The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1913-02-27

prison., Oh Tie scale ana IN the man.
ner it has been built. The institu-
ton as it will be completed will rep
resent in concrete form his ideas of
the manner in which the states de-
linquents should be handled. Mr..
Wolfer has had wide experience in
the handling of criminals; as far as
it has been possible he has carried
out his ideas in the old and unsani-
tary structure that has been used as
prison since Minnesota became
state and he has done wonders un-
der the circumstances. Given the
almost perfect environment and IA
cilities that the new prison affords,
it is certain that the results will
more and more approximate the
standard upon which his mind is
fixed. Such condition, it is firmly
believed by Mr.. Wolfer and by all
others who have made study of
pathological matters, cannot fail to
be of great benefit to the inmates of
the prison and as we'll to the state
as whole. Pleasant surroundings,
good, wholesome food, sanitary con-
ditions. enough amusement and in
structiOn SO that the routine is on
occasion broken up, certainly shall
call for the best in any man, wheth-
er he be outside or inside the prison
walls. At any rate each man has
an opportunity under the warden's
enlightened plan, and realizing this
and keeping forever before him the
motto carried at the head of the
prison publication, The Mirror,
1t is never too late to mend," it is
not too much to believe that at least
large number of those who are
sent to prison for various crimes
will emerge from the institution, if
not entirely cured Of their criminal
tendencies at least better men than
when they were committed. This
is the plan to which the warden is
committed, the plan under which he
has worked since he became warden
and which in the new surroundings
made possible through the erection
of the new prison be will be able to
amplify and extend.
CONTRACTOR O. HI. OLSEN
The general contractor, the man
who has built the new prison, is y.
FL. Olsen, of Saltwater. Mr.. Olsen
was awarded the contract in COM
petition with dozen other con Germs;
his bid was something like $4,000
less than the next lowest bidder.
The Hanley-Casey Company, Of
Chicago, were awarded the contract
for the mechanical equipment. Mr..
Olsen's contract aggregated mil
lion, four hundred thousand dollars,
the Hanley-Casey Co. contract was
about seven hundred thousand dol
lars. One third of the big ware
house and one third Of the factory,
and the water tower were completed
at cost of about $3.50, 900 when the
larger contracts were let. All con-
tracts are practically completed at
this time; there is a small amount of
grading to do, that awaits warm
weather. 1t is no secret that the
board of control, the state architect,
Warden Wolfer and all who have
had the building of the new prison
on their minds are very much pleas
ed with the manner in which the
contract has been carried cut and
Mr.. Olson has again justified the
confidence Of his friends in this
latest and largest contract he has
ever undertaken. Into this work,
as into all other work he has UNDER
taken, he has woven his own splen-
did character and the prison not
only is credit to the state and to
those who have promoted it but it.
stands and will stand as monument
to its builder, 0. HI. Olson. Mr..
Olson has done other big things;
The Capitol Of South Dakota. at
Pierre, the Federal building at
Superior, the court house at Decor
ah, are some of these, but the work
just completed is the largest he has
ever undertaken. 1t is hoped that
his financial reward will prove salts
factory, for it is certain he has CIV
en- the state a dollar in value for
every dollar that has been spent.