Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1910-08-25
No. 5. Atlanta Prison.
BY Csps P. d. HELMS. Deputy
United States Msrshsl.

On receipt CT the large quantities
Of uncut materials and goods. they
ere stored in this room. When |
needed. they arc s:sken to the tailor
shop each day. This shop is buSily /
eng sged in making clothes according |
TO certain standard patterns. The
garb Of the prisoner in no respect
resembles that Of a custom made |
garment yet II N 'ght be olasSed IN
der the list OF ready made clothes. !
in other words. a new suit is not
made expressly for a particular pris- |
oner but the newcomer receives a
uniform which fits him the best IN
der the circumstances. On finishing
each garment It IS pressed and neat
y folded From the tailor shop il
IS taken so the storage room and
made ready for use There are
three rooms. stock room. storage
room AMI tailor shop al under the
supervision Of one Official. How
ever an experienced tailor has charge
directly OF the prisoners engaged IN
cutting and sewing.
In addition 10 the production of
prison clothing. some Of the prison
-rs are employed in making caps,
blankets. straw mattresses. etc. A
particularly interesting feature Of the
sell supporting institution is the shoe
shop. Here the soft felted sandals
are made for use inside Of the prison
as well as the rough hob nailed boots
used by members Of the Consuuc-
/ non gangs. Within the prison each
nan whether officer or prisoner is
| required 10 wear soft felt shoes. so
rs 10 make the least noise possible
! The slightest disturbance can thus
! be easily detected. The prisoners
/ are not permitted 10 converse. and
/ the Officers on duty are silent. speak
li0g 20 whisper only when necessary.
! rnroushout the entire cell house and
/ prison L4ere IS a continual quiet which
: is broken intcrmirtenly by the prs
| ouers as they march in or out Of
their cells. To return 10 the shoe
I shop. which although not very large
has. nevertheless. every modern aP.
plia1 c. for the manufacture of shoes
The prison shoe is Of brown canvas.
laced VITA a thick felt wadding &c
form the under surface The work
ing shoe for the prisoners is a large
leather boot roughly made but strong
On each shoe the letters u. s. P
are indeh5ly printed in large white
letters. while the same monogram !:
placed on the trouser LEGS and bacl
OF the prisoners coat. The turbar
is marked in 4 similar manner. Th'
purpose OF this marking is TO max,
the prisoner colspiCious az all time
and 10 Identify him with the UniteC
States penitentisTy al Atlanta il
case q escape.
The description previously givei
for the most part deals vita the worl
conducted within the basement o
the prison building. 10 the first I've
letters II was my intention 10 give al
/ Ioes OF the executive building an;
tE- general exterior OF the prison
I Lac more Interesting and by FAR N
better known divisions of the prison
I hzvs thought il expedient 10 leay
until subsequent letters. II Will b
my purpose 10 picture the prison q
/ actually visited and found il an
thereby contoyet the oisingenuou
: reports. AS mentioned above. thes
: reports on investigation were foun
4 70 DC absolutely without foundatio
z and u TACT relevant 10 the stockao
s OF ths city OF Atlanta. No one ca
4 come from a Visit 10 the FEEDER
: prison without feeling that a gre
j Work IS being accomplished 3