Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1914-11-07
CO'.'':ij;TS TO WORK
ROADS ALL WINTER
Camps in Three Counties Beino Eit
ted Up for Cold Weather-Pris-
oners Well Satisfied.

Warden NJ. Z. White Of the State
penal inst tuition at Moundsville. has
as yet received no word from the
state Board Of Control as to bringing
the eighty or more convicts, who at
present are working roads in differ.
ert counties, back to the institution
for the winter and in all probability
they Will be kept in the camps dur
ing the winter months Mr.. White re.
Gently shipped big cargo of warn,
bed clothing and other winter necesst
ties to the different camps for tho
convlcts and they are being fixed I'D
Tor the cold wealth The structures
the men are camping in arr Of canvas
and by the tine winter sets in thew
VIII be as warm as any modern build
ing. The guards are having floors
laid, and coal stoves are to be install.
ed, thus assuring the convicts bet
ter winter than that behind the damp
gray walls Of the institution
The three camps now out art situat-
ed near Charleston, Kanawha county;
this county, and st. Marys' Pleas
ants county, there being eighty con-
victs In the three counties with only
two or three guards to each camp
5 Fayette county has, stgnsa- a contrac,
= Withsthe Board OF Control for fifty
cOnvicts to work their roads fer one
year but as yet the men have not beer
sent out and it is understood they
will not be taken until spring opens
as but very little could be done on
the roads during the winter months.
During the early fall and summer
the cOnvictS, were worked fairly hard
but from now On until spring. during
their stay in camp, III ngs will be
quite easy 70 rth"m as work is to go
on only when the weather will per
nit and as a hard winter is predicted
nO3 much progress is expected to be
made. The convicts have had a fine
time in camp according to statements
They work nine hours a day, quitting
at four o'clock in the evening, and
f'On that time on are allowed the
c:"tir gs to themselves. When wealth
er permitted ball games were staged
every evening on places they had
cleared for this purpose and from the
letters received at the institution
some interesting games have been
staged. When weather does not per
nit outdoor sports the convicts as
semhlC III the main camp and have
muse and often concerts are render
e., there being banjOes, mandolins,
vio) IS and ether musical instruments
in the camps The cOnvicts are CIV
en- about the same liberty in the
camps after working, hours, as men
net corrected with the penal instl-
tut1on receive.
Anxious for Work.
There are but few convicts in the
institution that do not want q chance
to go to the road camps, since they
have learned through letters and pa
pers how the men are treated, and
from all probability many will get a
chance next spring as quite a num-
Der of counties have applied to the
Boart Of Control for convict labor.
Only short term men and those that
91c well behaved will get a chance to
so = camp. Guards at the institution
tate that a great change has come
over quite number Of the inmates
heretofore not so we'll behaved, since
they see their chance to get to work
in the open and enjoy liberties that
are given the men already out.
During the winter months when
the roads will be unworkable the men
will have nothing in particular to do
but carry wood for the stoves and
e!,,y themselves in whatever way