Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-10-24
JUTE MILLS N
PRISON MAKING
STATE A PROFIT
Special Prison Commission
Pleased With Plan in
Vogue at the Walla Walla
Penitentiary.

That the special prison commission
authorized by the last legislature t.
investigate penal institutions. on which
Governor Hawley placed Warden Johr
Shook. Attorney General D. c. Nc.
Dougall and Secretary of State w. L
clifford was favorably impressed with
the medium Of working eonvicts in jute
mills at the Washington state peniten-
tiary at Walla Walla. Is evident from
the statement made today by Attorney
General McDougall who has just re-
turned from that Institution accom-
panied by Warden Shook. Secretary
of State Clifford went to north Idaha
and will remain there until after cleo
ton.
There are $50 convicts in the Wash.
ington penitentiary, and of this mum
Der $50 work in the big jute mill
which is paying profit on sacks
manufactured. when operated, Of $500
per day." stated Attorney General Nc
Dougall when interviewed. ITO dupli-
cate this mill Of a smaller capacity
with SO looms in the Idaho state PEN
itentiary would cost approximately
$4,000.
Fine Institution.
'The Washington penitentiary at
Walla Walla has fine location and Is
an excellent institution of its kind. We
were royalty treated by Warden Reed
and Mrs. Reed and l must compliment
them on the manner in which they are
able to handle that big institution.
Everything Is orderly, there Is the best
dicipline and It is remarkable the way
in which the prisoners are handled.
THE 1ute mill is one of the largest
in the country. The sacks manufac-
tured are apportioned to the various
counties which during the early
part Of each year place with the war
den the number of sacks estimated
they will need to handle the grain
crops. These sacks are sold to them
at about cents. The balance OF
the sacks manufactured are later sold
Off and bring about II cents. The sup
ply never meets the demand. The
prices are fixed by the board in con-
troll.
Tho mills are operated by machin-
cry and the men are stationed there
under the supervision OF guards.
There Is but one civilian. a foreman,
on the floor Of the mill. The jute is
secured from India. where native work
ers employed at but few cents day
grow the product and manufacture the
sacks. There il no competition in this
country in the manufacture.
Supply State Institutions.
warden Reed informed US that II
the Idaho penitentiary Is supplied with
jute mill, he would be glad to send
a man here II necessary to start the
work and would go in with US In the
purchase Of the jute from India. This
would be distinct advantage.
1.-THE penitentiary at Walla Walla al
so has a shoe factory, a large tailor
shop and cabinet and furniture man
ufactory. The convicts manufacture
shoes, furniture and make the clothes
and dispose Of them to other state in
stitutions. These state institutions
purchase the material supplies. BY
this system the cost of labor AMI
manufacturing is saved to the state 1t
amounts to big item.
About so convicts are worked on
state roads under the supervision of
the state road commissioner who makes
application for the men and they are
picked out by the warden and placed
In the commissioners charge.
Prisoners Make Good.
warden Reed informed us that SO
per cent Of the men paroled from the
institution make good.
This is remarkably high record. He
takes every precaution with the con-
victs. While strict disciplinarian he
finds that not to give the convicts a
chance or the opportunity to make
getaway saved a great deal Of trouble |
Guards with Winchesters are stationed
on the walls and there Is no possible
avenue Of escape. Prisoners who fail
to obey the rules are punished with
solitary confinement, forfeit their
chance Of parole or are otherwise given
to understand that in order to be in
good standing they must observe the
prison rules.
THE cells are so arranged there is
but one way to go in and one way to
go out. The system Is an excellent |
one. To see those $50 convicts march !
into the dining room in the best pos
sible order Is a treat sight. There |
are many life termers in the prison. |
Prisoners are given to understand they
have been confined there for a reason |
and that they must not disobey the
rules and regulations. The employ. |
ment helps to make them more con- 4
tented.
I'VE did not reach decision with 4
penitentiary, but will ar
rive at our illusions later and give
hem In our report