The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-03-02

.nxious to avoid a repetition Of this
unfortunate trial with its accompany
ing evils
fortunately for the prisoners
many of the former sub-lesees ar
ranged to keep those prisoners they
were then working. This to great
extent Iessened the confusion, unrest
and discomfort among the prisoners
that viii always attend the congregsu-
! ing of the entire prison population at
one place. and the exciting surround
tngs that impresses itself very muca
upon the prisoners, composed 10
great extent of ignorant, emotional
class of people, as all who are famli-
Gar with the negro race, and more
esneciaIIy that part of the race tnat
constitute the criminal element, know
them to be.
Fortunate For All Parties.
.1 regard it as fortunate lor lne
state authorities, as well as Tor the
prisoners. that Mr. S. A. Rawls was
Z nIaced in control OF the present lease,
ss he had. to a great extent, charge
] Of the last lease with the Florida
Naval Stores and Commission Co., and
couJd enter at once into the work Win
! full understanding of what was re-
ouired by the state of the suo-lesees
! to give the prisoners such comforts
and treatment as would avoid trouble
for those working the convicts.
"A new management, l care not
what the qualifications may be, is
hard on the prisoner, hard on tne
| MANAGEMENT and the state authorizes
1t takes time, patience and cafeIuI
study. The more one studies tne
j work and experiences the trials con
,nected with prison control. the more
ne realizes that ne has yet to learn
81 believe the present lessees ant
their representatives, the sub-lessees
have been striving to do what IS rign
between the state, the lessees and th'
prisoners.
AS intimated in my last report
there will creep in error, mistakes
and wrongs as long as human natur'
is such as to demand state prisol
for the protection Of society and tn
reformation of the evil-disposed-
Under Good Management
81 find the management of the leas
prompt and positive In their lnstrue
tons to sub-lessees to have fully cal
ried out the requirements of the state
They advise the supervisors to le
them know when a camp Is not u
to the required standard and VIVA
the defect is, whereupon they nav
the defect remedied at once. 1t ]
but Just to state that they have a
all times sustained the orders or IN
state without a word or complain
even TO the extent OF cancelling col
tracts. If it was deemed proper to d
so by the Board of State Institutions
They take a sensible view OF the.
-------surv- rrrar our state prisoner
are In the hands of as reliable a elias
OF business men as we will find. Tha
being true, ! must conclude. that OH
prisoners are as well situated as i
Is practicable to have them Will.
placed under lease system.
Requirement Under Lease.
From time to time experience has
shown us improvements that could he
made in the construction of stockades
and their furnishings and eouipmen,
10 render them more sanitary and
comfortable. Without any sudden
revolution we have been. able to mate
rally change and improve the conyen.
lencies OF the camps and to add 10
the comfort Of the inmates. AT each
stocEade there is a well eouipped
kitchen which is required to be kept
clean and sanitary. The dining rooms
are Joined to but separate from the
sleeping apartment with tables and
seats TO meet the demands. AT these
stockades an abundance of food is
served for breakfast and supper, the
noon meal being eaten in the woods
as a rule on account of the work
being remote from the barracks Orco
week at least all are required to
take an all-over bath The sleepinS
nails are now equipped with separate
iron cot bedsteads, with a snrinp M
the United States regulation pJan.
ms Is supplied with a comfortabIe
mattress, pillow, pillow-cases. sheets
and blankets to meet the conditions
OF the weather. This hall is well ven
uiated. with iron-barred windows
furnished with window tight shutters
TO furnish light when closed on ar
count OF cool weather. For each pris-
oner there is night shirt Furnished
TO replace his work clothes. which he |
is required TO hang up to air during
the night. 1t is not optional with the
prisoner to change his clothing for the
night shirt He is required to do so.
Not Chained Together.
There is no long night chain, pass
ing the length of the hall. to which
each prisoner is locked, thereby les.
SEEMING the nights rest. l regret 70
state that this cannot be said of
county prison camps that are under