Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1907-06-20

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ranged that the cell is we'll lighted.
The cells are 12 feet away from the
windows and outside wall, and above
the first tier are protected by a steel
grating. Each cell is separated by
several inches of concrete and should
a man get out of the cell he faces
three feet Of concrete walls.
The heating radiators are around
tue walls at the bottom. and they
have been tested in the coolest days
in winter and an average tempera-
ture OF over 10 has been maintained.
On the basement floor on the west
side is an immense shower bath, with
showers so that 80 men can take a
bath at one time. The piping is so
arranged that the water can be regu-
lated either from the main shut-oif
or from each shower. Separated from
this by big wall are the commissary
departments of the prison A large
kitchen as well equipped as any large
hotel, a hospital a laundry, a large
storeroom and quarters for several
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The east wing, which will be built
within a year, will contain the same
number of cells, but there will be a
large amount of room in the base
ment for the stores, and here will be
the big bakery. There will also be
sub-cellar under this wing for cold
storage, and for the storage of tools
and equipments for the working pris.
oners. At some further date plans
are laid for still another wing to the
north, which will be similar to the
others.
The management of this big struc-
ture is one of the most important
posts in the service and Col. Allan G.
Kelton, U. S. M. c., has been selected
for the first governor, He has been
here for several months preparing for
its opening. He was for years in com.
mand Of the Chariestown, Mass,
prison, and is man who has made a
thorough study of the work. In talk
ing over his plans he said, you must
remember that while this is called a
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of the word, inasmuch as we have no
criminals The majority of the men
are young fellows who have enlisted
in the navy or the corps and have
either deserted or committed some act
for which they were court-martialed
and sent here for term of months or
years as it may be.
They are not bad lot of fellows,
and many are reinstated in the serv-
ice, and make most excellent men.
The discipline is far stricter than on
board ship, but they are not criminals
and we don't treat them as such. For
Instance young fellow from the
west enlists in the navy, and after he
has been in the service some weeks or
months he'finds it is not all that it has
been pictured, and with his American
spirit he decides that he has a right
to leave the ship and he goes home.
He is a deserter, and upon being
brought back he is court-martialed
and sentenced to prison. Now we can't
treat him as they do a state prisoner
and while our discipline is as strict.
If not stricter than some state prisons,
the men have certain rights and privi-
leges which they could not have in a
state institution Here every man will
be allowed to have a pipe of tobacco
after every meal and given every op-
portunity to better his education. The
men will be worked about the yard,
doing clearing up and building roads
and walks and with the large tract of
land giving the men a chance to work
and at the same time reducing their
cost to the government"
1t is rather coincidence that it was
on the very site of the prison that Col.
Kelton (then captain) was in COM
mand of the guard over the Spanish
prisoners, and his own quarters will
be on the site of the building which
was used for the officer of the day, in
front OF which the flag pole which was
planted under his directions still
stands
The prison ship Southery will prob
ably remain in commission until after
the third wing of the prison is erected.
when it will be converted into a re-
ceiying ship. At this prison there
will be no long term men. The esti-
mated cost of the entire building will
be very near $50O,OOO.
The marine guard necessary for
the prison will be quartered in a bar
racks to be erected in the rear of the
prison, and 1t will average 150 men.