CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1908-08-27

of 1000 Its altitude is 5,343 feet. 1t
is located in a beautiful valley about
five by eight miles in area. Water for
irrigation is derived from the Arkan-
saw river and its supply is ample for
all needs.
The valley is practically one vast
orchard and truck patch. Being sur
rounded by mountains and foothills
the location is an idal one for fruit
growing which is the chief occupation.
Marvellous yields are reported al
though the late freeze last year and
this year spoiled the apple crop. Coal
mines, smelters and several factories
provide employment for a large part
OF the population. The streets and
residence properties are we'll kept and
an air OF thrift and enterprise every
where visible. '~.
The visitors enjoyed a walk to the
soda and iron springs at the foot Of
Main street, where. although In a dry
town they drank and drank until they
were full.
The State Prison Is located at Can
Of information to all. DR.. McDaniels
showed the visitors through The
Colorado penitentiary is quite up to
the standard of other state prisons.
Everything is kept clean and sanitary.
The prison contains 70s inmates. Of
these 21 are women. rs per cent OF the
latter are colored. Most Of the wo-
men are in for larceny from the per-
son. 16 inmates are insane. DR.. Nc
Daniels says the 81 women give him
ten times as much trouble as all the
men
According to the Colorado law the
prisoners are not allowed to be en-
ployed in the manufacture Of articles
that go on the market, rs a conse-
quence the men spend their time In
idleness and close confinement except
when taken out to work ON roads or
to do domestic work about the prison.
In many states they are employed in
the manufacture OF various articles
and besides making them more health
full they are taught trades and the
prison made self-supporting. At Fort
Madison, Ia, the prisoners are en-
ployed in a chair factory. farm tool
factory and a shoe factory. They are
taught trades and the state receives
enough for their services To make tIe
pI soL practically self supp J;tins;. Ine
yrison at Canon City costs the staie
$50 900, or mo-c annually. Some of
the men put in their time making var
i"us trinkets which are sol - visit
ora. One man accumulated $1,000 in
tn, way In ten years.
The men are compelled to take a
Irlh and change .lothing once each
week Lights in the prison are turn
e. ut at 8 y. IN. ani on at $50. The
prison contains chapel which is
also used as a theater. At presen;
nearly 100 convicts are employed on
the state road near Trinidad. 1t is
understood they will build the road
through to Fort Collins and the state
line. The prison ;s OF no benefit to
Canon City and the people would pre-
fer that It be located elsewhere.
Most OF the visitors were taien for
q ride over the Skyline drive. This
is a road built along the toD OF hog
back 900 feet high which runs for
several miles Just back Of he city.
The road was built by convict alDor
and is one Of the most famous drives
in the world. It overlooks the city
and fertile valley and from II good
view can be had Of distant mountain
peaks.
A drive through the orcaards OF
the valley 10 well worth oaes time.