South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-04-09
PENAL FARM NOW
READY To TAKE
SH0RT-TERM MEN
Gov. RalStOn Issues PrOClama-
tlon Declaring New State In
Stitution Will Receive Prison.
erS Under Jail Sentences.

INDIANAPOLIS. April g. ~ Gov.
Samuel NJ. Ralston Friday issued a
proclamation. in which ne proclaimed
the new state pena1 farm. near Put
namville. Ind. open for the reception
Of short-term prisoners from Indiana
counties. The formal opening of this
new state institution marks the farth-
est step OF Indiana along the path OF
progressive treatment Of criminals
The governors proclamation in full,
follows:
Whereas. the board OF trustees Of
the Indiana state farm has notified me
that such farm has been equipped
with buildings and other facilities suf-
hcient, in the opinion OF the board
OF trustees of said institution. to re-
ceive prisoners on and after the 18th
Gay Of April. 1915;
Now, therefore, l, Samuel NJ. Raj
EtOn. governor OF Indiana, do hereby
proclaim that said Indiana state farm
will be ready on and after the 18th
day OF April. 1915, in so far as the
capacity of tn institution will permit,
capacity of the institution viii permit.
are contemplated by the act of the
general assem- Dly of the state Of Indi-
ana, approved March II, 1913, estab-
fishing such farm"
Capacity Unknown.
The capacity OF the farm with its
present facilities is a question that
cannot be answered just now. For
many months a force of cOnvicts.
TRUSTEES in the state prison at Mich
igan City and the state reformatory
81 Jeffersonville. has been employed
constructing cheap. but durable build
ings on the penal farm that it might
be ready for the reception OF prisoners
as sOOf. as possible and at the lowest
possible cost. Charles +. TalkingtOn
OF Columbus was named superintend-
ent OF the institution several months
ago by the board Of trustees.
The farm is intended to "harbor"
prisoners, sentenced for short terms
from Indiana courts The problem OF
employment for this class Of prisoners
long has been one that has taken the
best thinking Of students OF prison
problems. The farm idea has taken
root throughout this country and Can
ada and the Indiana farm is an exem-
pliicatiOn of the new idea.
New Method OF Guarding.
There will be no wall around the
farm. Prisoners will be guarded in
new fashion, and the old regime OF
prison surveillance will be lacking. If
prisoners escape they are amenable,
when captured. to a long term in the
state prison. the last legislature hav-
ing passed a law, introduced by Rep.
Hickam. whose father was a member
Of the original commission appointed
10 plan the penal farm. which provides
such penalty for an escaped prisoner.
Hereafter, If the plans for the farm
work out as they have been laid, the
iails of Indiana will be far more free
OF the short term prisoners, who eat
up the county funds. do their families
no good and do not benefit themselves,
during their incarceration.
Resources Are Good.
The resources of the new penal farm
in an agricultural and manufacturing
way. are all that can be desired.
Limestone, of good quality for build
ing or pulverizing purposes, exists in
bounteOus quantity on the 1900 acres,
purchased by the state for approx
mateIy $4,000 down near Limedale
and Putnamville. The agricultural
resources Of the place are reported as
the very hest. Here the unfOrtUnates
o. Indiana, who formerly have re-
posed I'm county jails. will hereafter
turn their formerly idle hands TO real
work-here. IL is hoped, they will be-
come producing. integral parts of s.
ciety. instead OF the drags of former
years. The moral physical and men
al benefits that they viii receive Will
more than compensate the state for
its big expenditure for the farm, it is
confidently predicted