The Topeka state journal., 1914-01-13
X. q. Expert Makes Official Re-
port to Gov. Hodges
After Long and Careful Inves-
tigation of Conditions.
IT WOULD COST S400,
But 1t Is Necessary for State to
Act at Once.
Brands Present Prison "lncu.
bator of White Plague"
POINTS OUT the BL0TCnES
Gloom, Cramped Quarters and
Lack of Sanitation.
Long Indictment Of a Plant
Built IS Years Ago.
But It Is Necessary for State II
Act at Once.
Brands Present Prison "lncu'
batOr of White Plague.
POINTS OUT THE BLOTCHES
Gloom, Cramped Quarters and
Lack of Sanitation.
Long Indictment Of q Plant
Built s. Years Ago.

Built s. Years Ago.
Kansas must either rebuild her pres
ent state penitentiary at Lansing
erect a new plant near the site OF the
present institution. or dispose OF neT
1000 acre prison farm and move the
prison to some point in central Kansas
according to an official report filed TO-
day with Governor Hodges by Pro-
fessor F. w. Blackmar. prison ex-
pert. appointed to investigate condf-
tions at Lansing. Professor Blackmar
strongly favors a new penitentiary near
the prison site, erected in accordance
with the plan Of the new federal prison
at Leavenworth and to cost $40O.O .O0O Ae
urges the appointment OF board OF
experts to work out plans ana report
to the 1915 legislature.
The Blackmar investigation was
made several weeks ago and the re-
port filed with the governor covers al
most every detail Of the physical con.
dition of the Lansing plant. Most OF
the buildings at the prison are branded
as unsanitary. dark. gloomy, out OF
date and poorly ventilated. impairing
the health and working ability OF the
inmates and making the institution IN
general compare unfavoran!y with
expert urges. render impossible the
highest efficiency in prison manage.
ment. No condemnation ts lodgeo
against the prison management, Dut
Professor Blackmar commends only the
new twine plant and the prison farm
possibilities.
In his report, Blackmar intimates
that q new general plan Of improve-
ment may be worked out from year to
year. but this point II not strongly
urged. Neither is the expert enthusi-
astic over a plan to remove the peni-
state away from the general crime
center. His argument is largely In ia
vor of erecting a new prison near tine
site of the old one. He believes that
the building Of a new penitentiary II
the better and cheaper plan.
Many Improvements Needed
Pointing out the deficiencies Of the
ton to the need of new cell houses. ex-
haust fans. better ventilation. sun
shine and light for the men in the cell
blocks. Better fire protection must be
afforded. the report says. tubercu-
losis hospital is needed. the women.s
present building used for general hos
pital to replace the present dilapidated
make-shift. Sewer and drainage Ia
cilities must be improved, according to
Blackmar while a new system OF study
Of insane cases and general improve
ment in present manner and method Of
handling prisoners Is deemed neces-
eary.
Reviewing the health conditions Of
the prison, Blackmar brands the Lans-
ing institution as an incubator OF the
white plague" and points out that 81
per cent. of the deaths Of prisoners since
1900 have been due to tuberculosis. Yet
20 per cent. Of the prisoners received
are suffering from tuberculosis. accord
ing to the report. The remaining per
cent. as well as additional per cent.
which contract the disease within the
penitentiary walls. are paroled to go
home to die.
But that is not the only trouble in
the prison. Dark. stuffy. narrow cells.
inadequate ventilation and sewer serv :
cell blocks, each prisoner Is afforded
from 1856 to 25S cubic feet of air space.
The prisoners spend from IL to IA hours
a day in their cells. Dimensions Of the
cells vary from seven to eight feet in
length. are seven feet high and four to
five feet wide. Blackmar recommends
cells 10 feet long. feet wide md 8
feet high.
That isn't all.
Cell Houses Leak.
1.-The cell blocks are in the center of
the cell house and rise to the roof"
L.
is old and leaks. The down-spOut from
the roof carries the water through the
cells. There Is no way Of get
ting 1t out except driving 1t to the
door and shoveling it out. because the
floor is six to eight inches below the
exterior level. 1t is the opinion
Of everyone who has visited the peni-
tentiary that the cells are entirely too
small for health"
Bad sanitary conditions do not stop
there. When the prison was built mc ~
years ago, Il was a model of its time
Professor Blackmar declares. But II
has outlived it's usefulness in the opin-
ion of the prison expert who served on
the board which investigated the Okla
and later served on the hoard which
made an investigation under Governor
Stubs in 1910.
Uhmentionable Night Buckets.
There is no plumbing in the eel
houses. Each morning the 500 pris
oners carry from the cell blocks theil
night-buckets and this odor is almos
unbearable. Blackmar mentions 1t IL
. his report.
s.The ventilation of the cells is rem
dred still more difficult by the
nignt-bucket system Of sanitation" h.
reports, land this system costs tn,
labor Of 20 men daily And 20 men II
the coal mines would earn $40 a day
The east cell house, being newer thar
the rest-having been completed 2I
years ago-is somewhat better thai
PLAN"
Conditions in the Cells.
Blackmar's report discusses each o.
the three cell block or wings In de