The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-11
Michigan Penitentiary Re-
builds Manhood Under
New Administration.
INMATES OF PRISON !.
ARE TAUGHT TRADES
Almost Every Craft Repre-
scnted in Shut-in World,
and Men Learn.

Five years ago the majority Of the
contracts held by the Michigan state
prison expired. Today. in it's varied in
dustries, the resulting opportunities for
industrial training and general prog
ress in the New Penology." it is not
eNcelled by any prison in the United
States or the world.
For some time previous to 1911 the
prison had been in the limelight be-
cause of lax discipline and mismanage-
ncnt II was then being conducted at
an annual expense Of 100000. In the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1914, the
Michigan prison paid its running en-
pcnscs for the first time in it's history,
and showed balance of $4,000 in
increased inventory values, while the
inmates were paid a total Of $4,000
as their share of the earnings. In the
two years ending June 80, 1916, the
inmates received more than $4,000.
inmates Are Taught Trades.
In the prison today practically every
craft and trade is represented 1t has
tWinc plant, bricl; and tile plant, u
granite shop. broom shop, chair shop.
5000 acres of farm land, $500 Of which
are owned by the state: a canning fac
tory. tailor shop, rug industry, shoe and
harness shop, tannery, blacksmith
shop, box shop, printing department
and the usual dining and dormitory de-
partments of large institutions.
The report calls economy the first
element of success and says:
Nothing is. wasted. Cuttings from
the tailor shop make rags; waste from
the rugs make mattresses; scrap Ea-
per is balcd and sold; discarded pipe
and iron is used for fire CRATES and
other purposes. Logs from the state
timber stock the prison sawmill ana
the manufactured lumber supplies the
woodworking shops; the small trees
and limbs are cut with the heading
saw and transformed into cases for
canned goods; the shavngs and saw
dust furnish fuel to dry brick and
tlle while the wood ashes, rich in
potash and other chemical plant food,
go back to the soil, whence they came.
Practical instruction.
The farms make possible practical
instruction in general and intensive
agriculture as well as development in
all farm activities. The commissary
and canning factory are supplied from
the prison farms. Clay Is used in max
ing drain tile for the farms, brick and
Building tile for the dormitores and
an extensive stock for the trade. The
chickens supply eggs; the, dairy. milk
and butter; the calves are raised, fed
and slaughtered the cured and fresh
meats supply the inmate, populations;
the prison tannery converts the green
hides into workable leather later man.
ufacturcd in the prison shops into
nets for the institution; the bones from
the slaughter house are ground for
the chickens; the refuse grease from
the kitchen and slaughter house makes
the soap supply, and, further. the
slaughter house refuse is used for fer
tilizer. And, lastly. the millions of
busy little workers from the prison
apiary preserve the wealth of summer
for a winters day"
All the industries of the prison CD
crate on Il profit sharing plan through
which the inmates benefit directly in
efficient work done by them.
Has Modern Educational System.
Education has a tendency to prevent
crime. the, management insists so it
provides a prison school and library
recreation grounds, military drill. re-
lisious services and, lastly, an ''Exten-
sion Work Department" which seeks
to reinstate the men. in society and
citizenship at the conclusion of their
terms.
Where possible, organizations of re-
sponsiblc men and women have been
formed in every community. known as
the Prison Extension Work auxlllarI
who undertake to create a more help
full attitude on the part of the public
toward the released men, find them
positions and provide the environment
and assistance necessary for them to
start life anew.
If unfortunate men can be re-
claimed and re-established in society,
the effort is worthy Of the self sacri-
ficing labors of the best men and WON
en- of Michigan" says the report, which
is entitled Rebuilding Men,"