The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-04-29
BENEFITS DERIVED
 FROM STATE FARMS Views Of Trained Specialists As Given Before The State Cor1ference Of Charities And Correction
CANNOT BE sELF-sUPPoRTTNG.

CANNOT BE SELF-SUPPORTING I question if a State Farm in New England can, in itself. be wholly self supporting, our growing season IS too !, short; but with suitable greenhouses and shops for making such articles as are needed about the place-and pos sibly for other penal and charitable institutions-I believe they could be profitable even during the winter months. But, after all the question of cost, though it must of necessity, be an important consideration, should not outrank in our minds the real prison problem-the, welfare of the prisoner himself. Does this form of adminis-d tration give him a. better chance than the close prison believe that h does, and in more ways than one.
 First of all, there is the physical side. The man sent to. prison must lose in a greater or less degree, his standing in the community in which he lives and at his return cannot re gain it immediately. He must accept what he can get in the way of work, usually the most menial labor. If he comes from a close prison where he will have had. as rule, only light work to do, he has sost even the strength he had when committed, and is physically unable to do the only kind of work open to him Before the first day is over he is utterly ex- hausted and discouraged and turns
 
 easier life that dishonesty promises, with return to prison the inevitable end in either case.
 MORAL EFFECTS.
 The moral effects of air, sunshine, and of trusting a man in so far as he shows himself worthy of it, are no less certain, if not as open to the casual view. No one, except, per haps some of those enthusiasts whose articles read so beautifully in the magazines, will claim that outdoor Iwork, or any other one thing, however good in itself, is a cure-aH for evil, but pure air, wholesome food and g. lean hope to be, do, often affect changes in a mans mental state that make it possible for influences to reach him which before have made no ap- IpeaI whatever.
 I One can hardly hope in the short sltime they are with us. to make expert tfarmhands of such material and, in deed, many shake the dust of the Ecountry from their feet with all Ipromptness their release. As far las. we can. however. we encourage the men to get away from their old haunts and find employment on farms land we have little difficulty in placing all who can be persuaded to do so. The farmers in our vicinity, like farm slers everywhere are hard pushed toA get
 
 from the Camp differ little in charac- ter from those obtained through a irregular employment agency. while they Ido have the added advantage of a certain amount of training.
 l SUMMARY.
 To summarize, then, the results of our experience at the Camp1results (which may be duplicated, and in many lways surpassed by other such insti- Itutions. It has given to the state Ian area of productive farming land and orderly forest in place of a rocky wilderness, and well-constructed buildings at minimum cost To hun Idreds of debauched and enfeebIed men lit has given. that physical upbuilding lthat must precede any lasting moral iemect, a training in work the demand for which is far greater than the SUD- iply, and which in no wise competes unfairly with free labor, and the lgreater freedom and closer. Knowledge lof the Individual possible under these lconditions have bred a spirit of friend Illness evinced no less by the good be- havior of the inmates during their I term of service than by their expres- lsions of gratitude and goodwill on leaving and in heir letters afterward. I All these things seem gus sufficient I recommendation for the state farm Isystem of handling .slort-terrn pris- toners. and make us feel that there must be an increasing development of such institutions in the future.