Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-06
MANY IMPROVEMENTS MADE
THIS YEAR AT OCCOQUAN
Material Advancement Secured in Plan to
Make Government Institution
Wholly Self-Sustaining.

would nave eXCee0oQ $o,SUu.
An additional water pump has been
installed at cost of $4,000. Occoquan' s
water supply is unusually good. 1t
comes from a race above Occoquan and
is brought down by it's own power to
pumps on the banks. where it is forced
into a tank of $4,000 gallons capacity.
1t is then filtered by the usual process.
but before it is drunk it is rehltered
through a rock and sand bank that
was built by Supt. Whitaker.
Stone Crusher Enlarged.
The stone-crushing plant has been en-
larged. 1t now has capacity of about
100 cubic yards a day. The crushed
stone is sent to the District. where 1t
is used by the government for concrete
work, sewers, foundations. etc.
A machine and blacksmith shop has
been built at a cost OF $4,000. and 1t is
believed the shop will soon pay for
itself in the saving that will be afforded
by having the convicts do their own
mechanical and blacksmith work.
Occouuan now has model dairy. 1t
was built at cost of $500. and is as
spotless as any of the dairies that cater
to the highest class of patronage.
Another addition to the plant Is a
hosting machine that will be of great
assistance in loading and unloading the
barges at the river. This machine cost
the government about $1,000. and about
$1,000 was, expended during the year in
repairs on the barges and tugboat. 1t
is now planned to purchase new tug
at cost of $4,000.
An additional dormitory for women has
been built and cost about $1,000 Again
there was great saving because the
shacks were built by the convicts.
The work Of making roads and clear
ing the farm land has taken great
deal of time without producing any d.
rect financial results. but as the roads
are made better and the facilities FOR
handling the products of Occoquan S
industries are increased the returns from
the institution necessarily will be en-
larged.
Institution Attracts Attention.
Occoquan is not attracting attention
all over the country. Although but a
little more than three years old, the in
stitution has proved such an unqualified
success as far as it has gone, and every
indication points so directly to the belief
that within a few years it will be self
sustaining, that inspectors from many
states have visited it within the year and
in all cases have been pleased with the
idea The investigating committee from
New York, after careful examination of
Occoquan, has reported in favor Of estab-
fishing a similar institution near the
metropolis.
The places where the prisoners sleep at
punishment cells. are called dormitories.
and properly, for they bear no earmarks
of prisons. They are Of frame construc-
ton. There are two such dormitories
for colored men with beds for 400 prison
ers. One dormitory for white men will
accommodate 175 prisoners. The women s
dormitories are considerably smaller.
In addition to the equipment that has
hnn OBJ al = T.
a large recreation hall, a good hospital
with competent physicians and surgeons
In attendance, and a building where the
force Of about 100 officers and guards
live.
While the institution has proved to be
successful up to a certain point, William
II. Whitaker. the superintendent, who is
responsible for nearly all that has been
accomplished, believes that the field for
doing real good is limited as long as
prisoners are sentenced for definite
period.
Favors Indeter1ninate Sentences.
He has strongly urged that a law be
passed making. the sentences of all pris-
oners sent to Occoquan indeterminate.
and number Of civic bodies to whom
the matter has been presented have re-
ported favorably on the matter.
In urging the enactment of the in
oSlCI sentence law III Ills IcpOIL
to George S. Wilson, secretary of the
board Of charities. Supt Whitaker said:
Until We have a law giving us time
to study the crimes and causes for which
prisoners are sentenced we will not be
able to use the best methods to correct
and return to society at least 60 per cent
of those who come to us, as self-support-
Ing and law-abiding citizens. There is
nothing like the work test to bring out
the best that is In an individual, and 1t
Is this system we have inaugurated at
the workhouse. With the indeterminate
sentence we will be able to steadily and
persistently apply the method, until We
will be able to determine just when the
individual is ready for parole. The fell
low who has a constitutional aversion to
industry will soon reveal his true char
acter under this form of treatment, SO
We may easily know him and put him
in class. under proper discipline. where
he may be self-supporting while in the
institution, but If permitted to go at
large would at all times be source of
annoyance and expense to the COM
munity where he may 60. 1t Is not neces-