The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-08-12
CONDITIONS IN STAMFORD JAIL RIVAL THOSE WHICH
 EXISTED ON CONVICT SHIP
Such Is Opinion of Stratford Man Who Inspects Towns Coop After
 Visiting success
Especial to The Farmer.)

1 fzen of Stratford to pay visit to the 1 local Jail the other day to see just i what conditions are allowed to exist here in Stratford and to see if they [ are much Of an improvement over the conditions which prevailed a century ago on the old English felon transport. 1 People who have ever. by any chance seen the inside of Stratford's "coop'' will not be surprised to learn that the 1 mans opinion of it was anything but complimentary to the authorities and the citizens at large of the town. Poorly ventilated, with tiny win dow the only means of letting the day light filter into the hole, a rusty stove the only provision made for heating the place, no toilet accommoda tions,- in short a veritabIe Black Ho1e,'' Stra tford possesses a jail which in l these days of enlightened prison re- form. should make it's citizens blush for. shame.
 A writer has said of the convict ship Success" that it is hard to realize that the inhumanity of which she is floating reminder could exist under the rule of any nation calling itself civil ized. So might one say of the Strat- ford jail that it is hard to realize that conditions such as do exist in this jail are allowed to exist in a community like Stratford.
 They tell us that the world does ad- vance; that they are more and more reforms every day, but if one takes Stratford's jail system criterion one can only say that things have been at standsti1l in this town now for twenty years OF more. It seems al- most unbelievable that the people of Stratford for years past have calmly ignored the fact that the town jail is a disgrace to the community and blot upon the fair name of Stratford.
 Conditions at the so-called jail are at tTaic Of he o1-F r1o7 pared to what they are in the winter time. A poor unfortunate without home or money would rather sleep by the roadside in the summer time than seek shelter in a "hen hole'' like the Stratford "coop.'' In the winter it is cury lowering around the zero mark they must sleep under cover some where and it is at such time that con- ditions at the Stratford jail are at their worst. As many as thirty men and boys have oftimes been crowded into the jai1 the single window of which is in winter boarded up, shut ting out all fresh air except that which comes in under the door and making an ideal breeding place for the germs . of tuberculosis, pneumonia, and other diseases.
 All the men and boys who are com pel1ed under stress of circumstances to seek a, highs shelter in the Strat- ford jail are not 1ea1louS and hardened. More than one of those who have spent eleepless nights in the filthy confines of this place have been simply in hard luck, generally out of work and trying to get home as best they can. To treat men of this type, even the ire claimable '"bums" who have no homes, like animals, is a reflection on the au- thorities of the town which will not be renomed until steps have been talk en to put the Stratford jail On a par with the jails in every other civilized and progressive town and city in the country.
 LECTURE TONIGHT.
 At the Pilgrim Baptist church this evening there will be lecture by the Rev. MT Patterson. All are welcome to attend. Rev. Mr.. Patterson is said to be a wonderful speaker, so the Iec- ture promises to prove a most inter esting one.
 MUD HEN' ON WAYS.
 Capt Hiram Munson's yacht Mud Hen,'' which is now on the ways at the Miramaug Yacht club at the foot of Seaview avenue, has undergone con siderable repairs and improvements, and will soon be ready to slip into the water again.
 The Mud Hen' is a we'll known craft in Bridgeport waters. Capt. Munson conternplates bringing it into the Housatonic river for the remainder of the season, so it will be more con venfent for his friends to go for late afrternoon sails. MT. Munson is one of the local letter carriers and has made a great many friends since coming over here. The clerks and carriers of the Stratford office are happily antic- ipating outing on Labor day with Capt. Munson in the Mud Hen,'' in- cluding a sail down the Sound, with shore dinner at Savin Rock. MT. Munson has his vacation the latter part of this month, during which time down the Sound, accompanied by friend.
 TOWN TOPICS.
 Mrs. F's A. Auford of Judson Place, who has been visiting at Fall River, Mass, and adjoining towns for several weeks past, is expected home the latter part of this week.
 At the Weatogue Country club this afternoon a, young ladies' tennis tour nament was played off. The games were in progress at press hour.
 Miss Amy Cradduck and two girl friends spent the week end at the home of Mrs. Philip Schenck West Broad street.
 John Graham, Jr., and Asa Parleton are at the head of two teams of mem bers of Okenuck tribe of Red Men, ri- VaIs of each other in the hunt for new pale faces for the tribe One of the teams is composed of braves and the other of warriors The teams at present are about neck and neck in the race.
 SHORE DINNER THURSDAY
 That the shore dinner of Okenuck tribe of Red Men which is to be held at Wilcox's Pier restaurant, Savin Rock, Thursday evening, will be the event of the year in the annals of the tribe is now an assured fact. A larger crowd than has ever gone on the ex- cursion to the Rock in former years will go up on the trolley which leaves Stratford at 7:3O o'clock Thursday eve ming.
 ON BUSINESS TRIP
 Thomas J. Conine son of F. F. Co.,