Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-11
C0NV|CTS IN ROAD CAMPS
NEGLECTED., SAYS REPORT
DR.. Roy Il. Flanagan Finds State
Prisoners Lack Recreation and
Religious Attention.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION URGED
Investigation by Assistant Health
Commissioner DiscloscS Remedial
Laws Are Not Observation-Disclosures
Recommendations to Governor.

AS result of an investigation into
conditions at the convict road camps
OF the State, made by Assistant Health
Commissioner Roy *. Flanagan
carly action looking 10 the enforce
ment OF remedial laws already on the
statute books OF the Commonwealth
is expected
Cooperation of the State Board OF
Charities and Corrections. which was
largely responsible for the enactment
OF these laws. as well as that of the
State Highway Department and OF the
l,eni;cntiary Board. is anticipated in
the convicts and to overcome the OBJ
stac,cs thereto, the natural result Of
war conditions.
The annual report Of the state
Board Of. Health and the State Com
missioner OF Health. including DR.
l'lannagan's report on his years work.
has just been submitted 10 Governor
WcS'moreland Davis. The latter paper
describes conditions declared to be en-
under the auspices OF the State and is
= Nlrih!c plea for the Improvement of
such conditions.
Visits Many Camps.
the year ending September 80 1917
visited all but two of the ,hirty-siX
convict camps. The report shows al.
TO improve the intellectual or morJJ
status Of the prisoners. but scan, at.
tefntion and in most cases no attcn-
ton and practically nothing in the
me OF EFFORT TO give the men either
eniertainment or recreation. Further
more. the report details numerous de-
attention to health prccautions on mt" the
part OF camp authorities: bathing
character and the sleeping arrange
mentS preclude the possibility OF
The assistant commissioner closes
ms treatment OF the question with
ten recommendations among which
THAT every road camp and every
pfnai institution in, tho state be
VISITED regularly and repca teddy by
Tor the purpose OF instruction as well
as INSPECTION; recommending that the
gagged in this work, and that of hotel
inspection.
Urges Many Changes
That the bunk platform bed be dis
Under the present arrangement the
prisoners lie side by side. and in the
large camps the mattresses touch each
other. colored men beginning where
tho white men end. with sometimes a
wire fence between. as concession
10 law Imposing separation OF the
That adequate bathing facilities he
pnrovidsd The renort declares that
denied at the road camps and lim oM
grinding plants. Once !: week only
az ola IRON pot. holding not more than
httcen gallons of water. is set on
the fire TO do hot water duty
Tor from twenty To sixty men. Recon-
incndation is made that Il hot water
boiler and showcr-bath Arrangement
De Installed ut every road camp. and
mat the prisoners he compelled 10 use
II at least twice weekly.
No Recreation Provided.
That some form OF recreation. now
almost entirely lacking. be provided as
an important element in the process
or reconstruction. The inspector
recommends that an extra half-holidav
be granted each month for good be-
havior and some organization be en-
iisteh TO work out a plan for utilizing
IL IN hcalthful oDen-air play.
on sunday the prisoners have a day
OF rest" the report says "in most
cases undisturbcd by preaching or
sunday school unless. as in one or two
camps visited. some reliGiously in
clincd negro organizes a Bible class
This state of affairs should not he per
mittcd to exist No camp should he
without religious service on SUNDAY
even though some more law abiding
congregation should miss the accus-
toned sermon. The churches in the
vicinity Of the camps should. as Il mat
ter OF routine. bc solicited by the
themselves the task OF ninistcring
weekly 20 body OF people sadly in
need OF the Gospel OF good will 10
men"