The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-01-27
CONDUCT OF C|TY'S
BIG PRISON IS
EXCELLENT
CITY OFFICIALS INSPECT HOUSE
OF CORRECTION AND COMMEND
WORK OF sUPT. MCCONNELL
YEARS EARNINGS OVER $50, 900.

Mayor Breitmeyer headed the party
Of city officials who visited the house
OF correction, Tuesday afternoon, for
the regular annual inspection. Others
In the party were Aid. link, Walsh
Allan. Skrzycki, and Konkel. Inspect
ors VIM. J. Chittenden. ST.. Jeremiah
Dwyer, Marvin Preston and John d.
Wiley received them, while Supt. John
L.. Mcdonnell conducted the trip.
IL was found that the city's prison
is in good condition in every way. AL
though many improvements have been
made during the year in paying out
more money in wages 10 prisoners EN-
ployed la the shops, in installing an
automatic sprinkler system 10 relieve
danger OF fire and In laying 1900
square yards OF asphalt roads and
alks. the institution made ne.
profit during the year of 32,663.73.
All the visitors commented upon the
cleanliness OF the place. the useful
nature of the employment Of prison
ers in the furniture factory, brush
shop and button factory and on the
contented and interested way In which
the men went about their work. They
found many OF the cells to be lastly
furnished with pictures. and books
were TO be seen In many. One Japa-
nese was working in the button fac
tory and the aldermen recognized
some of their constituents here AMI
there.
I'm here for the winter and | am
glad OF it," said one old man To whom
Mayor Breitmeyer talked. 1T Is pref
~ hard for me to make living and
get my meals regularly here any
way"
Two BARRIERS were seen at work In
the shops the barber being sent 10 the
men instead OF the men TO barber
shop In the yards were seen the
asphalt walks on which the prisoners
get their outdoor exercise.
Il notice that in your shops the ma
chinery is much better protected than
in the ordinary factory and that there
is less danger of prisoners hurting
the mselves with saws, punches and
other tools than there would be in
most Shops said Aid. Walsh. chair
man OF the inspection committee.
The annual report shows that there
were 437 prisoners Jan. 1, 1908, and
that 2,253 prisoners were received and
the same number discharged during
the year, while only four died. or
these deaths. one was by suicide, one
from accident, one from apoplexy and
only one from the dread scourge of the
prisons, consumption. There has been
no death for ten months and the hos
pital has been closed because there
were no prisoners seriously i'll.
OF those committed to the house
of correction, half were for 80 days OF
less. "a per cent for 80 days or less
and only 6 per cent for more than 30
days This makes the financial show
ing even more satisfactory as Supt,
Mcdonnell had mostly unskilled labor.
Wages paid. to prisoners during the
year amounted to $G,469
After the inspection the board OF
inspectors met and turned over $780,
600 to the general city government.
Supt. Mcdonnell explained the system
OF caring for prisoners after they leave
the institution by helping them 10 find
employment and respectable boarding
places. The superintendent received
many compliments for the splendid
showing OF the institution and In the
report OF the aldermanic committee to
the council, vote OF thanks TO Supt
Mcdonnell was included.
or the board OF inspectors. w. j
Chittenden has been an Inspector for
20 years, Jeremiah Dwyer for Is years
and Marvin Preston for IL years.