The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-10-08

they reach the prison. The state proposes to make an honest effort 10 separate the unfortunate from the criminal.
 Punishment cells are provided in one end of the building. These cells are so arranged that the darkness of the night may be thrown upon con- vict at noontlde. Prison officials have found that solitary confine- ment probably is greater punish ment to a recalcitrant convict than the lash. The lash-pronounced by the legislative Investigating commit tees of 1915 and 1919 as "a relic of barbarian" abandoned by order of Governor Kilby several months ago. But those punishment cells those who have seen them say that only death itself could remove the evils of a convict who would not re- pent after a few hours in one of those cells.
 Health Protected
 However, the health of the con- vfcts will be protected even while they are in the punishment cells. There may be no light but always tcere will be air. Air will be carried into each punishment cell by force.
 A large dining room and assembly hall combined has been erected Sani- tary tables and :olding stools are provided. At one end of the hall is ture machine. At the other end is the stage which will be used for enter tainments and picture shows.
 A kitchen which Is modern in every respect has been erected and he f,.po nrnVi6ed with the view of bringing cooking for large numbers up to the highest point of efficiency possible.
 The state has erected It's own ice plant at the prison. It's capacity will be great enough to supply the needs of the capitol, Kilny prison, convict farm number four, Wetumpka prison and Speigner prison. The cost of operation will be much less than the state has been forced to pay in profit for ice for the prison ana capitol.
 Modern Laundry
 A modern laundry Is also a part of the equipment Shower baths have been erected for prisoners. Re- ceptacles have been placed for the clothing of each convict When a convict passes Into the bath room he will turn his dirty clothing over to a convict assigned to the task and this clothing will go to the laundry. When he passes from the bath room he will call for the clothing from a receptacle havin ga certain number and will be provided with his own clean clothings
 Back of the prison buildings is the power plant. An underground con duit leads from the power plant to the main buildings and in this con duit are plumbing fixtures and cleo tric wires. The conduit also runs under the building and 1t is pos- sible for person to repair any leak in water pipes or any short circuit in an electric wire without digging in or tearing away any part of the buildings or grounds.
 The power plant is great enough to furnish all power needed by the state in operating the prison and the cotton mill and other machinery However, it probably will never be operated at it's full capacity except ir an emergency. The state, as d result of construction of the power plsnt, has been able to negotiate a contract for hydro electric power at a saving which will pay the interest on the states investment in the power plant and will actually give the state a profit This low hyro- electric rate was obtained through the insertion of clause in the con tract which provided that the state should receive secondary power. In other words, 1t will be possible for the power company to cut the state off during certain periods of the wear when water is low. But the moment the state is cut off from