Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1912-10-31

NoutiIIohS III cNtiy itS l'tCt arr
apparently better in the Hunts
vile penitentiary than elsewhere
in the system. This might be
expected, because it. is the cen
trail plant of the system, and be
cause the commissioners neces-
sarily spend more of their time
at Huntsville than elsewhere and
naturally give it closer personal
supervision. There is no desire
to intimate that wardens and
managers and other officials are
not just as competent, as vigilant
and as anxious at the other
places, but it is recognized in
all business enterprises that the
presence of those highest in
authority" always has a helpful
effect. The commissioners get
around as often as possible, bat,
with so large property to look
after, they can not spend as
much time elsewhere as at Hunts
vile.
The public knows Of the great
fire of few months ago that
burned a large part of the indus
tries at Huntsville. 1t does not
know, though, how quickly the
signs Of that fire have vanished
and in what marvelously short
time most of the Industries have
again been started. None of them
are in as good buildings as they
should have, nor do they have
the cOnvenienceS they need, but
they appear to be doing remark
ably we'll under the circum-
stances. To the casual visitor it
appears that all the industries at
Huntsville are working alon &
with that precision and orderli.
ness that characterizes similar
industries outsides penitentiary
walls. The prisoners themselves
look like they are interested in
their work; they present tine
physical appearance and look
like we'll kept laborers.
When asked about the treat.
ment Of the men, one Of the pris.
oners whom l have known for
many years, and who has been in
the penitentiary for some seven
years, said There is as much
difference between the peniten
tiary of few years ago and the
penitentiary Of today as | can
possibly imagine between earth
and heaven. In fact, under pres
ent conditions penitentiary life
is just what a prisoner wants to
make it, and it is all with the
man himself" Substantially this
same statement was made to me
at every place we visited.
The industries both at Rusk
and at Huntsville appear to be
conducted now with a view to in
structing them something to
learn, to strive for, to look for
ward to when they get out Of
prison; and this should be true
Of all prisons.
Improved machinery has been
installed at Huntsville, and com
petent citizen foremen have been
placed in charge of the work,
these foremen having been Sc
lected as much with regard to
to their ability to teach the men
something, as for their apitute
at getting work out of them. OF
course neither thought should be
lost in handling the men, for it is
important to get good returns
from the labor as to help the
prisoners.
"A few years ago the prisoners
clothing was Hitting and poor
ly made by men who know no
thing about making clothes.
Now an expert has charge of a
force of some twenty or thirty
men who are equipped with the
facilities for making good cloth.
ing that fits well, and a suit of
white duck from this factory is
by no means bad looking. The
goods To be used for the winter
clothing has a wool filing, and
will make comfortable winter
clothing. There is no reason
why this clothing factory should
not be enlarged 10 manufacture
clothing for all the state : insti-
tutions where clothing is pro.
vided by the state, and it should
also make all the quilts, sheets.
pillow cases, towels and other
cloth goods used by the state.
Such work would not only save
expenses 10 the state, but would
employ that many more men and
send them out OF the prison
competent workmen.
Marked Improvements have al
80 been made in the shoe fac
tory, Nher. something over
twenty men are Eow employed.
turning OCT about "a hund red
pairs 80 shoe, "a day. By increas
INK TN, force three times the
number of shoe, can a. easily
De- made without additional over