The Ohio Penitentiary.

through the reformation of the criminal may be seen in its various phases from day to day. Here are sights that, once seen, will never be forgotten, as, for instance, the marching of the inmates to and from their meals, the shops and cells, in companies of military formation and martial step, gray clad and steady as veterans, each company officered by a guard. Since 1834, when the present prison was first occupiedor, rather, that rudimentary portion of it that is now known as the West Hall-an army of more than 33,000 prisoners has passed through its portals, inward, the men among whom, until a few years ago, wore the old regulation striped uniform of the convict. The striped clothing is used, on rare occasions, as a temporary garb of punishment in extreme cases of misconduct, and it is always effectual. The prisoner who has worn the stripes once rarely dons them for a second period of discipline.

The walled city has been swept by pestilence, once in its history. In 1849, the cholera raged here, and 121 prisoners died within twelve months. The bolts and bars bound them to the deadly embrace of a plague which, more dire in its work than the destroying angel of Egypt who claimed only the firstborn male, exacted the life of every third man among the prisoners. But it is now as healthy as a sanitarium. Remarkable to relate, the death rate has fallen from 55 to 36 in one year. The 55 deaths occurred during the year ending October 31, 1899; the 36 during the following fiscal year, embracing half of the first year of the present administration.

There is a finely appointed and well equipped hospital on the inside grounds, but it is a more scantily inhabited than has been the case for years. Since the present administration has assumed control, the most important reform that has ever been introduced to the Penitentiary has been brought about, a long-needed innovation that has denuded the hospital of patients, halved the death rate, and removed the source of a dangerous discontent. That improvement is a change in the dietary. While dietetic systems of the highest value have been scientifically developed and proved, as needful and in every sense economical, it remained for the present directorate of this great institution to adopt one and bring it to success. The food of the inmates is better in quality, more varied in kind, and prepared in a manner far superior to anything ever achieved or even attempted here before. For years, two thousand prisoners were served by cocking arrangements that were acknowledged to be but poorly adequate. to prepare the plainest meal for 1300. But with the building of a rotary oven that has already paid for itself by the economy of its use, and a more varied cuisine at a trifling additional cost, per capita, this great result has been attained, showing to the taxpayer that economy and humanity go hand in hand. It has saved lives, the cost of medicine, the price of enforced idleness, the loss from poor work, funeral ex

The Ohio Penitentiary.

penses, and no figures can tell of the vast improvement that it has brought about in the morals of the shut-in population. Reformation. and slow starvation cannot go together. American people are accustomed to a rich and varied diet, from childhood, and that which may be a luxury to the poor of some other country may be a necessity to a man reared in Ohio. The fact that two-thirds of a meal was frequently thrown away at the Penitentiary, in former years, after two thousand hungry prisoners had rejected it, proves, beyond doubt, that it was not suitable for their use, and that such a meal was a waste of the taxpayers money.

T

THE OHIO REFORMATORY (MANSFIELD).

HE law creating this institution was enacted April 12, 1884; corner-stone was laid in '86, Hon. J. B. Foraker, Governor. The west wing and administration departments were not completed for occupancy until September 18, '96, when 150 prisoners were brought from Columbus.

The object of the institution is reformatory. Inmates are supposed to be first offenders, are admitted for all crimes except murder in the first degree, between the ages of 16 and 30. Male persons only are admitted. There are three grades: first, second and third. When inmates are admitted they are placed in the second grade; if their conduct justifies at the expiration of six months, they are promoted to the first grade, in which they remain for a second six months, when if their conduct justifies, they are recommended to the Board of Managers for parole. With the consent of the Board of Managers they go out and remain the wards of state under the supervision of the institution for six months, when if their conduct justifies, they are fully discharged, and restored to citizenship by the Governor. Inmates are reduced to the third grade from either the first or second for punishment for certain misdemeanors.

They receive an indeterminate sentence from the court and the length of time they remain here is governed largely by thir conduct, and is exclusively in the hands of the Superintendent and the Board of Managers. They can be released at the expiration of the minimum time prescribed by law for the crime committed, or can be retained until the maximum time has expired.

They are required to attend school and learn such trades as it is possible to teach them under the limited conditions now existing. It is expected, however, within the next few years shops will be erected and trades taught to these boys, so that when they go out, they will be able to make an honest living.

The present Superintendent was elected as Deputy and commenced service July 6, 1896, succeeded W. D. Patterson, the first Superintendent, April 1, 1897, and has held the position of Superintendent up to the present time.

Following is a list of the members of the Board of Managers since the institution began: