The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-09-05

should receive the tnouSDtlul atten-
ton OF the state and county officials
OF New England.
"An average of 40 prisoners are
worked from a central camp. The
road construction is undet the super
vision of the state highway depart
ment, but the care, custody, discip-
line and feeding of the prisoners is
under the direction of the sheriff and
, county commissioners. This co-ordi-
nation of the highway and prison de.
partments is in accord with the rec
concentrations made by the national
committee on prisons and prison Ia
Dor to the Maine Automobile associa.
ton which fathered the neoe ssary leg
islation
"The construction work is on the
state road to the White mountains,
about 20 miles from the Jail at Port.
land. On knoll the prisoners erect
ed camp large enough for 10 single
spring beds with wardrobe room at
one end. The men undregs in this
room and put on their clean might
les" and hang their clothing IN indi-
vidual hooks; then the door to this
room is locked If man should es
cape in the night all he would have
to wear would be a cotton night shirt
"The camp is erected in sections,
so that it can be readily taken down
and removed to some other location.
Close to the camp an old house was
leased and a "lean-to' dining room,
also in sections, built on. The house
not only serves as kitchen, but as
quarters for the guards and foremen.
Particular attention is given to the
sanitary conditions in AMI about the
camp, including bathing in nearby
pond.
There is a marked improvement in
the health of the men after they
have been in camp a short time, and
when they are discharged they are
fit to do mans work anywhere.
They are given an abundance of good,
plain food, the cost of which aver
ages about As cents per man per day,
while at the Jail the average cost is
only 10 cents.
THE men are dressed like other
laborers, and there is nothing to dis
tinguish them from an ordinary road
crew. They are allowed a great deal
of liberty about the camp. After
supper they read, pitch ouoits, play
ball and do about as they please
however, sharp at eight clock they
must be in the camp and prepare for
bed.
From a financial point every days
labor is worth at least $175 less the
cost of food, While in Jail the county
received only about 8 cents for the
days the men worked and fed them,
as ordinary laborers, which is re-
markable, as they are all short-term
men serving sentences from 80 days
to 8 months, and men CT that class
are not, as a rule, efficient workers.
"In starting a new camp consider
able attention must be given to dis
cipline for the first few weeks. In
a short time, however, everything be-
comes a matter of routine and the
work progresses in a regular and sys-
tematic manner.
The Almighty ordained" Mr.
Scates concluded. that man should
earn his living by the sweat OF his
brow. Why should not this law apply
to those who have been before the
courts for misdemeanor The expert
ment in Cumberland county has prov
en- beyond a doubt that I is better
for the men and certainly ii is better
for the county-it only requires a
little more thought and work on the
part of the sheriff and county COM
missioners."