The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-09-16
THE ANNUAL REPORT OF WAR
DEN SWENSoN MAKES A
GOOD SHOWING
OF TWINE PLANT
TWinG Plant and the Shirt Factory
Both Contributed Largely to
Profits and justified
installation

tentiary, which is located in this
city, which report bears date Juno
80, 1910, and which Is submitted to the
state board OF charities and correc-
tons some interesting data concern
ing the prison and It's inhabitants Is
cleaned.
1t will be OF interest to ncte. In
the first place, that according to the
report, the prison population Is not
growing as rapidly as might be ex-
pected, In q state the total population
OF which is increasing, as is that OF
South Dakota.
The total population OF the prison
on the 30th day of June, 1910 was
only IL more than 1t was on the same
date, two years previously. June 80,
1908, the population was 203 and on
the same date 1910 1t was 214.
The difference in the number OF
prisoners received between July L.
1908, and July /, 1909, and those re-
ceived from July 1, 1909, to July 1,
1910 is also interesting.
The number received from July 1,
1908, to June 80, 1909, was 131 while
the number received from June 30,
1909 to July /, 1910 was 16S, an In
crease of only 81, over the previous
year, while during the same period,
South Dakota's population increase 10
known to have been very much larger
than during any period Of similar
length in her history.
The total number of prisoners dis
charged from the prison, during the
two years from July /, 1908 to June
30, 1910, was 2SS.
The report states that the health
Of the population OF the prison during
the period which closed June 80, this
year, has been u~nexcelled, during any
similar period. This condition Is at
tributed, in a large measure to the
pure water In use at the prison and
to the wholesome food which that big
garden has very largely assisted In
supplying to the inmates.
But one death occurred in the pris-
on, since July 1, 1909, and that was
on June 9Th, 1909, when w. e. Wing
ert died as a result of scepticomiae.
Discipline, in the prison, according
to the report, is first class and has
been undisturbed by any incident for
many months. No escape, nor at
tempt at escape was made during the
period covered by the report.
The prison library now contins 2,s6O
volumes and continues to be a source
of decided pleasure and comfort to
the prisoners. The total cash receipts
to the library fund, from visitors, dur
ing the two years from July /, 1908 to
July i, 1910, were $2,957.75. In con-
nection with this item In the report
the statement is made that each In
mate In addition to being allowed TO
draw books from the library, is per-
mitted to subscribe for such news
papers and magazines as are premit-
ted to enter the prison"
Fifteen standard magazines are
furnished for the prison by the state
and are read by the inmates.
Chapel services, which are not COM
pulsory, are well attended. A glee
club, composed of inmates of the pris-
on and directed by one of them, who
has had experience in the giving OF
m~usival instruction, is now n of the
organizations of the institution, which
Is doing a very great deal to shed
much light, In places Previously SOM
Der.
Another effort to suggest to the In
mates of the prison that the light
still shines for them, has been made
in the placing Of an electric light In
each cell in the institution.
The entire prison building has been
renovated and painted during the past
two years. All cells have been white
washed and corridors and halls paint
ed. All other departments of the
prison are being similarly treated, add
ing greatly to the sanitary condi-
tons and the c~heerfulness OF the
place. Inmates are doing this work
and II is a source OF infinite graft
fication to them to be so occupied.
The old cell hall, long in disuse, Is
being prepared for use again. A new
bath tub has been placed In the pris-
on hospital. The small park in TIE
prison yard is thriving and doing its
best to shed a little good cheer about
the place.
The shirt factory has been a sourc
of income during the period covered
by the report. The total net earn
ings of the factory have been $780,
ass. "a. which has been a saving TO
the state of that amount in the ex-
pense of supporting the prison and
also in garments made for inmates,
and 1t has provided employment for
an average of 90 men per day.
The prison Irvine plant was com
pleted March II, 1909. and the Profit
from the Irvine sold from the date of
commencing operations to June 80.
1910. was ~$5,282.23.
The profit to the state from the
twins plant during the last season or
its operation. was S13.fS0 90.
The financial condition Of the In
stitution Is good.
Fourteen prisoners have been lib
Grated on parole, during the past year
and all have remained faithful to the
trust reposed in them by the state.
They have reported faithfully each
month and two. whose sentences have
expired have been discharged from
custody.