Putnam patriot., 1915-02-26
TALKS ON STATE
 REFORMATORY
Superintendent Gsryin De-
 scribes institution and Its Work
THERE ARE 2i5 INMATES
On the Advice of pr. ]. J. Mccook Plan Was Started and Place Opened at Cheshire in
 July Last Year.

Especial Hartford CoresDonde9ee)
 Hartford. Warden Albert Garvin of the State Reformatory al Cheshire de- ascrfbed the work of the institution al meeting of the Kings Daughters and Sons held al Center Church House "In 1S97," he said, sDr. J J. BcCook. a report 10 the Legislature, advocated the erection of a reforma- tory in this state. refOrmatory was nnally located al Cheshire and was opened in July, 1914, under as fine board of directors as could be found in the state of Connecticut, serving without pay There have already been committed 10 the institution 374 Nine tF-seven have been paroled. three have died, two have escaped-and are still ai large-eight have been transferred 10 the state prison. The total count is 215. The average age Is i9. Twenty. eight and threestenths per cent are foreign born 74s per cent have been previously arrested here Is the worst Dart As 10 the life al the ref9rma- tory. The inmates are awakened at e.30 in the morning They march to breakfast. Then each goes to bis as signed work The prisoners are per mitted 70 talk af meals except those gf the third grade The perfect grade reen are seated at a table by them selves 4 noon iH the front Of tbe dining room Is posted a b4lletln tell Ing Of the work
 The work consists Of farming faan. deriug. biacksmithng painting. bak- Ing. cleaning and other work There are two sessions of ihe school each day. one in the morning and one in the afternoon The afternoon session X for those above the fourth grade, tbe morning session for those below this grade The teachers are chosen rom among the inmates and are un- der supervision of q citizen teacher who is college graduate We have also, a class in shorthand The chief outdoor sports are baseball in the summer and football in the winter. Occasionally music is furnish by out side people We have band of eighteen pieces There are services Sunday morning. a Catholic service ai o'clock and Protestant service follows, with music at each. The at. tendance is voluntary After the ser vices, the inmates with the excep. l sion of those of the third grade, are | given an hour and a half iu the yard | for exercise
 We have q welfare league Wheth- CT fellows under l9 can properly care for themselves is question in mind. aat l am wiling 10 give them 8 try. There is GAes equipped hospiiat We have alsQgetheE-a fotal af 7 sss.-.set.
 Mrs. uepsY.E .E 1i,A'tiinaiaa sesffgs six aa'fea af land There are twenty.eght acres within the stoeBade The hand is made up Of Quite number of small farms, which were in n rundown con aitlon when they were bought Three thousand bushels of potatoes were raised on the farm last year. There were forty acres of corn and several of fhe small produce An the pork aud milk needed at the reformatory is rais- cd there. The warden closed his ad- dress with the words "Reformatlon of the criminal Is an important work. but the prevention of crime is of great er importance
 The first part of Warden Garvin's address was devoted to short sketch of prison systems. I'm here on three accounts" he said tl was asked to come. one of your members has done snuch for me; and believe that man who holds the position l hold ought to tell what he is trying to do. The first prison in this country was or Eanized in Richmond. Va. the second in Boston and the third in this state. The reformateries in this country are from Elmira down. Prior to 1Sl6 pris- ons were generally underground, foul and myentilated The authorities troubled themselves very little about the health of the inmates. For about fifty years prior to 1872 Connecticut confined her prisoners in discarded mine near Simshury. Disease and de grading punishment were frequent, and the punishment was sure to de- ssroy all hope of reformation in this world.
 IR 1916 the first cell block and shop prison was built in this country. af Auburn. In the Auburn pan, the modification of which is in use all over the United States, the men were kept in solitary cells In 1920, Con. necticut followed Auburn with its mod ern system The south is gradually eliminating the contract camp system and the modern system is coming in Sixteen states have reformatories The first reformatory in this country was rnened ahnnt 1S27 In Massac chusetts