Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-03-03
By Randolph Roberts.

REFORMATORY that, strictly
n speaking, isn't reformatory
II at all. Where you never hear
4 \ mention of such words as
prison" "prisoner" or
guard" Where always there are
plenty of firearms but not one in EVIL
evidence. A village, farm, factory,
residence and house of correction
rolled into one. A community of 1926
men who have demonstrated their
ability to shelter, feed and clothe
themselves without great amount Of
help from the outside world.
Such are the most striking impress
sions that come first to mind following
a days visit to the District Reforma-
tory at Lorton, Va. Situated some rs
miles from Washington. 1t is reached
after a pleasant drive along the lovely
Mount Vernon Highway through Alex
andria and thence about miles be-
yond Pohick Church.
Here the main road suddenly takes
O sharp turn to the left, but the mo-
torist, intent on visiting the reforma-
tory. keeps straight ahead. Now on
q gravel road, he continues for per-
haps or S miles Whereupon,
sharply to his right and at the foot of
a small hill he sees a macadam road
way leading up a small hill. But the
entrance is barred by a heavy cable
slung across two lofty pillars made of
red brick.
From behind a small, roofed-in
cubbyhole back of the right-hand pill
Ia 70
to be about go years old.
What do you want?" he inquiries
IN somewhat surly tone.
IT would like to see the superin-
tendent. He's expecting me-"
"I'l phone him"
You later learn that this is James
O'Neil. He's been with the institu-
ton some 10 years. Actually, his
heart Is as soft as a sponge. But he
gets kick out of believing and glar-
ing at newcomers. Especially news
paper men.
MR.. ONEIL unhooks the heavy
cable. You step on the gas and
ride straight I'D the hill until you
reach a sort of plateau, possibly 600
feet above the lower road. To your
right about 20 yards is large frame
dwelling. This is the superintendent
residence. The house has quite his
tory-used to belong to Lord Fairfax
back in Colonial days-or so you've
heard.
Up here on the plateau you have
grand chance for bird's-eye view.
Your first impression is of just one
long, rectangular red brick building
after another There must be at least
40 all told Most of them are parallel
to each other and set north and south.
Each is single stored.
Every couple of seconds three or
four men emerge from the various
structures. They all wear blue shirts
and trousers. Nobody seems to be in
hurry and everybody carries a tool,
piece Of board or some sort of pack
age.
This is your first trip to a penal in
stitution of any sort. Yet after a
visit Of barely five minutes you are
forced to scrap every preconceived no.
ton, most of them cleaned from the
movies. What? No lockstep, stripes
or display Of armed guards?
Astonished to say the least, you
hop into your flivver, step on the
gas and drive to the nearest building
An old colored man walks past. Can
you direct me to the superintendent
ofilce?"
He points to curve in the road
that leads around q nearby corner
where three buildings are grouped
close together. cts the one in the
middle
Like all the others, the superin-
tendent,s Office building is single
stored and made of red brick. AS
you open the door tall, thin man
with black hair and probably on the
happy side of 80, greets you. II am
Mr.. England, the superintendent's Sec
Rotary. He's busy right now. Won't
you have a CHAIR"
You're now in a building about 120
feet long and 80 feet wide, high-ceil-
inged and divided into two main Sec
tions. The one you're in is occupied
by four or five earneSt-looking young
men. Each seems mighty busy, sorting
papers or making notations.
On a nearby blackboard you note
the figure 1895" You ask MIR. Eng
land what this means and he ex-
plains:
"It's the total number Of inmates
here today"
Mr.. England, who says he's a
Hyattsville native, turns out to be- a
veritable walking encyclopedia. He
points out that there are ITO officers
out here, not quite one to every IL
men, besides 80 other employees, most
IL foremen Of the various shops and
clerical help. He goes on to explain:
There are about $500 acres. The