The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-10-25
BAMBERG CHAINGANGS.
Report of State Board of Charities
and Corrections.

lie lOllO" Ing Is d IePOll vi tie
condition OF the Bamberg county
chaingangs issued by the State Board
of Charities and Corrections. The
inspection was made on July TO-
1917:
Mr.. ]. r. Morris, foreman. Con-
victs present, | negro woman, and
"a negro men. of whom 4 negro men
are TRUSTEES.
Management and Equipment.
The supervisor should not receive
any more negro women as convicts at
either of his chaingangs. Section
104 criminal code of 1912, requires
the separation of sexes and races on
county chaingangs. The require
ment as to the separation Of sexes
can best be met by sending female
convicts to the county Jail to serve
their sentences. At this chaingang
the law requiring the separation OF
sexes was being violated by allowing
the negro woman to carry water to
the negro men. Her presence in
camp was also Objectionable and de-
moralizing. The cooking at this
camp is done out of doors. This
usually results in the waste of food,
especially in rainy weather, and in
it's poor preparation. The supervisor
has neglected to keep in his Office a
record of convicts. The ration of the
convicts is rather poorly balanced
and lacks variety. Three convicts'
are allowed to bathe in the same tub
of water at this chaingang.
Recommendations to Supervisor and
Commissioners.
/. AS to Kitchen kitch-
en- built for this chaingang. The
best type Of kitchen is screened,
wooden car.
2. AS to Records kept
in the Office of the supervisor in
suitable book a record of the convicts
on this gang which will show the
name. race, sex and age of each, the
date of his commitment, the length
of his sentence, the date of his dis
charge, and the reason for his dis
charge.
3. AS to "Convicts' Food and
Feeding g'-Give the convicts we'll
balanced and varied ration. Wheat
bread should be given them at least
once day and fresh meat or fish at
least once a week.
4. AS to Classification as Re-
quired by the Law'-Obey the law
by requiring the separation of sexes
and races on county chaingangs.
Recommendations to Foreman.
/. AS to "Convicts' Quarters
Have the blankets used by the con-
victs washed regularly once month
instead of once every two or three
months
2. AS to Disposal of Sewerage"
Before the sewerage vessel is put
into the conyicts' quarters at night
have it's bottom covered with water
to a depth of three or four inches,
to which add a little kerosene OIL
When the fecal matter is dumped
into the sewerage pit in the morn
ing have it covered with three or
four inches Of loose earth. The sew
erage pit should not be located near
er than $50 yards to the camp site.
The pit ought to be burned out once
week with straw and oil.
,. As to personal Hygiene -
Stop the filthy practice of allowing
three convicts to bathe in the same
tub of water. Clean water should
be provided for each convict to bathe
in.
Putting these recommendations in
to effect will make for the better
care of your convicts and consequent
ly enable us to increase your score.
Score cards attached show how the
gangs compare under our standards.
ALBERT S. JOHNSON.
Secretary.
Columbia, S. c., July 10, 1917.
Bamberg County Chaingang, Mr..
J. r. Morris, Foreman:
I. County Commissioners and Chain
gang: SCORES
Possible Actual
/. The camp and it's
equipment.
CD Guards quarters-..- % ~
(2) Convicts' quarters-.1 63
60 Kitchen w 80. SO 10
(4) Storeroom .... go. .... ID 10
(5) Stock adequately shell
tered ... 80. 49,. >
2. The Convicts.
(D Medical attention. 63 IA
(2) Records of convicts, 80