Palisadian., 1916-02-12
Sheriff Robert N. Heath Shows
Some Surprising Figures About
Economy In The County Jail
Has SaUed S4,43I.33 OUer the Cost When the Free
holders Had the Jail Under COntr0I- Cost of Food
per Prisoner per day 127 to14.l Cents Travelled
Widely at Personal Expense to Observe other
Institutions.

agree with the counsel of the Board,
stating that the Sheriff could assume
control Of the kitchen upon giving
the Board ample notice Of his inten-
tion so to do.
The Director and the Committee
ON Public Buildings and Grounds
were fair in the matter and in view
of the difference of opinions of the
counsels they informed the Sheriff
that if he could convince them that
he could feed the inmates of the in
stitution for less than Is cents per
prisoner per day, they were willing
| that he assume control.
The Sheriff thereupon selected the
institution that he felt was working
along the plans nearest to those he
wished to adopt and requested the
Committee to accompany him in his
private automobile to the Mercer
county Jail at Trenton. This propo-
sition was accepted and the Com
mittee, together with the Director
went over the question Of feeding
prisoners very carefully with Chief
Warden Darcy of that institution
Upon the return the Committee rec
commended that the entire control Of
the kitchen be turned over to the
Sheriff and they asked that he fur
nish the Board of Freeholders with
a list of food that he would require
to put his plan into successful opera
tion.
In May, 1915, numerous bids were
received for the supply of food, the
bids being requested on such food as
requested by the Sheriff. The low
est bidder was William Welleck,
Of Hudson street, Hackensack, for
meats, vegetables and groceries, and
P. H. Sergel, of Main street, Hacken-
sack, for bread.
On June l, the Freeholders dis
pensed with the services of the chef
and his wife, who were drawing an
annual salary OF $1,320, and for the
following seven days the inmates of
the institution took their place.
On June z, 1915, control Of the
kitchen was formally turned over to
the Sheriff and the new food con
tracts and new menu went into
effect.
Since June z, 1915, as previously
stated, there has been no hired help
employed in the kitchen, the inmates
serving time in the jail performing
all the work necessary. The menu
is arranged by the Sheriff; the daily
ordering Of the food, supervision of
the weighing and preparation of the
food is entirely in his hands. The
bills are approved monthly by the
Sheriff and paid by the Freeholders.
The menu is as follows:
Sunday:
Morning Bread and black coffee.
Noon-Pea soup, pork and baked
beans, bread.
Night-Frankfurters or hash, bread
and coffee.
Monday:
Morning Coffee and bread.
Noon-Beef stew and bread.
Night Molasses, bread and coffee.
Tuesday,:
Molning-Coffee and bread
Noon--Pea soup and baked hash
and bread.
Night-Fried potatoes, bread and
coffee.
Wednesday:
Morning-Coffee and bread.
Noon-Mutton stew and bread.
Night bread and coffee.
Thursday:
Moning-Coffee and bread.
Noon-Baked hash, bread and pea
soup.
Night-Fried potatoes, bread and
coffee.
Friday:
Morning-Coffee and bread.
Noon-Fish and potatoes, bread.
Night-Fish balls, bread and coffee.
Saturday:
Morning-Coffee and bread.
Mutton stew and bread.
Night-Stewed prunes, bread and
coffee.
The witnesses at each meal are
given meat, either streak, chops,
frankfurters or sausages, also soup,
coffee and bread.
Since June 7, 1915, the general
health of the inmates of the institu-
ton has been far superior to what it
was prior to that time. There are
less stomachaches and headaches, etc.
The Sheriff of the county wishes il
understood that the following most
remarkable comparison of figures,
which are based on official records,
could only be submitted by the as
sistance Of his employees and the
earnest efforts of the inmates of the
institution.
In the old Jail during the first year
Sheriff Heath served as under sheriff,
he had to perform the duties OF
nnder sheriff as well as day warden,
taking care of the Jail from am.
to 7 pm. A warden took the shift
from pm. to am.
Upon moving to the new building
| it was found necessary, owing mainly
to building construction and location