Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-07
Daily Average of Prisoners, 200.


inspectors, G. a. Leighton of Thomas
ton, W. J. Bradley of Fairfield and J.
W Meserve of Bar Mills, 195 convicts
were confined in the prison at the
commencement of the prison year,
Dec. :, 1910; 9S have been received
during the year; g. have beer dis
charged at the expiration Of sentence;
five have been pardoned by the Gov
erncr and Council and six have died.
Total number remaining in prison,
Dec. ]. 1911, 30. The largest number
of c0nvicts~ at any one time during
| the year was POI; smallest number in
prison during the year 1874; daily
average of the year, POO.
The inspectors state that Warden
Fred b. Wiggin has displayed signal
ability in his administration of affairs
at the prison. OF Deputy Warden
True G Hayford the inspectors say.
He Possesses a rare combination OF
tact and talent which enforces obe-
dence to orders and regulations With
out requiring the execution of harsh
| measures to attain that degree of dis
cipllne so necessary in an institution
of this kind The prison chaplain.
Rev. c. A. Plumer, Harriet NJ San
| fey. who was appointed prison mat
ron last June. Clerk James A. LaVen-
saler and the prison physician. DR.. j.
f. Walker. are also highly praised by
the inspectors.
The prison buildings are reported to
be in fair condition. During the year
the electric wiring has been over
hauled and put in first-class order.
Return to Old Method of Feeding.
Of the return to the old method of
feeding the prisoners the inspectors
say: with regret we report that it
was found advisable to discontinue the
serving of meals at tables ami to re-
turn to the former plan of feeding the
prisoners in their cells. There can be
no question as to the need Of abolish
ing the out-of-date system of feeding
prisoners in their cells. but the ae-
eommedations at the prison are not
sufficient to make the experiment a
success. The tables, on account of q
lack of room. We're placed in the corr
riders under the cells. The frequent
sweeping, even with the utmost care
made the tables unsanitary. In addi-
ton the necessary division of time to
permit the prisoners and the guards
separate periods for eating cut short
the time for meals so that increased
sickness. especially among the older
prisoners was the penalty.
I'VE gave a careful consideration to
this question of the best way to feed
the prisoners and there was no lack
of evidence to convince us that, if in
our prison the better plan is to be
gzll = fiT,,,s4 4 NJ
and archaic depositing of each pris-
oner's fare in his cell, there must be
provided an adequate dining room fol
the purpose. We believe that there
should be a commodious well VENT
lated and we'll lighted dining room for
the prisoners. Such a change is in linz
with prison reform and it is justified
| by trial in other states
Warden's Report.
The report of the warden. Fred Il
Wiggin of Saco, is in part as follows
when / assumed the office of war
| den, Jan. 90. 1911, Col Leighton, chair
| man of the Board of Prison Inspectors
at once called my attention to tht
| mortality and health records and con
| ditions here, the report for 1910 show
1 lIlS SJN dSdlilS anu StNtii
| from the Prison to the Insane Hospi-
| tai, ard although this years repor
| shows six deaths, three of these oc'
| CURED in December 1910 and January
| of this year. before / assumed office
| and emphasized the Importance ant
| need of immediate consideration o
| methods or measures to improve
| them.
| I'VE at once made some changes il
| the dietary and later on changed The
| method of feeding from the tables &
| the cells and segregated the tubercu-
| lar suspects in a wing by themselves
| with the result that within the past
| 10 months there have been but three
| deaths. ard the only transfer to th(
| insane Hospital was the return o
| ore man sent here from that institu.
| ton a few weeks before.
| THE changes in the dietary. together
| with the higher cost of food supplies
| show q per diem sustenance cost pei
| man. including tobacco, of 1913 cents
| against 9g1 cents. last year.
| 1--WE have observed the legal holi-
| days by closing the work shops and
have had some entertainment either
| in the chapel or in the open air, a:
| weather conditions would permit.
while all the inmates are required
| To work. unless certified as being il
| by the doctor. we have. broadly speak
| ing, endeavoled to so treat and CAR
for them as to qualify them to become
law abiding and useful citizens at th'
| expiration of their sentences, or whel
| freedom is given them
AT the time of my appointment an(
by advice of the Governor we had al
| inventory taken. as of Feb. |, by tW'
disinterested parties. Capt. L. Z
| keene of Rockland and Charles +
Shorey of Thomaston. They had &C
cess to all of our invoices and mad
personal examination and record o
all the stock and at conclusion o
/ their work the books We're closed ant
balanced and the inventories returned
BY them brought forward as the bal