Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-09-05
lNvEsrioArtoN or CONDITIONS
At FORT MADISON PRISON IKE
oNERArEs WARDEN.
INSTITUTION WELL MANAGED
CONSIDERING EouIPMRNr
Prisoners Shown 70 Bo in Better Ply.
sicaI Condition Than Same Glaze
Outsids-Wardsn Sanders Asks ces.
son Committee to Make Their lnves.
ti0ation Thorough.
Special to Tlmes-Republlcan

Special to Times Republican.
Des Molnes. Sept 5.-The report Of
DR., b. l.. Eiker. president, and Guii.
ford II. Sumner. secretary. OF the state
board OF health. on their findings al to
sanitary conditions at the state prison
at Fort Madison. was turned over to
Governor Carroll today The report
has relation chiefly to sanitation and
the reports which have been circulated
- 80 extremely Mnhsalthfrl conditions
prevailing in the prison and In the
shops attached thereto
Legislature Scored.
President Eil<er and Secretary Sum.
ner. Of the state board OF health. in
their report on prison conditions at
Fort Madison. eXcoriate the Legislature
for nggardiness In not providinR
funds for undermining the sanitary
conditions there, but declared that in
general the conditions are as good AZ
possible with the equipment They
say the water supply Is good. the fare
coarse. wholesome, substantial, clean
and we'll prepared. the clothing clean
and respectable. and the bodies of the
men in better condition than the -fV-
erage OF men OF their class outside.
The cells are poorly lighted and vcn.t-
lated. hut sanitary conditions in the
shops are better than in average fac
tories Tho hospital Is sanitary but
too small and poorly equipped.
Never An Epidemic.
They gave figures showing that Of
ninety seven men weighed they had
gained an average of Isl pounds each
| In weight while in prison. There has
been but one death from tuberculosis
In two years and no epidemic has ever
visited the prison.
Warden Sanders appeared before tho
| Cosson committee today and asked
! that they make their investigation
thorough.
Drs. Eiken and Sumner went to the
prison about three weeks ago upon tho
request OF the governor. approved by
the board of control. and quietly went
| thru the prison. They did not have
time to complete their examination at
| that time and returned at Il later date,
| when they appeared at the door OF tha
prison unannounced 10 continue their
| Investigations. They were given facil-
ity for making the most thorough in
| vestigation and for conversIng freely
and conndcntinlly with the inmates and
others interested.
Complaints A. to Sewage.
One OF the chief complaints has been
as to the manner OF disposal OF tho
sewage from the prison cells. In this,
the method followed for centuries In all
prisons has been followed as 1t Is inn
possible 10 install modern systems in
an old prison. one matter OF much
complaint was in regard TO the retiring
rooms at the tool house where many
workmen congregate The board OF
control secured from the last legisia-
ture an appropriation of $4,000 with
which to install modern water closets
in this workshop. and the state archi-
tcct has been making investigation au\
preparing plans for the same. but no
body has just yet indicated how to
make the changes and still leave tho
situation entirely free from the dam
ger OF prisoners conspiring to escape.
Tho Cosson commission to investi-
gate as to the general charges against
the prison management nc; today,
Judge Roberts ana Mayor Sheldon
coming here for that purpose. Tho
commission viii get busy at once and
go to the bottom of affairs.