Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1911-11-16
FAvORS STATE
PRISON FARM
Inspector B. F. Hires Ad-
vanceS View.
MEETING A PROBLEM
r. ~
Cumberland Man Has Strong Views
for the Improvement of the
State Prison.

The care and maintenance of the
New jersey State Prison, with it's over
increasing population, has claimed the
attention for some years of thoughtful
men OF the state and of those in au-
thority. The big prison situated in the
very heart of the congested manufac-
turing district of Trenton, is crowded,
and each year there is a slight increase
in the population. Within the stone
walls there are now housed more than
fourteen hundred prisoners, and the
capacity of the place is little more
than 900 properly.
Various Governors have considered
the prison problem. 1t was Governor
Fort who suggested that the prison in
Trenton should be abandoned and a
new institution provided in some rural
section. This would cost the state
probably three millions of dollars.
The legislature of this year provided
radical legislation. All contract labor
will be abolished when the present
contract expires, and all of the work
done in the prison will be such work
as can be accomplished for the state,
making supplies, ETC., for other state
institutions The indeterminate SEN
tence law was passed and is in effect.
This act will have for its object the
rewarding of good prisoners by per-
mitting their parole after they have
served the minimum sentence, while
priEo1ers who do not maintain a good
record will be obliged to serve the
maximum time provided by the court
in the imposing of sentence.
The management of the New Jersey
State Prison is placed in the complete
charge of the Board Of Inspectors, six
gentlemen, appointed by the Governor.
b. Frank Hires, of this city, is men,
Der of the Board and is now serving
the second year of his five years term.
The Board of Inspectors control the
management of the prison, expend all
money and have charge of all the re-
ceipts. The Board meets at the insti-
tuition every month to transact the
business for the institution.
Mr.. Hires is one of the practical
men of the Board of Inspectors, and
has given the prison very careful at
tention and close study. He knows
every detail of the institution and has
coma into personal contact with most
of the prison inmates
Recently, Mr.. Hires, as delegate
of the state, appointed by Governor
Wilson, attended the American Prison
Congress, at Des Moianes, Iowa. Mr..
Hires comes hack with pronounced
views of prison reforms, and is firm in
the belief that state prison farm is
practical solution of many of the
pressing problems now confronting
the authorities.
Mr.. Hires suggests that tho state
should acquire considerable acreage
OF land in section removed from
large cities, but still easily available
to the great city markets. Following
out a we'll conceived and matured
plan, he would begin the construction
of necessary building. All of this
work he proposes, should be accom-
plished by prison labor, the entire first
cost to the state being for the prop
erty and necessary building materials.
Using concrete for very much of the
construction. would make the first ex-
penses inconsiderable.
Inspector Hires says that in the
prison there are 400 men under the
age of twenty-five years. OF this num-
ber he feels certain that there are at
least forty who are available to be
taken from the prison walls to be put
at work upon a proposed prison farm.
This number could be added to follow
ing reward of merit system. The
Inspector would have the prison insti-
tuition graded, so that the best prison
ers would be separate and apart from
the more vicious and hardened crimi-
mails. With open, outdoor life upon
prison farm as reward for good be-
havior, he feels that very many of the
prison inmates would strive to obtain
clear records and establish reputa-
tion that would warrant placing them