The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1924-05-15

was aroused in him an interest and
liking for prison work that makes
his position more than job. To
make of the Idaho State Penitentiary
a model institution of it's kind is, in
truth, a hobby with him.
That someone is on the job who
takes an interest in the work is
quickly evident to the visitor.
Grounds and buildings are kept up
in manner that suggests an army
post. Not so much as the burnt end
of a used match can be found about
the grounds. l was told that the
first week under the new warden was
a busy time at the penitentiary.
Everything was given a thoro over
hauling and scrubbing, inside and
out. Wagon loads of accumulated
rubbish were hauled off the grounds.
Once put in applepie order, it is
matter of but little work every day
to keep it that way.
The Shirt Factory
Newest and perhaps most inter-
esting of the features at the peni-
tertiary is the shirt factory, which
has been in operation now since last
October. In a large, airy, and light
the lines of modern manufacturing
plants, 165 of the prison inmates
are employed eight hours day for
five and half days of every week.
In answer to a general demand for
some means of giving employment to
the prisoners, the last legislature ap-
propriated $4,000 for a building,
with the understanding that the
money should be paid back to the
state from the earnings of the
factory. From present indications,
the money will be available to pay
the debt before the next legislature
convenes. For perhaps the first
time in history an appropriation will |
be returned, intact.
The factory is operated on the
contract system. An agreement has ,
been made between the state and the
Reliance Manufacturing company of
Chicago, concern that manufactures
most of the work shirts produced in
this country, whereby the company
furnishes all materials and equip
ment and buys back the product OF
the factory. The factory is operated
by the state and is under the direc-
ton and management of the prison
officials, tho a trained shop man
ager and two assistants represent the
company and train the prisoners to I
operate the shirt-making machinery.
Prisoners Like Work
A tour of the shirt factory is an
trip for anyone, who Is
lot familiar with large-scale manu- {
acturing operations. Starting at '
,ne corner of the big room, great :,
,iles of the shifting material are laid
tut fiat on long tables. On the top |
II the piles are marked in heavy red '
rayon the outlines of the various
,ieces that go into shirt, the S
leeves. the neck bands, the collars, I
tic. An operator with an electric r
lly driven cutting device follows n
his outline, a sharp blade working l
ID and down thru the thick pile OF q
Material. A hundred or more sleeves,
or instance, are cut out in less time c
han one could be cut out in the o
and way.
From the cutting table, the vari- o
us pieces move thru dozen or more n
ypes of machines, emerging after
hort while at the opposite corner OF II
ne room, a finished shirt, which is 81
len boxed and cased. The ma is
hines, which for the most part are h
ewing and folding machines of h
oecial types, are all electrically II
riven and operated at high rate II
I speed. The operators must pay II
riot attention to the work In hand,
nd develop speed and accuracy.
Looking up and down the long Is
,ws of machines, with khaki-clad 0
3erator at each machine, everything G
seen to be moving quickly, b.