Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-06
CROWDED PRISONS
BEING RELIEVED
U. S. Institutions Making
Good Progress in Expanding
2 Facilities, Survey Shows.

The program for relieving congestion
in Federal penal institutions through
expanding facilities available for care
Of prisoners is making good progress,
according to q survey at the Depart
ment of Justice.
The status Of each of the several
prison and Jail projects authorized by
Congress to relieve the congestion and
consequent hazard is shown by the de-
partmental review.
The proposed Northeastern peniten-
tiary, to be erected near Lewisburg, Pa,
with q limit of a total cost of the
institution to $3,S50,00o, not including
the site, has been started by the exca-
walton, conducted by the contractors,
for the foundation. This prison is ex-
pected to house Federal prisoners from
the States in the Northeastern parts OF
the United States.
A portion of the War Department
reservation at FL Reno, Okla, has been
transferred to the Department of JUS
tice for a site for the Southwestern
reformatory. firm of architects has
been selected to prepare preliminary
plans. The initial appropriation for
this institution limits its cost to S3,000,-
900. It is expected that the plans will
be completed and construction COM
menced during the present Summer.
Hospital for Detectives.
A hospital for defective delinquents
has been located on a site donated by
the Chamber Of Commerce of SPRING
field, Mo. Plans are now in process of
completing the legal details connected
with the transfer of title. Architects
have been selected to draft the pre-
uminary plans which are now being
considered. 1t is hoped that the con-
gtruction OF this institution can be COM
n1enced during the coming Summer.
The appropriation limits the ultimate
cost to $4,000, 900.
In 1925 Congress authorized the con-
struction of the United States Indus
trial Reformatory at Chillicothe. Ohio.
The site was obtained by transfer from
the War Department of the former mil
3tary reservation known as Camp Sher-
man. The construction of this plant
has been in progress for the past year
and half. The program for the fiscal
year 1881 contemplates an expenditure
of approximately $70000 and during
the next fiscal year approximately ST.
100000.
Detention fails for the housing of
Federal prisoners, witnesses and persons
awaiting trial are being planned in four
different States.
The first of these jails has been To-
Gated at FL Paso Tex, with an eSti-
mated cost of S400,0 900. A site has been
selected, architects have been engaged
and bids will be requested as soon as
contain titles in connection with the
acquisition of the land are settled.
1t Is expected that the construction of
this institution will commence in April
or May next.
Mint Building Acquired.
The department has acquired by
transfer from the Treasury the old mint
building at New Orleans, La, which is
70 be remodeled to accommodate short
term prisoners. The estimated cost Of
the remodeling is $40. 900. The archi-
tects have completed the plans and
specifications for this work. The con-
tract viii probably be let in the early
Spring.
The department has decided to con-
gtruct Federal jail in the vicinity of
Detroit, Mich, to care for the large
number OF Federal prisoners who are
being boarded in various institutions in
and near Detroit The institution viii
cost about $400.000s Investigations are
now being made by Representatives of
the department into various sites which
have been offered, and it Is expected
that q site will be acquired in the next
so days.
Negotiations are in progress for the
purchase Of building at Billings
Mont, for use as a Federal jail. As
soon as title is acquired plans viii be
drafted for remodeling the building,
which Is estimated will cost from $780,
600 to $4,000.