Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1912-06-28

& the guides do not fail to show you
M the Carcel de Bilibid. They do so
& with a great deal of pride. Once
Bilibid within almost a stones
throw of your hotel, was the most
lated place in existence to the ma
ives; now it holds no more terrors
nan the best of prisons in the states.
3ilibid, in fact, has been transformed
rom a house of torture to a model
and sanitary prison wherein the con-
gicts are not only kept in good phys
sal condition, but are required to Ia
sOr at occupations which, in their later
5fe, often prove profitable.
Why the original constructors Of
Bilibid designed it on lines which sug-
gested the most sanitary conditions
and yet turned it into the filthiest of
Institutions is a circumstance which
made the United States authorities
sender. In the midst of the old city,
tging within a circle more than mile
IN circumference, nineteen long low
buildings converge on an open space
surrounding a large circular building
md from what is. said to be the larg-
Est prison in the world. There Is
plenty of air space between the build
lngs. Besides the 10 prison quarters
which radiate outward from the cir
cuIar guardhouse in the center there
are five other buildings, composing
fhe administration offices, the commits
sary and quartermaster's storehouses,
and the ice and electric plants, all
Nithin the great circular area.
Topping in height each of these
buildings there are guard towers from
which can be poured any number OF
steel death-dealing missiles within the
great Enclosure and for a great radius
without There Is one large tower in
the center above the main guardhouse,
A. score or more surround the 1nclos-
1re at equal intervals, and there Is not
a nook or corner in Bilibid which does
not come under the eye of the watch
ful Sentinels.
The long, low buildings of Bflibid
comprise the prisoners quarters
Since the American occupation vi the
ISLANDS, the great prison has been di
vided in two parts by great stone
wall One-half Is set apart for the
American military and civilian prison
srs, the remainder for the native Fill
u7no and the Spanish, Chinese, Japa
nese and other prisoners of different
nationalities. The great prison has
heretofore been given two names; the
former the Preside de Manila, the lat
ter the Carcel de Bilibid. The whole
prison is under military command, bu
the native section is directly super
Fised by native officials.
Clean and Ventilated.
Since October, 1898, when the Amer
Ecan officials took charge of the pris
ON, Bilibid has undergone most ben
s,ficial transformation. Those quarter
known as the dormitories are not thu
contested cells of the old Spanish
regime. but have been cleaned ant
ventilated until there is now a fire.
circulation of air in each. Looking
from one end of these buildings to tn
q,Eher you can see long rows OF cot
Sehind sections barred off with thicl
prevail throughout. Twelve wide win
s{ows Sne each side of each building
and In the roofs of each there ha
Been built a continuous line of sue
eSon ventilators,
The workshops, kitchens, lavatorie
and hospitals have been likewise In
proved, each being equipped with tn
most modern sanitary appliances
Bfibid. therefore, instead OF beln
called the House of Torture,
named under the old Spanish rule l
Being looked upon with a sort
vrfde by the native Filipino as one @
the model institutions of its kind 1
the world.
Its reconstruction has, in fact, edt
gated the Filipinos to conslderaol
degree, because while the disclplln
. of the American officials is strict, tn