jail
conditions he said to several visitors: Il
have changed things about here When
| / took the building in hand it was in
| tested The cells and tanks were hlthy.
! When we flushed the floors refuse was
| swept from under the sleeping places or
| the criminals, and the odor was strong.
"Clothes which were rotting away on
| the prisoners backs were removed and
| changed for neat jail suits. l have IN
| stalled shower baths over the entire jail
| and willy nilly baths are taken
| The visitor wonders how 1t is possible
that the floors are so clean and well
polished But 1t is the custom to sweep
| and scrub them daily. The cells where
prisoners are kept are disinfected. The
state of the kitchen and dining room was
| commented on by the restaurant inspector
| who pronounced 1t the best In the city
Everything is in perfect condition, clean,
! sanitary and desirable for the prisoners.
The whole transformation which Mr..
| Hammel has made Is appreciated by all
who visit the Jail, but more especially by
those officials who have served under
both the present and former administra-
! tions.