The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1909-07-01

KEPT BUSY
Monroe RefOrmatOry
Adopts Practical
Methods

The brick making machinery at the
reformatory is in full operation and the
inmates are turning ont 5000 or more
day, which will go into the construc-
tion of the permanent buildings. All
the work is done by the inmates with
the aid of two experts and crew of
about 30 men is employed in the brick
yard. The capacity of the machinery is
upwards of $4,000 a day. The plant was
erected and installed under plans drawn
| by Superintendent Roe and constructed
ntirely of lumber heWcd by men on
the grounds. A large tract of land has
been used for drying ground and on it
the kilns will be ercted. The only diff
Guilty in the way of Fastening the work
is the lack of water, and this need is
felt all over the grounds. and efforts
are now being made to get an adequate
supply. Pipes are now being laid all
over the ground and they will be con
nected up as soon as the water is Sc
cured.
The grounds are the scene of great
activity on account of the necessary de-
velopment along many lines that is un-
der way under Mr.. Roes careful ad-
ninistration. The big permanent barn is
nearly completed, and it makes an i'm
posing edifice. Until the permanent
buildings are put up it will be used as
quarters for the men, and will provide
them with infinitely better accommoda-
tions than they have had in the tenn
porary building. The inmates all look
forward to the time when they will
change their quarters. All the men who
are doing well will be kept in the barn
and only those who fail in making the
required record will be kept in the old
quarters under strict guard.
Quite a large tract OF land has been
cleared and put under cultivation this
year, and about twelve more acres will
be finished this fall and winter, making
enough ground under cultivation next
year to supply all the vegetables. hay
| feed, etc, for the institution. The gar
dens are very successful, and all spring
the reformatory tables have had every
kind of fresh vegetable, the crops in
many cases now rotating the second
and third time. Berries were set out
this spring and are doing we'll, and Mr.
Roe is raising a large bed of celery, The
reformatory has a good herd of cows
and good chicken yard is maintained
In every branch the aim is TO bring the
work to perfection and raise all the
supplies needed.
The stockade has nearly been com
| pleted on the permanent site and active
work will commence shortly on grading
and eXcavating. The task is a big one
but there is plenty of labor and the
men in the main are willing to work. Ii
one refuses to work he is fed on bread
and water in plain view of the other
men at their well-set tables and is told
that no one is required to work but
that it is only fair if man won't work
that the expense of his keep should not
be heavy on the state. This treatment
usually brings them around after mea
or two. Most OF the inmates are OF The
light fingered variety and they are not
accustomed to doing a mans share O
manual labor. While the work of clear
ing land making garden, working il
the brick plant, cutting and hauling
wood, etc, is hard on them at first, i
keeps them busy, occupies their tim'
and accustoms them to the idea of hon
est labor, and probably does more than
anything else to fit them to pursue hon
est lives when they get out. At thu
same time it affords them an opportu
nifty to shorten their time by doing goo,
work. Monroe Monitor Transcript.