Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-09
WORKHOUSE COLONY
MAY SUPPLY LABOR
Proposed District Reform
atory Likely to Be Built by
0ccoquan Prisoners.
SUGGESTION is CREDITED
TO BOARD OF CHARITIES
Commissioners Bringing to Close
Work Of Preparing Estimates for
Next Fiscal Year.

The Districts workhouse colony at Oc-
coquan, Va. may be called upon to fur
nish the bulk of labor to be employed in
the construction of the proposed District
reformatory. which is to be located on a
LOO acre tract adjoining the workhouse
site. -
This is said to be the tentative plan
outlined to the Commissioners by the
board of charities: The District heads
are understood to have included in the
estimates provision for an initial appro-
priation with which to get the reforma-
tory project started.
While the charities body has not de-
cided on the character of buildings 1t
wants for the new institution, it has prac-
tically determined to work out the plans
sistance, and undertake the construction
work by utilizing workhouse labor and
materials manufactured at the work,
house. such as crushed stone and brick
If this scheme is followed the reforma-
tory will be developed along the same
lines as Occoquan. The latter institution,
under the direction Of Supt. w. II. Whit
taker,, has been constructed almost en-
tirely with prison labor-a plan that
worked SO successfully that the work.
house is now almost self-supporting al
though it is but little more than three
years old.
To Attend Prison Congress.
Penal reform in the District of Column
bia is slated to occupy most of the at
tention of the board of charities for the
next few years and, with the object Of.
obtaining the very latest data bearing
on this subject, three representatives Of
the board will go to indianapolis next
week to attend the American Prison Con-
T1oov a ~ Inhn EdcOn nroSidonf
Of the board; George s. Wilson, secre-
tary. and Supt. Whitaker who will de-
liver an illustrated address before the
congress on the development Of Deco
GUAM.
The Districts reformatory may differ
from similar institutions in other states.
The board intends to make it up-to-date
in every particular and may introduce
some novel features. There is a posi-
bilfty that 1t may be operated in con-
junction with the workhouse, but this is
by no means certain. II such plan were
to be adopted it is likely that there would
be one superintendent or executive head
for the two institutions.
The board, 1t is understood has not de-
cided on the age limit for offenders who
may be committed to the reformatory.
The charities organization members may
decide that reformation is possible in
adults as well as youths and adopt
plan whereby. discretion would be exer-
clsed by the courts as to whether Of
tenders should be sentenced to the work
house or the reformatory. In the latter
institution elementary education will be
provided, while trade schools also will
be operated. Agricultural training, prob
ably, will be prominent feature of the
course.
Appropriation May Not Be Large. .
No intimation has been given az to
how large an initial appropriation will
be requested, but the amount, it is be-
lieved, will not be large, probably suff-
cient only to cover the expense of a
survey to determine what provision
shall be made for an adequate water
supply, a sewerage disposal system and
heating and lighting in addition to the
preparation Of plans for buildings.
Not only will the Commissioners. in
accordance with request by the board
Of charities ask Congress next year for
an appropriation with which to get the
reformatory project under way, but
they will also ask that funds DE pro-
vtded for meeting the initial expense
incident to starting work on the pro-
posed municipal hospital. 1t has been
definitely agreed. it is understood, that
the need of a municipal hospital shall
be brought urgently to the attention of
Congress. 1t is believed that the initial
appropriation to be requested for this
purpose will be about $4,000. the total
estimated cost OF the institution being
approximately 100000.
The Commissioners are now bringing
to "a close their work on the preparation
Of the Districts estimates for the next
fiscal year Having finished with the
needs of the board OF education and
board Of charities. the District heads
yesterday afternoon. vent on a street in
spection tour-a task they resumed to-
day. There will be substantial increases
in the schedule for improvements of city
streets it is understood, while the list
of county and suburban roads recon-
mended for improvement is said to in
clude a number of roads in the north
east and southeast sections.