The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1909-01-07

Ing IN different localities The rural
communities Of indian Territory had
coming from different states had a great
variety oi text books
To harmonlze the entire state, made
Il impossible 20 proceed 70 a condition
ducing a new book into most localities.
The school book publishers IN most In
stances, even aiter contracts were made
with the state, proved technical IN full
filling their contracts. and many attempts
were made 20 evadc strict fulhllment OF
their contract, particularly In the line OF
exchange Of old books for the new adopt
ed books desired at the exchange price.
being half the price Of the new books;
but by vigorous Intervention. as COM
plants were made 20 us from numerous
localities that condition was finally im-
proved. but still owing to the thousands
Of communities In the state, it WAS ex
ceedingly difficult TO keep the situation
well under control, ana insure proper
compliance with contract .
We were unfortunate again IN the fact
that with thousands OF teachers la the
state. the variety Of opinion as 20 the
merit or different text books, was very
great. and text book or policy that
met the approval OF some would natural
ly be vigorously opposed by other. This
natural difference OF opinion makes the
enforcement Of laws or rules more diff
ficult for the want OF local cooperation
We can only express the hope that men
VIII realize that u Is impossible 70 adopt
the views OF many persons or elements
who do not agree among themselves. and
we still find 4 proper n our opinion, %
careful study Of the text book question.
insane Asylum
Al the beginning Of statehood the lp
sane patients of the state were being
cared for az a private asylum az Norman
under contract at an annual charge OF
two hundred dollars for each patient.
There were then i've hundred and eighty
patients In the care Of the state during
the year nineteen hundred and eight.
The asylum al Fort supply owned By
the state, having been placed IN cond-
tlon for the accommodation Of patients.
this was begun about May nineteen hum
dred and eight. AT the close Of the year
the Fort supply asylum had FIVE hundred
and one patients. and while the organic
alton Of this institution and the expense
OF many things Incident TO fttlng II for
use has probably increased the cost that
VIII be entailed after the asylum Is In
complete condition. and for which | have
not been supplied with accurate figures.
! am advised that the complete report
Will show an average cost per annum Of
apEroNimately one hundred and sixty
The present capacity Of the Fort Sup
ply asylum having been reached. the
state is yet utilizing the Norman asylum
under the old contract and has now three
hundred and eighty-seven patients cared
for at that asylum
II will be observed the uniting OF the
two territories into one state, as well as
the ordinary Increase IN the population
OF the state, has Increased the number
Of insane patients during the year from
FIVE hundred and cighty-eight 10 a total
OF eight hundred and eighty-eight. and
while the asylum privileges OF both these
institutions Is more satisfactory than the
conditions one year ago vet the state is
much In need OF "a second asylum under
Its own control and with a total capacity
Of at least twelve hundred.
State Prison
At the beginning Of statehood the
state prisoners were being kept at the
Kansas state prison az Lansing under "a
contract Of forty cents per day, equivalent
10 one hundred and forty-six dollars per
annum for each prisoner.
AT the beginning Of statehood there
were about thrte hundred and seventy
prisoners During the year the Board OF
Prison Control created by the last leg
tslature provided for establishing a
prison az McAlester, oklahoma. and for
temporary purposes leased the Federal
Jail located thereat. and IN August began
the removal Of prisoners from Lansing.
Kansas, TO McAlestcr, the purpose being
TO temporarily use the Jail while building
a prison upon tract OF one hundred
acres Of land donated 10 the state by the
people OF that locality. utilizing prison
labor as far as possible to create the
prison building. after which the general
purpose In mind being to utilize prison
labor in construction Of public highways
throughout the state.
From time to time numbers of prison
ers have been brought from Lansing un-
III there are now at the date of a recent
monthly report, one hundred and fifty
five prisoners at MeAiester. 1t is the
belief Of the Superintendent Of the prison
that he can rapidly provide for about a
total Of four hundred prisoners at the
present MeAlester prison, and In about
ninety days from this date be able to
care for the entire state prisoners at
McA lester
There are now five hundred and sixty
I two male and thirteen female prisoners
at Lansing. being held under the former
territorial contract at forty cents per day
each. The cost Of maintaining the pris-
oners at McAlester is running about
twenty-four cents per day each. OF
are employed at constant labor. the cost
Of maintaining and guarding and other
wise caring for them when engaged in
daily labor will increase to perhaps thr-
ty-five or forty cents per day. but this
is only an estimate, but | call your atten-
tion to the fact that when the cost is
/ increased there will be beneficial work
done for the general welfare OF the peo-
In addition to the prisoners at Lansing
! and McAlester. there are approximately
one hundred and ifty-fve prisoners in
the various counties of the state await
ing direction as to where they shall be
transported and confined. so that the to-
tai number of state prisoners now va
riously confined is about eight hundred
and eighty. This increase In the total
number OF prisoners Is due to the fact
that Indian Territory. now a part of the
state. had added its quota of prisoners
to those OF Oklahoma Territory and sub
stantially doubled the number.
The reports filed with the legislature
with this message state the necessities
OF this department and speak for them
selves.
The contract under which our prison
ers are being held at Lansing. Kansas.
expires the thirty-frst day of this month.
and provision will need be made for a
short time for extending this contract or
otherwise providing for about four or five
hundred prisoners.
In this connection. the report Of our
state Charities Commissioner upon the
condition and practices at the Lansing,
Kansas, penitentary, should be taken
| into careful consideration. ! call atten-
tion to the fact that upon the complaint
made In said report, the governor of the
State of Kansas appointed a commission
of five members and requested that a sim
liar committee from the State of Okla
homa be appointed to fully investigate
the same This commission has been
appointed and concurred in by the State
Board of Prison Control of Oklahoma. and
said investigation Is now being had and
/ an early report may be expected
/ suggest that this report viii doubt
less furnish the legislature the informa-
tion necessary to determine whether OF
not our state should see an extension OF
the contract for further keeping of our
prisoners at the Lansing penitentiary.