Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-13
0CCOQUAN NEARLY
SE[F-SUPPORT|NG
Workhouse Will Pay Expenses
in Two Years, Whitaker
Thinks.
INSTITUTION ENTERING
PROSPEROUS PERIOD
Output of Brick, Crushed Stone and
Farm Products Swells I
Revenue.

That the District of Columbia work
house. located at Occoquan, Va, will be
self-supporting within two years is the
belief of W. H. Whitaker, superintend-
ent of the institution.
The big penal institution. which de-
veloped almost overnight from will
derness tract, is now entering upon its
third year. Built almost entirely by
convict labor. with many of it's build
ings constructed Of timber cut down on
the site which 1T occupies, the insti-
tuition. during the little more than two
years Of its existence, has arrived with
In striking distance Of being self-sup-
porting.
Increased outputs of brick and crush
ed stone, to say nothing of farm prod
ucts, will swell its revenues this year.
Next year returns on the money and
labor invested in the plant will be
even greater it is anticipated. while
the fifth year is counted upon to place
the workhouse on solid. self-support-
ing basis.
Crushing Plant to Start.
The stone crushing plant, with an
operating force of forty or more in
mates of the workhouse, will start
operations on a big scale tomorrow.
The plant Is capable Of turning out
200 yards of crushed stone q day The
material will be used by the local
government in concrete foundation
work.
Likewise, the institutions brick kilns
ing agency. With the facilities now in
stalled, it is possible to turn out 10000
brick day, the labor Of sixty men being
employed. Machinery has been installed
for the manufacture of paving brick. and
it is expected that the quantity of this
product turned out during the present
year will exceed 100000.
The new tugboat purchased for the
workhouse will be pressed into service
about August !. Brick and crushed stone
for use by the District government will
be conveyed to Washington in barges
Already several large orders for brick to
buildings have been placed with the
workhouse superintendent
Interest in Address.
Interest has been aroused among
Washington social workers in an address
delivered by Supt Whitaker before the
Southern Sociological Congress. on the
subject of Modern Ideas of Administra-
ton in the Government of Warehouses
and Penal Institutions" Out of ninety
six addresses delivered before the con-
gress. which was held in Atlanta Ga.
only six were selected for publ. cation in
a special bulletin issued by the congress-
the paper by Mr.. Whitaker being among
the number.
In his address. Mr.. Whitaker outlines
the proposed indeterminate sentence law
which. is to be recommended to Congress
at its next session. In the enactment of
such law. he states. three distinct de-
partments should be considered Proba-
ton, suspension and indeterminate SEN
tence. He summarizes them as follows:
probation shah provide ar officer who
shall investigate each person arrested
and awaiting trial, and shall give to the
court an impartial report and recon-
mend whether the accused shall be pa
rolled or sentenced.
"If the prisoner is found guilty, sem
tence may be suspended by the court.
but If sentenced, then the indeterminate
sentence must apply.
when by good conduct, and after be-
inr ia the institution. the individual
shows by his work, energy and ability