The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-02-16
issue REPORT
DEAllNgiMlTH
CONvICTlLABOR
GIVE OUTLINE H6F AFFAIRS
OF CONVICT DIVISION OF
STATE ROAD DEPART
MENT

TALLAHASSEE, Feb. 16.-The
past two years have witnessed
number of changes in the man.
ner in which the affairs of the
convict division of the State Road
Department have been admins
tered, resulting in considerable
savings in cost of maintenance
and Increased efficiency in the
operation III this division, accord
ing to afrepoft' released this week
by Arthur B. Hale. chairman of
the State Road Department.
The report shows an average
of 1895 convicts maintained by
the department in 1888 as COM
pared with an average of 1851 in
1896, an average increase Of LA
for the year. Total productive
hours from convict labor amount
ed to 3,962,615, or an average of
2,651 for each convict in 1888, as
compared with total of $780,
$50 productive hours, or an aver
age of 2,488 in 1886; an average
increase of 1853 productive hours
per convict in 1888, and a total
increase of 6OO,759 productive
hours for the year.
Total cost of maintaining the
1851 convicts in 1886 was $780,
780.50, as compared with $685.
174.22 for maintaining the 1495
convicts in 1888, an increase of
$22, 1892 for 1888, but notwith-
standing the considerable in
crease in commodity costs during
this time, the department spent
approximately $27 less for the
maintenance of each convict dur
ing 1893 than in 1886.
The State Road Department is
charged by law with the main
tenance of all Class One felony
prisoners except rs retained at
the state prison farm or other
state institution. 1t has 80 camps
each of which has camp ply
stefan, captain, yardman and
an average of four guards.
A new style of design is being
used in the construction of new
convict camps and in the rehabil-
, itation of the old ones which adds
much to their appearance and
greatly facilitates the handling of
the men. Many of the camps
have planted shrubbery and flow
ers which gives them the appear
ance of a park.
Each camp is equipped with six
shower baths and lavatories, and
the prisoners are required to
battle once a day, summer and
winter. Each prisoner is given
a thorough physical examination
upon his arrival by the camp
physician, and in addition to the
routine check-up made by the
physician,l is given a thorough
examination once each year
thereafter. Those found unfit for
work are Immediately transferred
to the hospital at Raiford where
they are kept until found fit for
duty.
With the exception of fresh
vegetables, fish and beef, which
are purchased locally, all food is
purchased by the purchasing di-
vision of the State Road Depart
ment on bids from Florida deal
ers. 1t is carefully inspected and
must conform to the highest
standard of quality. Many of the
camps are raising their own vege-
tables, and some raise sufficient
pork to supply their needs during
the winter months. This prac-
tice is working out so well that it
is being extended 1asrrapidly as
possible ----s- =
There have been nor gpidemic$
of sickness in ,hk chips during
the past two years, and very few,
colds or 9TH 1k2bSkpf sickness.
Practically AlfAbdMl Which ire!
quently, occurs in any penal sys-
/ tenn, has been eliminated by