Evening star., 1915-06-06
WORKHOUSE WILL EARN
$4,000 FOR THE YEAR
Occoquan Management to Disprove
Theory That Corrective In
stitutions Are Burden.
Interesting Details Brought Out at
First Inspection of Place by
Grand Jury of District.

The usual theory that corrective in
stitutious are heavy burden upon
faxpayers was disproved by facts
which came to fight during the tour of
inspection made by the grand jury to
the District Workhouse at Occoquan
Friday Supt Whitaker Informed the
visitors that this institution. as a re
suit of the various Systematized ac-
tivities 10 whicl. the prisoners are put
during their sojourn on the premises.
Will turn over to the United states
government the sum of S5o.o0o this
Year. not including the added value of
the improvements to the buildings.
The General Warren, special tug for
tCcoquan. doomed out its final warn
ing whistle. and the last of fourteen
member of the grand jury raced across
The open space al the 10th street wharf
and took his seat in the stern. a bell
swung slowly in a wide circle and was
steadied down for the thrty-two mile
sun TO the District workhouse.
Members of the Grand Jury.
The fourteen members of the grand
jury sat in the stern and with them
sat William Gilchrist, from the dis
trict attorneys office: William Whit
aker, superintendent of the workhouse.
snd a representative of The Star. The
fourteen we're Edwin K. Brooks, fore
man: Henry j. Shraudner. John +.
1'arcey, Elmor p. Bailey, Clarence r.
1Iuck. Walter J. Coggswen, John p.
Hawkins. William j. Hoffman. Julius
Neidt. John r. Morgan. Walter y.
johnson, Byron Anderson. Daniel G.
Fahey and Frank A. Dunn. They We're
off to make the first formal inspection
of the workhouse by grand jury
since the esta blishment of the institu-
ZION five years ago.
\ lookout Went "aloft" with capt.
Sisson to look for submarines. And
on the way down the river Supt. Whit
aker told of the foundation, the deyel-
opment and the purposes of Occoquan II.
Work was started on the Institution
Just about five years ago. said the
superintendent. The 25,00G-acre tract
which is now occupied was then a will
derness. The men Were put in camp
the bank of Occoguan creek in tents
and work was begun on the road back
TO the site which had been chosen for
the principal buildings. The road rs-
ing over 400 feet in a mile and a half
was completed in little less than
ninety days. Then work was begun on
The buildings themselves and from
then till today the work of improving
the institution has continued steadily"
No Corporal Punishment.
II was learned during the course of
the trip that about 615 men and women
form the usual number of prisoners a
the workhouse 600 men and 10 wom-
en-; that no corporal>p punishment is
used in handling them. that there has
been but one serious disturbance
among the prisoners.
The brick yard was the first industry
visited There are eight kilns. each of
q capacity of $1,000 bricks, and g.. 900
perfect bricks is the daily output. one
of the members of the jury who is
familiar with this form of industry
pronounced the yard to be the most
compact and completely equipped plant
he had ever visited.
Over the winding road which had
been built by the prisoners the visitors
were driven TO the principal buildings
of the Workhouse. These are of frame
construction. painted white and pro
Nided with what was pronounced to be
an admirable plumbing system. If
there is one phrase which would sum
up the impre ession created upon the Wis
ltors by their inspection of the plant it
would be 'cleanly. methodical eff
cient. over and over again these
~ords We're used in the course of the
visit.