The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-11-09

kept apart.
The laundry was like one attached
to big hotel, and here William JAM
uary, whose case recently attracted so
much attention and who was released
on July II, was at work. The kitch
en- has a floor space of 1000 square
feet, and is equipped with an electric
bread mixer IN d electric ovens.
Among the men who help in this
kitchen are thirty-two life prisoners.
George G. Buchanan is the steward,
and his Office between the pantry,
bakery and kitchen proper is enclosed
in glass. By this arrangement he
may look into any of the departments
at any time without leaving his desk.
The menu, while not elaborate, is
composed Of substantial food, we'll
cooked, and served in far better style
than the meals in a cheap boarding
house. The breakfast on the day of
my visit consisted Of oatmeal, butter,
bread and coffee. At dinner roast
pork, gravy, potatoes, rolls and water
were served, while supper of buns
and coffee completed the days meals.
On that day 800 pounds of pork,
$50 pounds of rolled oats, and 100
pounds of sugar were consumed. The
average cost per man for that days
food was trife over twelve cents.
The average days ration cost eleven
cents per man. Many of the vegeta-
bles used are grown in the prison gar
den, and last year eighty tons of cab
bage were raised. Some of this crop
was made into sauerkrout, and seven
ty-fve barrels were used at the pris-
cners' table. About 375 bushels of
peaches were gathered from the or
chard and put up" in the prison
cannery, and the same amount of to-
matoes was canned for table use.
Food supplies, such as coffee, tea, SUI
gar, -four, meats, ETC., are purchased
quarterly. This is done by samples,
the name of the firm being unknown
at the time the selection is made.
A complete cold storage and ice plant
is maintained in connection with the
kitchen. Condensing pipes carry the
vapor away, and the usual smells
found in the culinary departments of
large institutions are entirely absent.
The floors are scrubbed daily, and
the dirty water swept into an outlet
which runs into the sewer.
Church and Sunday school services
are held on each Sunday morning, and
the afternoon is generally spent in
reading. There is library of 8 200
volumes, and ten per cent. of the
prisoners are reading scientific and
technical hooks, thus showing that
they are preparing themselves forsom
useful and lucrative employment after
their release. Books on electricity
seem to be the most popular. A print
ing Office is maintained, and here all
the prison printing, including the re-
ports upon the workings of the in
stitution, is done.
Some of the prisoners are good mu-
sicians, and an orchestra has been or
ganized, which frequently plays on
Sunday in the little gallery during the
dinner hour. Baseball and racing are
recreations in which we'll behaved
prisoners may indulge occasionally.
The mere fact in being able to take
part in games is an incentive for some
of the prisoners to obey the rules.
Several of the men are expert in
wood carving, and the large wooden
eagle-the emblem ofthe Department
of Justice, which is on exhibition at
the jamestown Exposition-was carv-
ed by a prisoner at Leaveuworth.
Another Is an artist, and has decora-
ted the safes throughout the buildings
with beautiful marine views, and also
lettered the doors of the different de-
partments in gold.
In 1901 there was a mutiny and
number of prisoners escaped after kill
ing one guard and injuring several
others. Nearly all Of them were re-
captured and to avoid a repetition of
this fort-like watch tower has been
built, from which guns may be used
in any direction without the men be-
hind them being in danger. The
gates are all carefully guarded, and
every wagon passing through them
either empty or loaded, is thoroughly
examined by the guards to see that
no person is concealed therein.
The warden is Major R. w. Nc
Claughry, an officer who served with
distinction during the Civil War.
Shortly after its close he became in
terested in prison work, and since
that time has served in the capacity of
warden at several prisons. He was
also Chief of Police of Chicago for
over two years. His wardenship at
Leavenworth has already extended
over a period of eight years. He has
travelled extensively through Europe,
studying prison conditions, and in
1895 went to England by special in
vitation to inspect English prisons.
Although strict diciplinarian, Major
McClaughry has kind and sympa-
thetic nature, and is always ready
to help prisoner on the right road.
He insists on punctuality, and is him
self hard worker. 1t was my pleas
ure to take luncheon at his delightful
home on the prison grounds. and the
bright-faced young man who waited
on us at the table was a ''trusty"
from the prison. Later in the day
another 'trusty" hitched up the team
and took the warden's family for a
drive around the country.-Leslie's
Weekly.