San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-22
Excellent Results Obtained in
Prison Reform Work in Texas

farms of $1,000 acres in Fort Bend
county, to the Wind Farm for tuber-
cular prisoners, and the Goree and
Eastman Farms for women and boys.
The distances apart of these prisons
make the cost of transportation. not
only OF prisoners. but of the equipment
and supplies necessary to carry on
their work, one of the largest items
of expense. for their maintenance.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars
have been expended on the land. imple-
ments and teams necessary for the
cultivation of the convict farms of Fort
Bend county. which is one of the rich
est farming districts in the state. 1t
is in the heart Of the BLACK Belt
and the term applies to the quality of
the soil as well as to the color of a
major portion of the population. OF
the 1000 acres owned by the state in
this district, $4,000 are in cultivation.
The finest vegetables are raised here
twelve months in the year.
Remedial Work Begins.
In November, 1921, when the first
trip of inspection was made conditions
as to sanitation, food, living quarters
and educational facilities we're found
to be very poor. Work was begun at
once to remedy them. All inhumane
punishment was done away with by
Governor Neff, and the use of chains
was discontinued. as well as special
diet. and dark-cells. Walls were white
washed. buildings screened, and COM
plete sewerage systems installed. The
old wooden hunks, which were literal
IL infested with vermin, were torn
from the walls and replaced with clear
iron cots. furnished with double sheets
fresh and clean, and clean blankets
Splendid hot and cold shower baths, il
concrete tanks were installed in every
ward, and plenty of soap and clear
towels were provided. Each man wa:
given clean sleeping garments and re
quired TO sleep in them-which, i'll thu
beginning, in many eases. was re
garded as "cruel and unusual punish
ment." for it was the first time in thu
history of Texas prisons that a prison
err had gone to bed. clean and com
Portable. Mrs. King feels that NJ
other thing helps to make a cleai
spirit. as surely as n clean body does
In looking after the food. care ha'
been used in selecting experiences
stewards-men who understand ar
ranging menus that will vary from
day to day and yet leave no waste ma
tcrial. Fresh meat is provided IN tn
prisons three times a week and bacol
is served daily. Sugar is used freely
which is a marked departure from th
old regime.
Women Better Cared For.
Judge Burns. with his wife as ma
tron. has worked wonders at tn
Goree Farm, which is the state pri*o
for women. With the new arrange
ment. the prisoners are made TRUSTEE
from the time they enter the farm am
no guards with guns surround them
So far. with the new system, no pun
jshments have been necessary Tor tn
vhite women. and for the negroes. bC
ing confined in a dark room for Shor
periods has been found entirely suftl
cient. With their ancestral superst
tions and vague tendencies towar
dark magic" which are more or les
forgotten in the conscious minds of tn
modern negro and exist mainly in thei
| inheritance of subconscious fears, con
plete silence and utter darkness. whic
would be no punishment at all to thoS
of the white race. is found to be tn
most effective means of control.
At the GOree Farm a great deal
sewing is done. in making uniform
| The negro women run big machine
with the white women doing the nor
delicate work on hand machines. y
the clothes are made of white due
or drilling, even TO the hats and cap
and stripes are not used except q
punishment. When prisoners are r.
captured after an attempted escap
| they are made to wear stripes Tor 81
months. On the last visit to the G.,
rec Farm, only two girls were foun
who were wearing them. They wei
| so embarrassed Mt being marked {
! conspicuously and were so anxious
90 back to the regulation uniform, thS
permission was granted to them ms
| Christmas present-to their great 10.
One of the features of the Goree Far
is a large chicken ranch, which hs
been very successful.
TIE Wind Farm ia especially d.
| SlBlltu anu IVA NV 49,
confinement OF tubercular prisoner
A thorough physical examination
given to each prisoner at Huntsvll
at the beginning of his term. and whe
one is found with tuberculosis he
sent 10 this farm where they hay
open air quarters. n fine dairy, m
| other provisions to give them the sp
cial care they require. Those who al
unable to do farm work are kept
lighter tasks about the house. 1t is
very unusual thing to have a death Q
this farm.
First Termers" 10 Eastman.
The Ferguson Farm, % miles fro
Huntsville, is used entirely for inco
rigibles, and all the men who are kel
here are serving second and third ter
sentences. The "first termers' are q
assigned to the Eastman Farm. The
prisoners are nearly all boys, betweS
Is and % years old. and no harden'
criminals Of the older men are allow
TO come in contact with them.
present there are twenty lsane pri
oners and two cpileptic, which ha
been placed in asylums and epilect