FAYETTE COUNTY.
Average number of prisoners every day in 1916 was 130, of whom they manage to employ 30 per cent. and would be glad to have all at work. Some 25 men have been at work on roads and farms at a wage of 25 cents per day. The road-making has been very profitable to the county. The general results have been altogether satisfactory.
They buy their bread, but we think they could employ some of their idle men in making and baking bread and also save money by the operation.
Cost of food 15 cents each prisoner daily, four cents more than the year before. They now serve three meals daily instead of two.
They need sheets and pillow cases. They have abundant help for a laundry.
Unless the men are at work, they are never in the open air, but they have the freedom of the corridors during the daytime.
LACKAWANNA COUNTY.
No special changes since 1916 to report, except that the number of prisoners has decreased about 50 per cent. This may indicate for that county a higher average of morals.
Last summer they were buying a pound loaf of good bread for 5 cents, and while flour is $14.00 the barrel they were not disposed to construct a bake shop.
While they were willing to employ convicts on land belonging to the county, they thought it would be difficult to find among their convicts, many of them serving quite short sentences, enough reliable men to constitute a workable gang.