The officers of the Moyamensing prison are all well tried conscientious men, and have a very promiscuous lot of people to deal with. There is a very good library of 2,700 volumes, used by all the male departments, besides other reading matter is furnished. The cleanliness and hygienic atmosphere of all the corridors and cells could not pass unnoticed. Three religious services are held in this prison every Sunday, and excellent volunteer choirs contribute, which are greatly appreciated.
Philadelphia County Prison,
Moyamensing.
Rev. Joseph J. Camp, the highly-esteemed Prison Agent of the Inspectors for the past sixteen years, interviews many prisoners brought in, and often goes to court when the case comes up for trial.
Mr. Frederick J. Pooley, our meritorious Prison Agent of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, is doing good work and assists the Rev. Jos. J. Camp. He has to do principally with those minor cases which are discharged with short detention and without trial, by order of the magistrates.
The Acting or Visiting Committee of this Society appointed to the County Prison, have done good work in aiding reform of both men and women; often have helped to shed that ray of light into the heart of some suffering one, by kindly advice and good reading matter; some have even taken pains to look after many women on their discharge, keeping in touch with their better interests long after.
The Woman’s Ward, under the care of Miss Anna B. Harshaw, matron, impresses you as one whose genial disposition and good judgment, well prepares her for the care of her charges. During the past year there were received 1,889 white women and 653 black; average, 212 per month. On January 1st, there remained 62 convicts and 33 awaiting trial. The entire building is clean and neat, even the cells, the kitchen, storeroom, and laundry: here twenty women are daily at work, (do the work by hand) for the whole institution, a number are employed in making up and repair of clothing, for the men also. They have a good library and other reading matter, and are often visited by the ladies of the Acting Committee.
County Prison Convict Department, Holmesburg Junc., Under the efficient care of Capt. Charles A. Abel, Deputy Superintendent, a recently constructed plant, to which are sent all the convicts of the county’s charge, the number at present being about 450.
They have various kinds of trades work (limited of course). This institution is the same as all the penal institutions of the State, save one, lacks two things:—classification or grades, and manual work for all the convicts. There is a large choir of colored men, who, on Sunday afternoons, in the rotunda afford, pleasure for the rest of the institution, as part of the religious exercises. In all these departments of the County Prison, Sunday religious exercises are provided, and often good volunteer choirs, under the direction of the management.
The County Prison’s daily charge is little more than eleven hundred.