The Mankato free press., 1916-05-12
SocioIogists From the Normal
Visited State "Pen"
LOOK over INSTITUTION
They Heard the Orchestra That
Was Rehearsing For
Sunday Service
From Tuesdays Daily.

Members of the normal school
sociology class No. 2, in charge or
Professor G. S. Peterson, left for a
field trip TO the Minnesota state
prison in Saltwater, at 5:22 a. IN.
Saturday, May 6. At st. Paul they
boarded a St. Paul and saltwater car
arriving at the prison at $50 a. m.
The new prison is located in South
Saltwater, overlooking the beautiful
st. Croix River valley, and the prison
farm consists of 763 acres surround
ing the prison enclosure of % acres.
An impressive fact about the building
and equipment is the modern ar
rangements. Scrupulous cleanliness
and the utmost sanitary precautions
abound everywhere The beautiful
home of the warden is just outside
the main prison enclosure. Walls of
reinforced concrete enclose The main
prisons.
Pictures of Wardens.
In the administration building wait
ing room, very nicely equipped for
visitors, were noted the pictures Of
all the past wardens, framed and
hung all around the room. The Wis
itors were given a special guide and
piioted through the prison free of
charge Two large cell houses, each
equipped with SO cells, were the first
points of interest visited. Each
cell has electric light, toilet, running
water, and all modern appliances.
The cells are two feet larger each
way than the old cells, and the ar
rangements Of the windows and light
ing apparatus is so that each cell
gets a great deal of light, no matter
where the cell is, which is wonder
full accomplishment. Next were Wis
tied the library, the printing office
where the oldest prison newspaper,
THE Mirror" is published, which
was originally the idea of Cole
Younger.
The commodius kitchen attracted
a great deal Of attention, and clean
Illness was found to be strictly ad-
hered to everywhere. The dining
room seats 1900 people, and at eacn
meal the prison orchestra plays from
the balcony of the room.
Recreation Grounds Visited
The recreation grounds were visited
and on Saturday afternoons they are
extensively used for all forms of
sports. The power house, with its
three massive dynamos and other
equipment created a great deal of
interest. The Mankato party hap
pened to enter the theatre and audi
torium when the prison orchestra
was rehearsing the Sunday music.
1t was a magnificent orchestra and
its performance was admirable.
In the large auditorium services
are held each Sunday morning, the
representatives of the various re-
ligious denominations alternating in
conducting the exercises.
Quite revelation in methods of
work were the twine factory, the
warehouse of raw material, and the
huge piles of manufactured binding
twine. The farm machinery build
ings were next visited. In 1903 less
than ten reapers were manufactured
and sold, but this year the number
will be more than 10000. Other
points of interest were also visited.
-.g.E Wonderful Institution.
The prison is wonderful institu-
tion. and is self supporting to the
state of Minnesota. In methods and
equipment it is in the first rank of
prisons. There are about 1900 in
mates at the present time The
members of the visiting party deeply
appreciated the kindness of Warden
c. S. Reed and the guides for extend
ing the privilege of this visit of in
sEection. Those who made the trip
were G. S. Peterson. Mildred Allen,
Rose Bouchard, Hazel Campbell,
Margaret Humble. Lillian Jensen,
Pearl Keinholz, Francis Kosmoski,
Pelagia Kosmoski, Pearl Miller.
Berpice Morrow, Hannah Mountain,
Henry Roust, Sophia Saucerman,
Dorothy Scott Villa Wolford, and
Hazel Sharp.